Child Care Providers Coalition
Provider of the Year Rubric

Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
1.	 Autobiography 	5	•	Provides basic background on self
•	Self-reflection on providing family child care is evident	•	Provides basic background on self
•	Motivation for providing family child care is partially articulated	•	Provides basic background on self

2.	 Philosophy	5	•	Philosophy includes beliefs/values about children, families, child care, community (local, state or national) in context to child care; 
•	Reflects care and respect, and is committed to helping each child develop to his or her full potential; respect for family culture and diversity; commitment to evidence based early childhood practices; commitment to the early childhood education field/intentionality in child care
•	Practices in all items submitted for review reflect positive outcomes and align with philosophy	•	Philosophy includes belief/values about child care and children and families
•	Reflects care and respect, and is committed to helping each child develop to his or her full potential; respect for family culture and diversity
	•	Philosophy includes belief/values about child care
•	Reflects care and respect for children and families in general	
3.	 Degrees, Credentials, Scholarships, Awards	10	•	Associate’s Degree or higher in early childhood education from accredited institution of higher education
•	CDA in family child care 
•	NAFCC Accreditation	•	At least 12 credit hours in early childhood education course work from  accredited institution of higher education (includes Associate’s Degree or higher not in early childhood education)
•	CDA not in family child care	•	High school diploma 
•	Fewer than 12 credit hours from accredited institution of higher education in early childhood education course work 
•	Initiating work towards CDA in family child care	
Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
4.	In-Service Training including college courses, Implementation of knowledge & skills
	10	•	Provider training aligns with professional development plan (see #7)
•	3 – 12 credit hours
•	Detailed description including lesson plans, environment, and business practices reflects how learning was implemented in  program	•	Has implemented professional development plan with goal-oriented, sequential in-service clock hour  training but less than 3 credit hours 
•	Some description of implementation of new knowledge and skills 	•	Meet KDHE Licensing in-service clock hour requirements
•	General description of how training was helpful	
5.	Safe, healthy, environment; learning activities, record children’s accomplishments & incorporate children’s interests	20	•	Provider is in substantial compliance (minor paperwork or house  keeping issues that are not immediately unsafe and can be fixed quickly) with KDHE licensing and has not had an administrative order issued in the last 4 years
•	Older children have a place to use materials without interference from younger children
•	Materials are stored in consistent places and some of them are easy for children to find, help themselves to, and put away
•	The provider supports and extends children's self-directed play as well as offering activities and materials that build on their interests and skills
•	Most of the children’s activities promote many kinds of development simultaneously – the curriculum is integrated and holistic rather than focused on one area of development at a time.
•	For example, a play dough activity includes art, math, science, self, social, and language development. Children age 4 or older can pursue special interests or hobbies, working on projects that may evolve over days or weeks
•	Provider incorporates observational notes into individualized or age-specific lesson plan adaptations 	•	Provider is in substantial compliance (minor paperwork or house  keeping issues that are not immediately unsafe and can be fixed quickly) with KDHE licensing and has not had an administrative order issued in the last 3 years
•	Provider has some way of keeping observational notes about insights into children's interests, accomplishments, concerns, and some of the delightful things they say and do
•	Child care space is well organized
•	Environment is pleasant, not over stimulating or distracting
•	Children have opportunities to make choices and explore their own interests
•	The provider offers several activities appropriate for the abilities and interests of children
•	The provider usually maintains a consistent sequence of daily schedule, while the flow of activities is adapted to the individual and developmental needs of each child and the changing group
•	Rest time is relaxing and comfortable for children. Non-sleepers can have books and quiet toys to play with during rest time
•	The provider reads to children for at least 15 minutes during each half day, or all the children are able to read; books are accessible to children daily
•	If parents bring food, the provider assures that it is nutritious or supplements	•	Provider is in substantial compliance (minor paperwork or house  keeping issues that are not immediately unsafe and can be fixed quickly) with KDHE licensing and has not had an administrative order issued in the last 2 years
•	Provider communicates with parents verbally about children’s interests, accomplishments, and concerns
•	Provider establishes a daily routine
•	Children have access to books and other developmentally appropriate toys
•	The provider takes children outdoors every day, weather permitting
•	Provider serves nutritious, sufficient food following Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines, including time frame for meals and snacks. 
	
Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
6.	Family Involvement opportunities	10	•	Provider individualizes the child care program, within reason, to respond to a parent's specific requests, preferences, and values
•	Involve family members as decision makers 
•	Provides opportunities for parents to share skills and talents (newsletter column, phone tree, group meetings)
•	Evidence of regular, on-going communication to parents about child & parent issues/education
•	Plans and conducts family conferences/meetings
•	Parents invited to attend training opportunities with provider, participate in advocacy activities, serve on committees	•	Parents comment on provider’s written policies
•	Policies reflect respect and support for family cultural differences and diverse family structures; tone is positive
•	Parents receive regular, on-going communication directed or written by the provider (newsletter, written daily child reports)
•	Parents are encouraged to visit anytime during the day and participate (i.e.  fields trips, read to children)
	•	Evidence of some communication with parents (policy handbook, verbal reports) - communication is primarily about parent’s own child or policies
•	Parents are encouraged to visit at provider’s convenience (i.e. naptime, after hours)	
Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
7.	Professional development goals & plan	10	•	Well-developed, written professional development plan addresses specified competencies/skills and includes long-term goals (3 years or more) based on the Core Competency Document
•	Professional development is reviewed and updated periodically – evidence of self-reflection
•	Provider training submitted in #4 aligns with the PD plan; seeks out training to meet goals and communicates with trainer partners about needs
•	Plans for PD in budget; seeks out and applies for any funding opportunities, if available (scholarships, TEACH, etc)
•	Serves as a mentor to others; disseminates professional information to others
•	Provider keeps up-to-date with topics related to program quality	•	Short-term professional development (less than 3 years) with some specified competencies/skills identified
•	Provider training submitted in #4 mostly aligns with the PD plan; attends mostly local training and sometimes shares information about training needs with trainer partners
•	Attends regional, state or national conferences	•	General short-term professional development plan by topic areas (no specified competencies/skills)
•	Provider training submitted in #4 aligns only slightly with the PD plan; no evidence that provider seeks out identified training needs or shares this information with trainer partners if needed training is not being offered

8.	Managing a successful business & balance home life	10	•	Evidence of effective resource management (budgeted to pay substitute, assistant or professional services , people help which could include family member involvement in helping to keep the home ready for family child care or paid assistance/subs)
•	Evidence of effective time management strategies to ensure balance between work and home
•	Family fully supports and involved in child care business (repairs, general clean up, shopping)
•	Regularly allots time specifically for provider’s own family
•	Arrangement of space and use of materials are balanced to meet the needs of both the child care program and the provider's family.	•	Operating budget that outlines business expenses and provider salary
•	Family supports provider but minimally involved in child care business 
•	Reflects some time set-aside for provider’s own family but time is not regular or frequent
•	Arrangement of space and use of materials meet the needs of the child care program but  still developing or working to adequately address family space (or vice versa)
	•	General budget; no reflection on future equipment/maintenance 
•	Family is not involved in child care business
•	No evidence of planned family time/happens when it can	
Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
9.	Current memberships & involvement in professional organizations	10	•	Member of CCPC & NAFCC (and local provider group if any or another state or national professional organization)
•	Evidence of leadership (board member or committee chair)
•	Involved in professional activity of organizations (article for newsletter, presenter at conference, on a list serve for advocacy activity)	•	Member of CCPC and NAFCC (and local provider group, if any)
•	Served on a committee at the state or local level	•	Member of CCPC (and local provider group, if any)
•	Professional involvement includes attending a state professional conference
	
10.	Participation in child care outside own business including community involvement  regarding advocacy for children & families	10	•	Provider has information about community resources that offer services to parents and children and helps families access community and medical services as needed; shares information about the Health Wave to all families
•	Provide local, state or national testimony on quality child care issue(s) 
•	Take an active role in following the status of legislation or issues (checking websites for updates; member of appropriate email group; advocacy tree).  Frequently responds by letter or phone calls to community or government agencies regarding children or family issues
•	Known as a resource about family child care in the community (frequently contacted)
•	Member of a local, state or national committee or Task Force other than CCPC or NAFCC or local provider group (Interagency Coordinating Council, Smart Start Advisory.)	•	Provider has current information about community resources that offer services to parents and children and provides the list to families at least once a year, includes the information in a handbook or posts the information for parents to view
•	Receives information about legislation or child care issues and sometimes responds with letters or phone calls.
•	Serve on a local committee representing family child care	•	Provider has information about community resources that offer services to parents and children
•	Receive information about legislation or child care issues 	
Self Assessment Question	Total Possible Points	Fully Achieved 	Partially Met 	Minimal
	
TOTAL POINTS ALL CATEGORIES	100