Section 441.118.5. Rating standards for child care centers, preschools, and programs operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

To participate in the quality rating system, a child care center, preschool, or program operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school applying under subrule 118.2(2) shall certify that its facility meets the applicable criteria as defined in subrule 118.5(1).

       118.5(1) Criteria. Criteria for each rating level are defined as follows:

        a.           Level 1. To be rated at Level 1, a facility must either:

       (1)             Have a full or provisional license from the department with no action pending to revoke or deny the license; or

       (2)             Operate under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

        b.           Level 2. To be rated at Level 2, a facility must meet the following criteria:

       (1)             The facility must have a full license from the department with no action pending to revoke or deny the license or must operate under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

       (2)             If eligible, the facility must participate in the child and adult care food program (CACFP), unless children are in attendance less than four hours per day and the program does not serve meals.

       (3)             The facility must have on duty in each room at all times at least one staff member who has completed training in mandatory reporting of child abuse, universal precautions and infectious disease control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and first aid as specified in 441—subrule 109.7(1) and subparagraphs 109.7(2)“a”(1) and (2).

       (4)             The facility must provide basic orientation for all staff before they begin work.

       (5)             All staff, including the facility’s director, must complete Form 470-4234, Child Care Center Staff Self-Assessment, no more than 12 months before application for quality rating. The director must also complete Form 470-4233, Child Care Center Self-Assessment.

        c.           Level 3. To be rated at Level 3, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

       (1)             The facility must earn a minimum of 17 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.5(2) through 118.5(6).

       (2)             The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

        d.           Level 4. To be rated at Level 4, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

       (1)             The facility must earn a minimum of 27 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.5(2) through 118.5(6).

       (2)             The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

        e.           Level 5. To be rated at Level 5, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

       (1)             The facility must earn a minimum of 34 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.5(2) through 118.5(6).

       (2)             The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

       (3)             The facility must earn a minimum score of 5.0 in each assessed classroom on the appropriate environment rating scale. An assessor approved by the department or the department’s designee must perform the environment rating assessment. At least one-third of the facility’s classrooms must be assessed, including at least one classroom in each age group served by the facility.

       118.5(2) Professional development. A maximum of 30 points may be earned in the professional development category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Credential. A maximum of five points may be earned in the credential category.

       (1)             Five points are awarded if the facility director has a current national administrator credential or Aim4Excellence credential.

       (2)             Five points are awarded if the facility director is a school principal licensed by the Iowa board of educational examiners.

       (3)             Five points are awarded if a staff member has completed the two-year Head Start management acceleration program covering all aspects of Head Start management, services and systems.

        b.           Education and experience. A maximum of 25 points may be earned for education and experience. To arrive at the total number of points earned, each staff member shall indicate the highest applicable education and experience qualification. Points will be assigned for each staff member based on the following criteria, and the total points will be divided by the number of staff. Only one criterion may be scored for each staff member.

       (1)             Has a master’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided: 25 points.

       (2)             Has a bachelor’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided: 20 points.

       (3)             Has an associate’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided: 10 points.

       (4)             Has a one-year diploma in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided: 8 points.

       (5)             Has an apprenticeship certificate: 7 points.

       (6)             Has a child development associate credential: 6 points.

       (7)             Has an Iowa board of educational examiners paraeducator certificate at Level 2, early childhood, plus two years of experience in early childhood education under the supervision of a licensed early childhood teacher: 6 points.

       (8)             Has nine college credit hours in education specific to the age group for whom care is provided: 5 points.

       (9)             Has 30 hours of annual approved training beyond regulatory requirements and at least five years of experience working in a child care facility or a program operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school: 4 points.

       (10)           Has 15 hours of annual approved training beyond regulatory requirements: 2 points.

       118.5(3) Health and safety. A maximum of 19 points may be earned in the health and safety category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Five points are awarded if within the five-year period before the application date the center director, assistant director, or on-site supervisor has successfully completed a three-semester-hour health, safety, and nutrition class through an approved community college or four-year college.

        b.           Two points are awarded if within the two-year period before the application date the center director, assistant director, or on-site supervisor has successfully completed a health and safety training approved by the department for the specific purpose of awarding points in the quality rating system.

        c.           Two points are awarded if the provider develops and implements an emergency preparedness plan in a format prescribed by the department.

        d.           Two points are awarded if the provider develops and implements enhanced health and safety policies in a format prescribed by the department.

        e.           Up to three points may be awarded for injury prevention.

       (1)             One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health’s Form HCCI-IP2006, Injury Prevention Summary Report, during a visit with a child care nurse consultant.

       (2)             Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has started the process of making recommended corrections.

       (3)             Three points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has completed all corrections.

        f.            Up to two points may be awarded for child record review.

       (1)             One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health’s Form HCCI-CRR2006, Child Record Review, during a visit with a child care nurse consultant.

       (2)             Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has worked with the child care nurse consultant to refer families to health care providers.

        g.           Up to three points may be awarded for health and safety assessment.

       (1)             One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health’s Form HCCI-HSA2006, Health and Safety Assessment, during a visit with the child care nurse consultant.

       (2)             Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has developed a plan of action to correct deficiencies.

       (3)             Three points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has completed all corrections.

       118.5(4) Environment. A maximum of 27 points may be earned in the environment category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Training and self-assessment. A maximum of nine points may be earned in training and self-assessment.

       (1)             Two points are awarded if the facility director or assistant director completes approved training on the use of the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale to evaluate and improve the facility before outside evaluation.

       (2)             Two points are awarded if, after completing approved training on how to use the environment rating scale, the facility director or assistant director completes a self-assessment and score sheet of at least one-third of the facility’s classrooms, including at least one classroom in each age group served by the facility using the applicable environment rating scale.

       (3)             Two points are awarded if, after completing approved training on how to use the environment rating scale, the facility director or assistant director completes Form 470-4288, Child Care Center Improvement Plan, based on the environment rating scale self-assessment. Form 470-4288 must be completed for each room for which a self-assessment was completed.

       (4)            Three points are awarded if, after completing approved training on Iowa quality preschool program standards, the facility director or assistant director completes the Iowa quality preschool program standards self-assessment and develops a quality improvement plan.

        b.           Enhanced ratios. A facility may earn a maximum of three points for enhanced staff-to-child ratios. Three points are awarded if the facility meets accreditation standards for group or class size and staff-to-child ratio from an accrediting body identified at subparagraph 118.5(4)“d”(3) that is appropriate to the child care setting. These points may not be awarded to programs receiving points under subparagraph 118.5(4)“d”(3).

        c.           Accreditation preparation. A facility may earn a maximum of five points for accreditation preparation. Five points are awarded if the facility’s accreditation self-assessment is approved by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. These points may not be awarded to programs receiving points under subparagraph 118.5(4)“d”(3).

        d.           Accreditation. A facility may earn a maximum of 18 points for accreditation. Points are awarded for one of the following criteria:

       (1)             Five points are awarded if the program is verified by the Iowa quality preschool program standards.

       (2)             Six points are awarded if a Head Start program demonstrates compliance with Head Start program performance standards.

       (3)             Eighteen points are awarded if the facility is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Afterschool Association, or another accrediting body approved by the department.

       118.5(5) Family and community partnerships. A maximum of eight points may be earned in the family and community partnership category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           One point is awarded if the facility or the facility director is a member of a professional organization specific to the age group for whom care is provided.

        b.           One point is awarded if the facility provides orientation for new parents.

        c.           One point is awarded if the facility holds annual conferences with parents.

        d.           One point is awarded if the facility holds at least one parent meeting annually.

        e.           Two points are awarded if a parent advisory board coordinated by the facility meets quarterly.

        f.            Two points are awarded if the facility collects annual parent surveys and uses the results to inform program practices.

       118.5(6) Leadership and administration. A maximum of seven points may be earned in the leadership and administration category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Two points are awarded if the facility completes yearly written evaluations for all staff.

        b.           One point is awarded if the facility develops an improvement plan using Form 470-4235, Child Care Center Improvement Plan, and updates the form annually.

        c.           One point is awarded if all staff complete Form 470-4236, Professional Development Plan.

        d.           Three points are awarded if all staff who have direct contact with children complete one of the following within four months of beginning employment with the facility:

       (1)             The new staff orientation training delivered by Iowa state university that provides new center and preschool staff a full, program-based orientation, or

       (2)             Another curriculum approved by the department.

[ARC 9257B, IAB 12/1/10, effective 2/1/11]