Quality Rating 3: Program Assessment
Instructions
To meet the requirements for Accreditation and Rating Scale: Program Assessment: ACR 2.3, you will upload a completed self-assessment score sheet from the Maryland EXCELS Self Assessment(s) or Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®), or a School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale® (SACERS™) for a school-age classroom/designated space.
Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is essential in any quality improvement process. It requires programs to reflect on their strengths and identify areas for improvement. Taking ownership of the process involves setting goals based on the results of a self-assessment and making a commitment to achieve those goals.
The CLASS® and SACERS™ provide specific systematic structures for evaluating a program’s environment. The assessments focus on: interactions within the environment, indoor and outdoor spaces, daily routines, and activities.
What does the documentation look like?
The self-assessment tools are based on your program type and the ages of the children enrolled:
- Maryland EXCELS Self-Assessment: Family Child Care
- Maryland EXCELS Self-Assessment: Infant and Toddler (6 weeks up to 36 months)
- Maryland EXCELS Self-Assessment: Preschool (3 to 5 years of age)
- SACERS™ Self-Assessment (5 to 12 years of age)
- CLASS® Self-Assessment (3 to 5 years of age)
NOTE: If you are a program that provides care to children of all ages, you must conduct a self-assessment on at least one classroom/designated area from each age group.
Where can you learn more?
- The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute provides detailed information about the School-Age Environment Rating Scale® (SACERS™).
- Teachstone Find information and free webinars about the CLASS® Assessment.
- Program Assessments Positive teacher-child interactions are a critical component of the quality of care provided in a program. By conducting self-assessments, a program has the opportunity to identify teacher strengths and areas for improvement. This process is used to create individual staff development plans and ongoing program improvement.
