Abstract:
This project serves as a planning guide for administrators, directors, and educators of young children. It is designed in such a way that persons wishing to develop an early childhood program may refer to it as a source of guidance from which they can begin their commitment to quality early childhood education. It is also designed for those people who may not understand the full scope of early childhood education or may question its intentions. To begin with, I will briefly discuss the various aspects that are involved with the planning of a quality early hildhoodprogram. Included will be the plans for a model early childhood center. Next, I will discuss various facets of a quality early childhood curriculum. Finally, I will summarize research that has been published showing the effects of quality early childhood education. The key word in this project, as should be in all early childhood programs, is quality. Children need quality planning, a quality curriculum, and quality teachers to provide the kind of quality environment that will be of most benefit to them.
