Providing Technical Assistance to Encourage Sustainable Improvement in Child Care and Education Program Quality

This Microsoft PowerPoint describes the use of technical assistance (TA) to improve the quality of early child care and education programs. The following levels of TA are addressed: (1) individualistic assessment and advice; (2) systematic assessment/individualistic advice; (3) reliable, systematic assessment/consistent advice; and (4) reliable, systematic assessment/consistent, holistic, in-depth advice. An example of a concern, along with a plan of action and follow-up are provided for different levels of TA (e.g., staff never read informally to children). TA has the best chance for success with reliable, valid, and systematic assessment and consistent advice based on a thorough understanding of barriers that are preventing desired practices.