Adminstration -- 1. The director: a broad view -- Director skills and characteristics -- The director as manager -- The director as organizer -- The director as communicator -- Professional development -- The director's evaluation -- The director's relation to boards of directors -- 2. Choices: schools and programs -- Types of programs -- Military-based child care -- Child care in other countries -- Planning: program and environment -- 3. Setting goals -- Philosophy -- Formulating goals -- Developing objectives -- Implementing goals and objectives -- Evaluating outcomes -- 4. Planning: infants and toddlers -- Infant-toddler development -- Characteristics of a developmentally appropriate infant-toddler program -- Program: infant and toddler activities -- Space: infant and toddler environment -- Specific areas -- Adaptations for infants and toddlers with special needs -- 5. Planning: preschool-age children -- Preschool development -- Characteristics of a developmentally appropriate program -- Program: general considerations -- Space: general considerations -- Specific areas -- Adaptations for children with special needs -- 6. Planning: school-age children -- School-age development -- Characteristics of a developmentally appropriate program -- Program: activities -- Characteristics of teacher/caregiver -- Space: general considerations -- Specific areas.

Staff -- 7. Staff selection/ personnel policies -- Staff qualifications -- Staff recruitment -- Application information -- Selection process -- Notification of employment or nonselection -- Personnel practices -- Personnel records -- 8. Staff supervision and training -- Supervision of staff -- Evaluation of staff performance -- Staff development -- Staff relationships -- Burnout -- 9. Student teachers/volunteers -- Characteristics of student teachers -- Role of the director -- Choice of a master teacher -- Orientation of student teachers -- Responsibilities of the master teacher -- Reactions of student teachers -- Volunteers -- A plan for volunteer services -- Recruitment of volunteers -- Selection of volunteers -- Orientation of volunteers -- Handbook for volunteers -- Supervision of volunteers -- Recognition strategies -- Keeping records.

Management -- 10. Budget -- Development of the budget -- Expenses -- Income -- Trial budget -- Summary of budget cycle -- Budget analysis -- Implementing the final budget -- Keeping budget records -- 11. Maintenance, health and safety -- Maintenance or operations? -- Inventory -- Safety -- Health -- Health goals -- 12. Food and nutrition services -- Caregiver's role -- Menu planning -- Including parents -- Food service for children -- Cooking experiences for children -- Mechanics of food service -- 13. Beginnings: a new program/a new year -- Location -- Finances -- Staff selection -- Working checklist -- Planning for opening day -- Enrollment -- Parents -- Beyond the school itself -- 14. Including families and the community -- Changing roles of families -- Parent involvement -- Parent education -- The school and the community -- 15. Maintaining the quality of child care -- Upgrading the quality of programs -- Child abuse -- Laws pertaining to child care settings -- Computerized Center Administration -- Computerized Data Management -- Professional Organizations and Sources of Information -- Sources for Early Childhood materials, equipment, supplies and books -- State Child Care Licensing Agencies.