ADDING 2 SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN - DOES IF CHANGE QUALITY IN FAMILY CHILD-CARE

One hundred randomly selected family child care homes were observed pr ior to their intention to enroll two additional school age children. T he average environmental rating score (FDCERS) was 3.81, indicating mi nimal quality. Custodial rather than developmentally appropriate activ ities were predominant. Six months after the first visit, only 28 prov iders had enrolled additional school age children; 10 more providers h ad enrolled additional children sporadically over the previous 6 month s but did not have the additional children currently enrolled. The 28 providers with enrolled children were revisited. Providers were simila r in environmental quality scores before and after adding the two addi tional school age children but were rated as less sensitive on the pos t-enrollment visit than on the pre-enrollment visit. Provider and chil dren's activities were similar on the two visits.