Abstract
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. A paired t-test showed a positive and significant increase in the quality of school-age child care environments and teacher/child interactions over the 9-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 was compared to determine relationships between these program variables and the program clusters. A state license and a smaller group size were related to higher quality programs at pre-initiative. Director education, teacher salary, state license, and program size were related to greatest program improvement from pre-initiative to post-initiative. In addition, six of the 10 programs were awarded accreditation by the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA). These findings suggest that participation in program improvement initiatives, like the NC QEI, is a viable means of improving the quality of school-age child care programs.
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