The child care & early education glossary defines terms used to describe aspects of child care and early education practice and policy; the research glossary defines terms used in conducting social science and policy research, for example those describing methods, measurements, statistical procedures, and other aspects of research.
Twenty First Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program
A federally funded grant program, originally authorized by Congress in 1994 through the ESEA, that supports states to create community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities, educational services, and extracurricular activities to children during afterschool hours. The program is designed to help low-income students from low-performing school districts to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects.
Two-Generation Programs
Programs that provide comprehensive services for both parents/families and children in order to simultaneously promote healthy child development and economic self-sufficiency. In two generation programs, services such as job training, parent education and housing assistance are provided along with early education programs. See related: Dual Generation Strategies.
Typically Developing Child
Refers to a child whose development follows a predictable or "normal" course. The acquisition of certain Developmental Milestones is often used to gauge such development. Typical development is the most appropriate way to describe a child who does not have Special Needs.
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)
A movement within the U.S. education system to make access to Prekindergarten available to all children and families within a given jurisdiction, regardless of the child’s abilities and family income. UPK services can be offered in a Mixed Delivery System. States vary in what they define as “universal” and in how far they have progressed, or desire to progress, towards implementation.
Unlicensed Child Care
Child care programs that have not been licensed by the state. The term often refers both to Legally/License-Exempt Child Care such as FFN Child Care that can legally operate without a license as well as a program that illegally operates without a license. Unlicensed child care is also referred to as unregulated or non-regulated child care.
Vouchers and Contracts
Refers to forms or mechanisms of payment that income eligible families can use to help pay for child care. Vouchers are issued to eligible families to pay for any legal child care they select that accepts state payments—including unregulated Informal Family Child Care, Family-based Child Care and Center-based Child Care. By contrast, contracts are pre-negotiated arrangements made between jurisdictions and child care centers and/or networks of family child care homes to provide subsidized care to blocks of eligible children that they enroll.
Waiver
Permission granted by a regulatory agency that allows an individual or entity to forgo or delay the implementation of a requirement, usually temporarily. For example, states and territories can apply for temporary waivers to defer implementing certain CCDF program requirements.
Work Requirements
Refers to the employment-related requirements upon which receipt of child care Subsidies or cash assistance is contingent. In order to qualify for subsidies, parents must typically be employed or enrolled in a training or education program.
Workforce
The broad range of individuals engaged in the care and education of young children. Members of the early childhood workforce may include teaching, caregiving and administrative staff, as well as consultants, learning specialists, and others that provide training and Technical Assistance to programs.
Workforce Registry
A system, usually electronic, where early childhood professionals keep track of career-related information and documentation such as their education and employment history, ongoing trainings and related professional development.