Songtian Zeng, Yujin Lee, Becky L DelVecchio, Lynne Mendes, Anne Douglass
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Even though the tenuous financial model for Early Care and Education (ECE) is one of the primary reasons for many ECE programs’ permanent closing, considerably little attention has been devoted to supporting ECE leaders’ business knowledge and skills. Supporting the leadership and business practices can be an effective strategy for ensuring a strong supply of high-quality ECE for children and families. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study evaluated the effectiveness of a business management course (BMC) for ECE program leaders serving under resourced communities. Half of the sample was randomly assigned to the BMC intervention group and received a 14-week training. After controlling for the pre-test scores, perceived business management skills and confidence in business practices were higher among the BMC participants than those in the control group. This study provides insights into efforts to improve the sustainability of ECE programs.
期刊介绍:
Early Childhood Education Journal is a professional publication of original peer-reviewed articles that reflect exemplary practices in the field of contemporary early childhood education. Articles cover the social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development of children age birth through 8, analyzing issues, trends, and practices from an educational perspective. The journal publishes feature-length articles that skillfully blend 1) theory, research, and practice, 2) descriptions of outstanding early childhood programs worldwide, and 3) quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. Early Childhood Education Journal is of interest not only to classroom teachers, child care providers, college and university faculty, and administrators, but also to other professionals in psychology, health care, family relations, and social services dedicated to the care of young children.
Areas of Emphasis:
International studies;
Educational programs in diverse settings;
Early learning across multiple domains;
Projects demonstrating inter-professional collaboration;
Qualitative and quantitative research and case studies;
Best practices in early childhood teacher education;
Theory, research, and practice relating to professional development;
Family, school, and community relationships;
Investigations related to curriculum and instruction;
Articles that link theory and best practices;
Reviews of research with well-articulated connections to the field