Program Evaluation:

In order to maintain the highest level of accountability, the Judy Centers are evaluated annually by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)and the Charles County Human Services Partnership, an external evaluator.

Components

Every year, MSDE visits the Judy Centers and rates them on how well they provide:

• Full day/full year services
• Free meals to those who qualify
• Service coordination
• Early education programs
• Family support services
• Early identification of and intervention for children with disabilities
• Preschool special education programs
• Health services
• Staff development
• Family involvement programs
• Accredited (high quality) class-rooms.

Each component is rated on a 0-5 scale with 5 being the highest.

On January 25, 2005, MSDE visited the Judy Centers and rated every component 5.

The Human Services Parnership annually evaluates the progress the Judy Center makes in promoting school readiness, as measured by:

1. child's health
2. parent/child interaction
3. positive developmental experiences
4. parent's education.

The evaluation shows that the Judy Centers continue to demonstrate progress toward attaining their overarching goal of school readiness.