Section 235.APPENDIX B   Illinois Birth to Five Program Standards

The Illinois Birth to Five Program Standards are broad statements that reflect current knowledge, research findings and shared beliefs about high-quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood care and education in the context of programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families.

Program Goal I:          Organization

Standards:

All birth to five programs must have a mission, vision or purpose statement based on shared beliefs and goals.

Scheduling practices and intensity of services are tailored to the goals of the program and to the individual strengths and needs of children birth to five and their families.

The strengths and needs of the children and families, as well as research on best practice, determine the ratio of participants to staff and the size of program groups.

The program meets the needs of children and families of varying abilities, as well as diverse cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds.

The physical environment of the program is safe, healthy, and appropriate for children's development and family involvement.

The administration promotes and practices informed leadership and supervision. 

The administration participates in and encourages ongoing staff development, training, and supervision.

All birth to five programs must follow mandated reporting laws for child abuse and neglect and have a written policy statement addressing staff responsibilities and procedures regarding implementation.

The program budget is developed to support quality program service delivery.

The program implements effective systems for recording and managing information about the program, its staff, its participants, and learning and developmental outcomes and uses this information to engage in continuous improvement.

Program Goal II:         Curriculum and Service Provision

Standards:

The curriculum reflects the centrality of adult/child interactions in the development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

The curriculum is aligned to the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for preschoolers and supports children's cognitive, language, social, emotional and physical development and the development of positive approaches to learning.

The program prioritizes family involvement while respecting individual parental choices.

The program supports and demonstrates respect for the families' unique abilities, as well as for their ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity.

The program promotes a framework that is nurturing, predictable, and consistent, yet flexible.

The program supports children's healthy physical development.

Program Goal III:       Developmental Monitoring and Program Accountability

Standards:

The program staff regularly conducts a developmental screening with an appropriate standardized tool for the purposes of identifying children with developmental delays or disabilities.

The program incorporates appropriate formative assessments of children, which are aligned with the curriculum, for the purposes of monitoring individual child development and individualization of the program and/or curriculum.

Leadership conducts regular and systematic evaluation of the program and staff to assure that the philosophy is reflected and goals of the program are being fulfilled.

Program Goal IV:       Personnel

Standards:

The program leadership is knowledgeable about child development and best practice for quality birth to five programs.

The program leadership is effective in explaining, organizing, implementing, supervising, and evaluating birth to five programs.

The program leadership hires qualified staff who are competent in working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families.

The program leadership provides ongoing supervision that promotes staff development and enhances quality service delivery.

The program leadership provides opportunities for ongoing professional growth and development.

The program leadership promotes continuity in staffing through provision of a supportive work environment, competitive wages and benefits, and opportunities for advancement.

The program leadership and staff are knowledgeable about programs and agencies in the community that provide services for children and their families.

Program Goal V:         Family and Community Partnerships

Standards:

The child is viewed in the context of the family and the family is viewed in the context of its culture and community.

The program leadership and staff seek and facilitate family participation and partnerships.

The program assures that families have access to comprehensive services.

The program develops a partnership with families in which the family members and staff determine goals and services.

The program takes an active role in community and system planning and establishes ongoing collaborative relationships with other institutions and organizations that serve families.

(Source:  Amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 6827, effective April 18, 2012)