WHEREAS, as provide in the Philippine Constitution, the State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and shall exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions;
WHEREAS, RA 10410, otherwise known as the Early Years Act (EYA) of 2013, was institutionalized to create a system for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable;
WHEREAS, National ECCD System aims to ensure that young children are provided quality services and access to health, nutrition, and early learning in a safe, sustainable, and inclusive environment;
WHEREAS, the National ECCD System also aims to involve multi-sectors and collaborate with agencies such as the national and local levels in the government, service providers, families and communities, non-government organizations, professional associations and academic institutions;
WHEREAS, the National ECCD System one of the goals of RA 10410 is to integrate the Registration, Granting of Permits, and Recognition to Public and Private Child Development Centers offering ECCD to zero (0) to four (4) years of age;
WHEREAS, this ordinance seeks to adhere to the mandate of the National Government to register all institutions providing Early Childhood Care and Development with the Local Government as part of its accreditation requirements;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINEDAS IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of San Juan in a session duly assembled that:
SECTION 1: DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT - refers to the full range of health, nutrition, early education and social services programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of young children from birth to age six (6), to promote their optimum growth and development. These programs include:
(a) Center-based programs, such as the day care service established under Republic Act No. 6972, public and private pre-schools, kindergarten or school-based programs, community or church-based early childhood education programs initiated by non-government organizations or people’s organizations, workplace-related child care and education programs, child-minding centers, health centers and stations; and
(b) Home-based programs, such as the neighborhood-based play groups, family day care programs, parent education and home visiting programs.
2. CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS/LEARNING CENTERS (CDC/LC) -institutions providing early childhood care and development programs for children aged zero (0) to four (4).
3. RECOGNITION – the level of rating and number of years that a learning center can operate before undergoing another assessment.
4. CITY SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT – abbreviated as CSWD
SECTION 2. OBJECTIVE. To adopt the guidelines regarding the registration, granting of permits, and recognitions to all child development centers situated in the City of San Juan. Further, to ensure that Child Development Centers adhere to the standards set by the National ECCD Coordinating Council (as provided for by Section 8 of Republic Act 8980: ECCD Act).
SECTION 3. SCOPE. All Child Development Centers, whether government run, privately owned, NGO or GOCC owned, operating in the City of San Juan.
SECTION 4. PROCESSES.
1. REGISTRATION
1.1 The Registration shall be undertaken by all Child Development Centers at least six (6) months before the scheduled start of classes for the specific school year.
1.2. The registration shall take place in the Office of the City Mayor through the CSWD Officer.
1.3. Authorized Representative for CDC/LC registration:
1.3.1. Public CDC/LC - Barangay Captain
1.3.2. Private CDC/LC - Administrator/Principal/Director
1.3.3. Non-Government Organizations/Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (NGO/GOCC) CDC/LC - any authorized representative of the agency
2. GRANTING OF PERMIT TO OPERATE
2.1. Public CDC/LCs shall not seek Permit to Operate. Instead, the City Mayor/Barangay Captain/Authorized Person shall be furnished a copy of the essential elements of the CDC/LC for appropriate action, such as:
2.1.a. A safe and healthy environment;
2.1.b. Clientele prospective of children to be enrolled;
2.1.c. Child Development Teacher/Worker who provides services needed.
2.2. Private CDC/LCs and NGO/GOCC run CDC/LCs shall need to seek a Permit to Operate from Office of the City Mayor through the CSWD Office during the Registration or six (6) months before the scheduled start of classes for a specific school year.
2.2.1. Payment of imposed fees shall be paid, at the City Treasury Department, with the following amounts:
Application and Inspection Fee- P250.00
Administrative Fee-P1,000.00
2.2.2. Required Documents for the application of a permit
a. Photocopy of the SEC Registration;
b. Profile of the Center that describes its location, ownership, goals and objectives, and the programs to be offered;
c. Photos and Descriptions of the lot size, indoor and outdoor area, number of buildings/classrooms, facilities, equipment, and instructional materials available for effective instruction;
d. Number of children to be admitted, list of teachers, names of administrator/principal/directors/ and other staff; and
e. All other pertinent information as required by ECCD Council.
2.2.3. A CSWD authorized representative shall conduct a visit and site inspection of the private or NGO or GOCC CDC/LC to determine its compliance.
a. The visit and site inspection shall be conducted within one (1) month after the filing of the application for Permit to Operate.
b. b. The CSWD representative shall submit an Inspection Report to the City Mayor within one (1) week after the visit. The report shall include the required documents for application and/or recommendation for the issuance or non-issuance of the Permit to Operate depending on the compliance to the requirements.
b.1. For Qualified CDC/LCs- A Certificate to Operate for Three Years shall be signed by the City Mayor and shall be issued.
b.2. For Unqualified CDC/LCs- A Letter to Comply Requirements, with the Inspection Report attached, shall be signed by the City Mayor and shall be issued. The CDC/LC is given five (5) months to one (1) year to comply with the lacking requirements.
3. GRANTING OF RECOGNITION
3.1. The Granting of Recognition to the CDC/LC shall be in three (3) levels depending on the maximum total points earned by the CDC/LC during its assessment. The three (3) levels are:
a. Level 1 Recognition or Satisfactory Rating is given for Three (3) years
b. Level 2 Recognition or Very Satisfactory Rating is given for Four (4) years
c. Level 3 Recognition or Outstanding Rating is given for Five (5) years
3.2. The Granting of Recognition involves two (2) types of assessment processes: Internal Assessment and External Assessment.
3.3. Application for Granting of Recognition
3.3.1. All CDC/LCs shall seek its Recognition after Three (3) years of its establishment or having issued its Permit to Operate or earlier.
3.3.2. A Letter of Intent for Recognition shall be written by the Child Development Teacher (for Public CDC/LCs) or the Administrator/Principal/Director/Authorized Representative (for Private, NGO or GOCC CDC/LCs) addressed to the City Mayor through the CSWD Office.
3.3.3. Payment of imposed fees shall be paid, at the City Treasury Department, with the following amounts:
Application and Inspection Fee- P500.00
Administrative Fee-P3,000.00
3.3.4. The CSWD Officer shall endorse the Letter of Intent to the City Mayor who will officially endorse the letter favorably to the National ECCD Council through the DSWD Regional Office.
3.3.5. The DSWD Regional Office shall then inform the City Mayor through the CSWD Office that the CDC/LC can commence with its conduct of Internal Assessment. The CSWD Office shall be responsible for informing the CDC/LC.
3.4. Process of Assessment
3.4.1. INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
a. For Public CDC/LCs, the CSWD Officer shall inform the CDC/LC that an Internal Assessment Team (IAT) shall be convened to be headed by the Child Development Teacher (CDT) with one or more members from any of the following: Barangay Captain, Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Barangay Health Worker, or the President of the Parent-Teacher Association.
b. For Private or NGO/GOCC CDC/LCs, the CSWD Officer shall inform the CDC/LC that an Internal Assessment Team (IAT) shall be convened headed by the Administrator/Director/Principal with one or more members of the following: selected Child Development Teacher (CDT), Members of the Board, or the President of the Parent-Teacher Association.
c. The Internal Assessment Team of the CDC/LC shall be provided with technical Assistance by the CSWD Officer.
d. The Assessment Tools, Forms, and Processes approved by the ECCD Council for the Granting of Recognition shall be utilized by the CDCL/LCs applying for their Recognition to ensure that all CDC/LCs are in compliance with ECCD Standards.
e. The Internal Assessment shall be undertaken for at least Three (3) months.
f. The Internal Assessment Team shall submit the results to the CSWD Office who shall conduct a visit to validate the results submitted.
i. If the CDC/LC meets the required score, the CSWD favorable recommends to the City Mayor the CDC/LCs shall undertake the External Assessment. The City Mayor officially informs the DSWD Regional Office that the CDC/LC is ready for the External Assessment.
ii. If the CDC/LC does not meet the required score, the City Mayor through the CSWD Office shall inform the CDC/LC to comply with the requirements in the areas that it failed within six (6) to twelve (12) months.
3.4.2. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
3.4.2.1. The ECCD Council authorizes the DSWD Regional Office to inform the City Mayor of the one (1) to two (2)-day External Assessment schedule and name/s of the evaluator/s.
3.4.2.2.The CSWD Office informs the Child Development Teacher or the Administrator/Principal/Director to orient the members of the Internal Assessment Team of the following:
i. Date and purpose of the External Assessment;
ii Observations of the CDC/LC staff during the actual learning session;
iii. Interview of the Internal Assessment Team (Center Staff, Partners/Stakeholders) by the Evaluator/s; and
iv. Access to complete pertinent documents during the visit.
3.4.2.3. The DSWD Regional Office shall organize and deputize one (1) to three (3) Evaluators from the CSWD Office and an Administrator/Director/Principal of a Private or NGO/GOCC CDC/LC (optional).
3.4.2.4. The Evaluators should have undergone training and received a Certificate of Proficiency for the External Assessment of CDC/LCs from the ECCD Council.
3.4.2.5. The Evaluators shall:
i. Conduct site visits;
ii. Review documentation of the CDC/LC’s internal assessment; and
iii. Use the appropriate method in gathering the information/data in the different indicators cited in the assessment tools.
3.4.2.6. The Evaluator/s shall document the results of the External Assessment. If the CDC/LC complies with the requirements meeting the required score, the Evaluators shall recommend to the ECCD Council through the DSWD Regional Office the Conferment of Recognition one (1) week after the assessment.
3.4.2.7.Levels of Recognition
a. Level 1 or Satisfactory Rating – The CDC/LC has demonstrated mandatory compliance with the Standards and Guidelines that shows effectiveness of quality service implementation and is given for three (3) years.
b. Level 2 or Very Satisfactory Rating – This means that the CDC/LC has demonstrated optimal compliance with the Standards and Guidelines that shows effectiveness of quality service implementation and is given for four(4) years.
c. Level 3 or Outstanding Rating – This means that the CDC/LC has demonstrated highest compliance with the Standards and Guidelines that makes the CDC/LC a Center of Excellence and is given for five (5) years.
3.4.2.8. The Evaluator shall defer the Recognition of the CDC/LC that does not comply with the set requirements in the assessment. The Report shall cite the technical assistance needed and shall submit the report one (1) week after the assessment to the ECCD Council through the DSWD Regional Office, who shall inform the City Mayor through the CSWD Office that the CDC/LC shall be given one (1) year to comply with its deficiency.
3.4.2.9. A CDC/LC that has been Granted Recognition is encouraged to maintain its status. When the number of years of its Recognition has lapsed, the CDC/LC has to file its Letter of Intent to seek re-accreditation at the City Mayor’s Office through the CSWD Office.
3.4.2.10. Areas for Evaluation
a. Area I: Health, Nutrition, and Safety
b. Area II: Physical Environment and Safety
c. Area III: Interactions and Relationships Between Staff and Children, Among Children and Other Adults
d. Area IV: Staff Qualifications, Staff Development, and Continuing Education
e. Area V: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
f. Area VI: Family Involvement and Community Linkages
g. Area VII: Leadership, Program, Management, and Support
SECTION 5. FUNDING. The amounts necessary for the implementation of this Ordinance shall be appropriated in the next annual or supplemental budget;
SECTION 6. The City Treasurer is hereby authorized collect fees from the applying institutions and to set aside necessary funds and disburse the same, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures, and to the availability of funds;
SECTION 7. The issuance and approval hereof is subject to compliance to all existing laws and Commission on Audit rules and regulations on expenditures and appropriations;
SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If, for any reasons, any parts or provisions of this Code shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 9. REPEALING CLAUSE. All ordinances, resolutions, executive orders and other issuances which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Code are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after the issuance of a copy of this Ordinance to all existing Child Development Centers in the City.