CHAPTER 2: MISSION, GOALS, ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY
Academy of Early Childhood Programs. This is a division of the National
Portfolio Management Division has determined will involve a new or
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Receipt of
expanded child care center, GSA's Office of Child Care must be involved.
accreditation entails approximately one year if the center "passes" at the
It is at the planning stage that the important budgeting decisions are made.
first opportunity. Accreditation is defined by the Accreditation Criteria and
The planning process recommends allotment of funds for components and
Procedures of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
features which, while having a higher first cost, will lower the life cycle
published by the NAEYC.
costs of the center. Unless these are considered at the initial planning
stages before actual design begins, the budget will rarely be adequate to
Refer to Chapter 4 of the Guide for more information. Child care centers
ensure their incorporation. When that happens, the Government has missed
must also comply with State and local licensing regulations and any other
an opportunity for long-term savings.
applicable standards before opening.
When the Regional Child Care Center Coordinator (RCCC) recommends
The initial stages of the project are the most valuable for the inclusion of
approval of the design concept, working drawings for the project may pro-
ceed. The Office of Child Care must also review the drawings as the de-
sustainable features. See Appendix E for this information.
tails are developed (typically at the 50-60 % level of completion) to ensure
2.4 GSA's Authority
that the level of detail is congruent with the objectives of the Design Guide
and the Program.
United States Code 40, Section 590 (formerly 490b) gives Federal agen-
GSA has a network of 11 RCCC's (see Appendix C for telephone numbers
cies the authority to establish child care centers in Federal facilities. This
and addresses) who deliver the following services:
is sometimes referred to as the "Trible Amendment."
Provide guidance, assistance, and oversight to Federal agencies during
the development and operations of child care centers.
The Child Care Program of GSA is responsible for the following:
Provide program review, and oversee licensing compliance.
Policy clarification on issues which impact child care centers in GSA
Provide on-going technical assistance and resources to governing boards,
space. In addition, GSA compiles data on child care centers and ex-
organizing committees, and Federal agencies, as well as, (indirectly) to
ecution of the programs' policies. Through its design reviews, the physical
child care center directors and providers.
status of a center is measured against the baseline set forth in this Guide.
The purpose is long-term budgeting for the nationwide program to es-
2.5 Center Management
tablish a "master plan" that brings all centers to a minimum level estab-
lished in the Guide.
GSA does not directly operate GSA child care centers. GSA grants author-
Resources and training to Regional Child Care Coordinators and Prop-
ity for the day-to-day management of the center either to a Board of Direc-
erty Managers and the national child care community.
tors or to a private provider. These entities use Federal space to operate
Periodic training events for regional program coordinators, center staff,
the child care center under a revocable license agreement, which includes
providers, governing boards, and agency representatives, as well as
a series of special conditions.
provision of training materials.
Special projects and publications on new initiatives and policies.
The principle management model and the parties involved are as follows:
Sponsorship of the Interagency Task Force on Federal Child Care.
The Board of Directors (which is not a GSA entity) contracts with private
Consultation on Planning, Concept Design Review and final approval for
sector providers. Variations of this model may exist, depending upon cir-
center design concept. In order to expedite the design process and to
cumstances. For instance, the sponsoring agency may obtain the license
help ensure that the final outcome meets national program objectives,
and contract directly with the provider. GSA has a Board of Director's
the facilities expertise of GSA's Office of Child Care must be involved in
Manual which can be obtained, together with other information, through
the design and planning process at the earliest stages. When a Pro-
the RCCC.
spectus Development Study (PDS) is initiated, for instance, which GSA's
PBS-140 - July 2003
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