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®).
Note: Child care centers will complete a self-assessment for each age group as defined by the assessment tool(s).
Self-Assessment
A self-assessment is a process of observing and reflecting on what happens in your program every day including the interactions between you/staff and children. It helps you see what your program does well and where it can improve. Research shows that programs that regularly reflect on and improve their practices are more likely to have positive outcomes for children. Self-assessment is an important part of continuous quality improvement because it helps programs set goals, build on their strengths, and make changes that support children’s learning and development.
The Maryland EXCELS Self-Assessments and CLASS® are supportive tools that help programs reflect on and improve their learning environments and interactions with children.
View this video to learn practical strategies and step-by-step guidance to confidently complete a self-assessment of your program.
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)
- CLASS® Self-Assessment (3 to 5 years)
- Maryland EXCELS Self-Assessment: School-Age Care (Kindergarten to 12 years)
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.
Review the video to learn how to calculate average scores in your self-assessment and record them accurately on the Summary Score Sheet. Updated self-assessment forms automatically calculate the average score and enter it into the Summary Score Sheet.
Where can you learn more?
- 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.
- Infant Toddler Teacher-Child Interactions This quick guide provides strategies and tips for responsive caregiving across the domains aligned with the best practices outlined in the Maryland EXCELS Infant Toddler Self-Assessment.
