| The primary purpose of this study was to determine if participation in the North Carolina Quality Enhancement Initiative (NC QEI) improved the overall quality of the 26 participating school-age child care programs in three North Carolina communities: Greensboro, Raleigh, and Charlotte. These three North Carolina communities were selected by the funders of the NC QEI and included IBM, AT&T, and GE Capital.;A paired t-test showed a positive and significant increase in the quality of their school-age child care environments and teacher/child interactions over the nine-month period, from pre-initiative to post-initiative. Pre-initiative and pre- to post-initiative difference scores on each dependent measure were grouped together using a cluster analysis. Each cluster of programs were compared by program size, staff/child ratio, director education, director salary, teacher turnover, state license, and program auspice to assess relationships between these program variables and the program clusters. Furthermore, these clusters were compared by the program teachers' professional work relationships and work-site characteristics, as well as teacher type of education, level of education, and teachers' salary. A state license and a smaller group size were related to higher quality programs at pre-initiative. Director education, teacher salary, a state license, and program size were the program variables related to program improvement from pre- initiative to post-initiative.;In addition, six of the ten programs that applied to be accredited by the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) were awarded accreditation. These findings suggest that the involvement of school-age child care programs in program improvement initiatives, like the NC QEI, is a viable means for improving the quality of school-age child care programs. |
