QRIS 2015 Program Quality Improvement Grant

1. QRIS 2015 Program Quality Improvement Grant Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Meetings February 2015 Wendy Valentine, M.Ed. Senior Director, CI and Early Education Partnerships Project Manager, QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

2. Background Information • QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education and after-school settings • EEC formally began developing its Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) during the spring of 2008 • EEC fully implemented the Massachusetts QRIS in January 2011

3. Brain Building in Progress • The work of the EEC is steeped in the notion that brain building is in progress for young children in enriching environments with caring adults and meaningful and engaging interactions • The latest science shows that these early experiences actually build the architecture of the developing brain; much like a house is built from the bottom up • We know that children's earliest experiences are especially important because building the human brain begins even before birth; a strong foundation in early years greatly increases the chance of positive outcomes • BBIP Website: http://brainbuildinginprogress.org

4. National QRIS Implementation

5. EEC and United Way • The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and have partnered together to support and strengthen the capacity of early education and out of school time program leaders to identify, prioritize, and implement improvements that move them forward in the state’s Quality Rating Improvement System • This grant application’s purpose is to provide QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants to all eligible programs/educators in the mixed delivery system to make program improvements, in pursuit of upward progress on the levels defined in the QRIS system

6. Goals • QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant is intended to offer funding to support programs to advance towards a higher level on the QRIS system • Support programs/educators to engage in a process of continuous quality improvement • Enhance outcomes for all children in Massachusetts, especially those populations most at risk

7. Funding • Funds Type: Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant (RTTT-ELCG) • Funds Source: Federal • Fund use for this initiative must be aligned directly with the purchase resources that will allow an educator/program to advance on the QRIS system  • All funds from this grant must be expended, and products/services received by grantees, by October 30, 2015

10. Eligible Grant Applicants • Be part of EEC’s mixed delivery system • Currently be serving at least one child receiving financial assistance as of February 15, 2015 • Submit a final self-assessed QRIS level 1, 2, 3, or 4 application or documentation of a granted QRIS Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 in EEC’s online QRIS Program Manager (QPM) by February 15, 2015 • Program must demonstrate current use of Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Tools including submission of a signed Verification of Use of QRIS Measurement Tool(s)

11. Eligible Grant Applicants (cont.) • Programs must complete all grant submission requirements including: • Complete online grant application by March 2, 2015 • Submit required documents by mail by March 2, 2015 • For EEC-licensed programs: License must be in good standing with EEC • Must be in good fiscal standing with the Commonwealth

12. QRIS Participation • Programs applying for grant funding are required to participate in the Massachusetts QRIS • Required to submit a printed copy of their program’s QRIS Summary of Application Profile from the online QRIS Program Manager showing self-assessed or granted level, QRIS number, and status with this grant application • Programs that do not provide proof of a submitted final self-assessed QRIS Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 application or documentation of a granted QRIS Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 prior to February 15, 2015 will not be eligible for funding under this grant opportunity

13. How Do I Know What My QRIS Rating Is?

14. Environment Rating Scale (ERS) • Programs must demonstrate current use of ERS Tools • Submit a signed Verification of Use of QRIS Measurement Tool(s) documenting use of the ECERS-R, ITERS-R, FCCERS-R, or SACERS in the program for each classroom completed in the past twelve months. • The ERS observation may be done for self-assessment purposes; a observation completed by a Reliable Rater is not required to be eligible for this grant opportunity.

15. Optional Regional Support Meetings • A series of Regional Technical Assistance and Resources meetings will be held during the grant period to provide additional support and access to resources to 2015 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant grantees • Participation in these meeting is optional and not a requirement of the grant • Meetings will be held in all five EEC regions • Dates and locations of these meetings will be posted at http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

16. Optional Regional Support Meetings (cont.) • Detailed information regarding the Program Improvement Plan requirements, reimbursement for Program Planning grants, and technical assistance support will be provided to grantees at this event • Translation services will be available for participants on request • Additional information to support grantees will also be posted in the QRIS Learning Community at http://www.qriscommunity.org

17. Program Planning Funding • A program/educator that serves 20 children or less will be eligible for up to $1,500 • A program that serves 21 children or more will be eligible for up to $2,500 • A program that serves 100 children or more will be eligible for up to $3,500 • The number used to determine eligibility is the number of currently enrolled children as of February 15, 2015, not the licensed capacity

18. Program Planning Reimbursement • All Program Planning funds awarded to a program/educator will be paid on a reimbursement basis • If an applicant is approved for funding, the program/educator must purchase the services and, after receiving the services or goods, submit evidence of their out-of-pocket expenses for reimbursement • Educators/programs are encouraged to request reimbursement in a timely manner as soon as funds are fully expended • Only one request for reimbursement may be submitted

19. Durable Goods Funding • A program/educator that serves 20 children or less will be eligible for goods valued at up to $3,000 • A program that serves 21-99 children will be eligible for goods valued at up to $5,000 • A program that serves 100 children or more will be eligible for goods valued at up to $7,000 • The number used to determine eligibility is the number of currently enrolled children as of February 15, 2015, not the licensed capacity

20. Funding Allocation • Submission of an application does not guarantee that your program will be awarded a grant • Proposals will be accepted for consideration beginning February 2, 2015 and reviewed on an ongoing basis; no proposal for this round of funding will be accepted after 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2015 • Proposals for funding that meet all the grant eligibility requirements will be evaluated • United Way, in collaboration with EEC, will ensure funding is allocated in a manner which ensures diversity in terms of geographic and program/educator type representation to the extent possible based on the applications received

21. Online Grant Application The online grant application will open on or about February 2, 2015. Programs are asked to: • Provide program and financial information • Propose Program Planning expenditures • Identify how funding will be used to support development of a Program Improvement Plan • Request funds for Program Planning expenditures and Administrative Overhead Access online grant application: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

22. Timeline 1-27-2015 Grant Solicitation Released 2-2-2015 Online Grant Application Opens February 2015 Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Meetings 2-23-2015 All Questions must be submitted in writing by this date 3-2-2015 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant Application Closes All required documents must be mailed and postmarked by this date Online grant application must be submitted by 4:00 pm on this date 4-15-2015 List of Grant RecipientsPosted May-June 2015 Continuous Quality Improvement Plans Developed and Submitted by Programs 7-1 to 7-15-2015 Continuous Quality Improvement Plans Reviewed by TAP 7-15-2015 Phase One - Final Outcomes and Measures Form due (must be completed online)  July-October 2015 Phase Two – Continuous Quality Improvement Plan Implementation 10-30-2015 All goods and services purchased by grantees with these grant funds must be received and accepted by this date. 11-15-2015 Phase Two - Final Outcomes and Measures Form due (must be completed online)

23. Submission Instructions • March 2, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. is the deadline for submission of documents; they must be mailed and postmarked by this date • March 2, 2015 at 4:00 pm is the deadline for completion of online grant application • Grant application must be completed online • Submit signed copies of required documents by mail as directed in the Grant Solicitation • Applicants who do not complete the online grant application and submit documentation will not be considered for funding

24. Required Application Forms Must be mailed and postmarked by March 2, 2015: • Grant Application Document Cover Page • Commonwealth Terms & Conditions • W-9 with DUNS # • Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing • Executive Order 504 Certification • Grant Disbursement Authorization • Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act • RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying • Verification of Use of QRIS Measurement Tool(s) • Consent for a Pre and Post Quality Assessment • Grant Contact Information • QRIS Summary of Application Profile • Detailed Schedule Form Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

25. Required Forms for Family Child Care Systems • Must be mailed and postmarked by March 2, 2015: • Family Child Care SystemDocument Cover Page • Provider Consent Form (one per each affiliated grant application) • Commonwealth Terms & Conditions • W-9 with DUNS # • Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing • Executive Order 504 Certification • Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act • RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

26. Resources Key Contacts • Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants • Grant Application - questions may be directed to QRIS@supportunitedway.org for inclusion in the Question and Answer Documents • Online Grant Application – for technical questions use the help function within the application; additional questions may be directed to QRIS@supportunitedway.org • EEC QRIS Program Manager – access the Program Manager at https://www.eec.state.ma.us/qrisstatewide; technical questions about the on-line QRIS application and self-assessment may be directed to your EEC Regional QRIS Contact (listed below)

27. Regional QRIS contacts – Part 1

28. Regional QRIS contacts – Part 2

29. Regional QRIS contacts – Part 3

30. Questions? Thank you for participating in this Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Meeting Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants