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Example research essay topic: Child Care Fact Finding - 1,753 words

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Implementing a School Age Child Care (SACC) Program Graduate Department of Education Identification of the problem According to the Florida Educational Research Council, in 1955, 60 % of all households were traditional type families (Davies, Topping &# 038; Koon, 1989). While dad was at work, mom was at home cooking and cleaning for the family. Today less than 7 % of all households fit this pattern. The need for child care, and specifically, School Age Child Care (SACC) is a fact of life today.

There is hard evidence that supports this need. Seventy percent of the working age women are employed in the work force today (Davies et al. , 1989). XXXXX Community Elementary School is comprised of 1500 students. XXXX is situated among affluent communities of Boca Raton.

There are a number of private day cares that transport 100 students to their centers for supervision during after school hours. Presently, however, there is an unknown number of students that also require supervision during after school hours but are not receiving it. Because there is no program available at XXXX Elementary School, these children are part of the 4 million latchkey children in the United States today (Davies et al. , 1989). Latchkey children sometimes wear a key around their neck and always go home to an empty house. My job as principal begins here as I address the problem of latchkey students at my school. I must research the situation, and provide a solution that will meet the needs of the school and community.

By researching present child care information, seeking input from my staff, checking with the business community, and conducting a parent need assessment survey, I can begin to address this problem. Before contacting parents, a review of the current literature available on School Age Child Care is the first step necessary to make a decision regarding child care services at XXXX Community Elementary School. Because gathering this information is time consuming, a fact finding committee, headed by one of the two Assistant Principals, was formed in January, 1991 to expedite this review and a summary of its findings follows. According to Pamela Mason of the Florida Department of Education (1991), there are 912, 000 school age children who need child care. Private centers accommodate 460, 000, public schools provide for 80, 000, but there are still 364, 000 children under twelve without supervision during the after school hours in Florida. Child care shortages negatively affect children.

Aside from low academic achievement, latchkey children seem to be more fearful than other children. Their outdoor playtime and social relationships are severely restricted. Self-care children appear to be at risk and are more likely to be victims of accidents, which are a leading cause of death among children (Selig son, Gender, Gannett, &# 038; Gray, 1983). At this point it appears that School Age Child Care is a valid concern for parents of the students at Verde Elementary School. A meeting to involve the faculty and further study of the situation is necessary and is scheduled for February, 1991. At the faculty meeting the principal suggests the prospect of providing child care services for the school and/ or community.

The principal realizes it is necessary to get the support of the faculty and staff if the program is to be successful. Some of the items on the agenda include: 1. initial parental concern for latchkey students 2. discussion of the pros and cons as seen by the faculty 3.

review of the initial committees findings 4. need for further investigation by additional committees At the conclusion of the faculty meeting, 4 additional six member committees have been formed. Each committee will have one chairperson, appointed by the principal, who will be responsible for maintaining cohesiveness and reporting the findings of the committee. Each committee will meet weekly and report its findings to the faculty and principal at the end of six weeks. The function of the five committees will be as follows: Committee # 1 Fact Finding This committee will continue to review the current child care policies using the professional library for assistance. The committee will continue to research Palm Beach County's guidelines for establishing a School Age Child Care program within a school and share the findings with the other committees.

Committee # 2 Parent Survey This committee will meet with the schools Parent Association and enlist its assistance so that an exact number of children requiring child care services is ascertained. The parents of the 1500 students at Verde as well as parents of children living in the community and using private schools must be contacted. Committee # 3 Staff Survey The committee will create an awareness of the impact that a child care program will have on the school environment and the school plant. Teachers will be aware that classrooms will need to be used to house the children during the after school program. Since the facility does allow for teacher planning areas, teachers should be willing to use it for the semester while the SACC program is using their room. Committee members will poll teachers for their input and concerns.

Discussion of certain characteristics displayed by latchkey students as indicated by the fact finding committee will be focused upon. Committee # 4 Business Community The business community must be considered because of the impact that latchkey children under twelve have on their businesses. Financial support will be sought from these businesses making them partners in the child care / education process. Committee # 5 Cost Effectiveness In order for a School Age Child Care program to be run, it must be self supporting. By looking at existing programs in Palm Beach and surrounding counties feasibility of this prospect can be determined. This committee will look at all options available including contracting this service to another organization such as the YMCA.

It must be noted that the need of the parents must be met both financially and with the hours of operation. Teachers have emphasized their concern of losing federal dollars to support yet another program. The principal will delegate each committee chairperson report to one of the two Assistant Principals who will then keep the committees findings updated. At the March 15, 1991 faculty meeting, the results of the committees findings are discussed. In polling the community, it has been determined that 500 students will require supervision. 5 % will be from other schools within the community. Committee members noted that parents felt encouraged by the schools attempt to find a solution to the child care shortage problem.

They also felt they could manage for the last three months of the school year and looked forward to working together for the upcoming school year. The business community was in favor of a partnership with the school center due to the high cost of vandalism and theft committed by latchkey students in the fourth and fifth grades and would contribute various services. The cost-effectiveness committee determined that a program that would support itself was not only possible, but could be operated at a low hourly charge of $ 1. This would meet the financial needs of parents in the community and be lower than any existing child care service in the area.

Operating the program until 6: 00 p. m. will further meet the needs of parents in the community. The principal meets with the fact-finding committee as a follow up to the previous committees recommendations. The principal instructs the committee to identify three schools in the county with similar needs and facility. The principal delegates one or more committee members will observe these schools to help determine the hours of operation, the charge to parents, and the type program that will be run at XXXX for the 1991 / 92 school year.

The principal then begins the task of establishing a School Age Child Care program to be operational August 26, 1991. Everything to meet the program needs must be purchased prior to August. An Assistant principal will contact the school board to get start up funds for the program if any is available. Due to the input from the staff regarding the low academic achievement of latchkey students, the program will be academically structured for its initial year. In order to meet the ratio requirements as determined by the fact-finding committee, the principal will be required to hire 25 School Age Child Care workers, one office assistant, one director, and one homework tutor.

All positions will be advertised and will meet school board requirements. Appointment to the position of director and assistant director will be made by July 1, 1991. Job descriptions will be given to these people as well as kept on file in the office. The duties of these people will be as follows: Director The director will plan and implement the framework of the program which includes the scheduling of all activities, outdoor games, and playing field use. The director will also keep a file on each student in the program with a completed registration form and emergency phone numbers. The director will meet with the Assistant Principal on a weekly basis.

For at least the first three months the director will discuss any and all decisions regarding the program with the Assistant Principal, including the use of classrooms as meeting places for groups of students. After that time, if it has been determined that the directors goals are in line with the schools, more latitude will be given in decision making areas. Assistant Director This person will assist the director in any capacity as deemed necessary by the director and assistant principal. All monies due the program will be collected by this person and recorded appropriately. SACC Workers Both SACC I and SACC II workers will follow duties as indicated in the job descriptions for instructional and teacher aides.

The principal will assign one of the two assistant principals to assist with the SACC program. The fact-finding committee will remain operational during the 1991 / 92 school year and will meet again after three months to discuss further needs and assess the program. They will look into some of the concerns that were addressed earlier such as how the staff has been affected by the schools decision to offer child care services; how the process of these changes has affected the children, noting any improvements in childrens work or attitude Bibliography rogram which includes the scheduling of all activities, outdoor games, and playing field use. The director will also keep a fil


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