2014 might need to be called the year of the child at Western Nevada College’s Child Development Center. A statewide initiative to enhance child care quality, new curriculum standards, and the introduction of an assessment process for teaching strategies are all part of the new year developments at the Center on the Carson City campus.
These progressive and positive programs are helping the college to provide quality care for students and community families, said Andrea Doran, Child Development Center director. “Everything we have put in place will help us grow as a program and because it is all aligned with the Common Core State Standards, or in our case the Pre-K standards. We will be speaking the same language and parents can have a good idea what to expect of and for their child once the child moves into the elementary school setting.”
The CDC will receive a $7,000 grant from the state to help implement the Quality Rating Improvement System, an initiative sponsored by the Children’s Cabinet, and aimed at improving the quality of childcare.
The CDC will be able to improve its space and furnishings, personal care routines, language reasoning, activities, interaction, program structure and staff.
“We will be provided with staff training, materials and feedback from the experts in early care and education,” Doran said.
In addition to starting the Quality Rating Improvement System, the center has launched Creative Curriculum, a program aligned with pre-k standards for Nevada and Teaching Strategies Gold, which the CDC will use for assessment.
“This is a comprehensive assessment program that the teachers use to gain information on child development and help to drive curriculum activities,” Doran said.
Since the program is housed online, teachers can supply anecdotal notes, comments and scan children’s work into the program, developing curriculum suggestions and reports for teachers and parents.