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Abstract

The Child Care Facility Schedule (CCFS) represents an effort to develop a measure to assess quality child care. Initially 80 criteria, covering 8 areas considered important for attaining quality, were defined. These were subsequently tested in three different cultural contexts: Athens (Greece), Manila (Philippines), and Ibadan (Nigeria). Reliability studies were conducted in Athens and Ibadan, and a validity study was carried out in Athens. Concurrent validity was established by comparing the CCFS scores with those obtained from an unstructured observation by an observer unfamiliar with the content of the Schedule. Criterion validity was examined by comparing the CCFS scores with those derived from another well-established measure. Factor and cluster analyses were used as a means for establishing construct validity. A general quality factor that tapped the contribution of the caretakers to quality was revealed, and a shorter 43-item version was recommended. The CCFS appears to identify differences among the various types of day care centres, and can be used for self-evaluation by the personnel of day care centres.

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Assessing Quality Day Care: The Child Care Facility Schedule

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