Section 441.118.6. Rating criteria for child development homes.

To participate in the quality rating system, a child development home provider applying under subrule 118.2(2) shall certify that the home meets the applicable criteria as defined in subrule 118.6(1).

       118.6(1) Criteria for each rating level.

        a.           Level 1. To be rated at Level 1, the home must be a registered child development home.

        b.           Level 2. To be rated at Level 2, the home must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criterion for Level 1:

       (1)             The provider completes and maintains ChildNet certification.

       (2)             The provider participates in the child and adult care food program (CACFP).

       (3)             The provider completes Form 470-4231, Child Development Home Professional Development Self-Assessment.

       (4)             The provider completes Form 470-4236, Professional Development Plan.

        c.           Level 3. To be rated at Level 3, the home must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Levels 1 and 2:

       (1)            The home must earn a minimum of 14 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.6(2) through 118.6(5).

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

        d.           Level 4. To be rated at Level 4, the home must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Levels 1 and 2:

       (1)            The home must earn a minimum of 19 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.6(2) through 118.6(5).

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

        e.           Level 5. To be rated at Level 5, the home must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Levels 1 and 2:

       (1)            The home must earn a minimum of 25 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.6(2) through 118.6(5).

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

       (3)             The home must earn a minimum score of 5.0 on the family child care environment rating scale. An assessor approved by the department or the department’s designee must perform the assessment.

       118.6(2) Professional development. A child development home may earn a maximum of 34 points in the professional development category. For child development homes registered as Category C, points will be awarded only to the coprovider who has earned the most points. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Experience and training. A home may earn a maximum of four points for experience and training. Points are awarded as follows:

       (1)             Two points are awarded if the provider has at least two years of experience working in a child care facility or a program operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school and 10 hours of additional training per year beyond regulatory requirements.

       (2)             Four points are awarded if the provider has 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 and 20 hours of additional training per year beyond regulatory requirements.

        b.           Additional professional development. A home may earn a maximum of five points for additional professional development. Points are awarded as follows:

       (1)             Two points are awarded if the provider successfully completes approved modules 1 and 2 of positive behavior and intervention support training developed by the Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Learning (CSEFEL). Modules 1 and 2 total a minimum of 12 hours of training which focuses on promoting effective classroom and center practices that enhance the social and emotional competency of young children.

       (2)             Three points are awarded if the provider successfully completes modules 1 through 4 of the program for infant and toddler care developed by WestEd and the California Department of Education, covering social-emotional growth and socialization, group care, learning and development, culture, and family and providers.

        c.           Education. A home may earn a maximum of 25 points for education. Points are awarded for one of the following criteria:

       (1)             Twenty-five points are awarded if the provider has completed a master’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided.

       (2)             Twenty points are awarded if the provider has completed a bachelor’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided.

       (3)             Ten points are awarded if the provider has completed an associate’s degree in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided.

       (4)             Eight points are awarded if the provider has completed a one-year diploma in education appropriate to the age group for whom care is provided.

       (5)             Seven points are awarded if the provider has a current apprenticeship certificate.

       (6)             Six points are awarded if the provider has a current child development associate credential.

       (7)             Five points are awarded if the provider has completed at least nine college credit hours in education specific to the age group for whom care is provided.

       118.6(3) Health and safety. A child development home may earn a maximum of 19 points 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 provider successfully completes 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 provider successfully completes 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.

       118.6(4) Environment. A child development home may earn a maximum of 23 points in the environment category. Points are awarded as follows:

        a.           Environment rating scale training and self-assessment. A home may earn a maximum of six points for environment rating scale training and self-assessment. Points are awarded as follows:

       (1)             Two points are awarded if the provider completes approved training on how to use the family child care environment rating scale to assess the child development home environment.

       (2)             Two points are awarded if, after completing training on how to use the environment rating scale, the provider completes a self-assessment and score sheet using the environment rating scale.

       (3)             Two points are awarded if, after completing training on how to use the environment rating scale and completion of the environment rating scale self-assessment and score sheet, the provider completes Form 470-4232, Child Development Home Improvement Plan, based on the environment rating scale self-assessment.

        b.           Enhanced ratios. A home may earn a maximum of two points for enhanced staff-to-child ratios. Two points are awarded if no more than two children under the age of two are in care at any one time and no more than six children total are in care at any one time, including the provider’s own children under school age.

        c.           Accreditation. A home may earn a maximum of 15 points for accreditation. Fifteen points are awarded if the home is accredited by the National Association for Family Child Care or another accrediting body approved by the department.

       118.6(5) Family and community partnerships. A child development home may earn a maximum of six points in the family and community partnership category. Points are awarded as follows:

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

        b.           One point is awarded if the provider offers an orientation for new parents.

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

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

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

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