Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

1. Building the Future By Investing Early Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

2. Expansion of four-year-old kindergarten Providing more school breakfast programs Created the Wisconsin Covenant Launched BadgerCare Plus Created Department of Children and Families Governor Doyle’s Commitment to Wisconsin’s Children Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

3. The Road to Improving Child Care Safety Fraud • Assess quality indicators • Provide support to child care programs • Reward quality programs • Better assist families find child care • Background checks • Dangerous programs • Links to drug trade • Millions of dollars of fraud • Fictional jobs • Fictional child care Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

4. What is “high” quality? Research suggests: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Teachers with four-year college degrees Teachers well-compensated, have ongoing training Smaller teacher-child ratios For three- and four-year-olds, use of a curriculum Interventions with families such as home visits Monitoring and site visits

5. Why is Quality Important? Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Higher school readiness Improved cognitive ability and social skills Lower use of special education classes Lower rates of grade retention Higher labor force participation Higher high school graduation rates Lower use of welfare Higher wages earned --> higher tax contributions Lower juvenile delinquency and lifetime participation in crime Lower rates of teen pregnancy and out-of-wedlock births

7. Development of YoungStar Proposal is grounded in 2005 Quality Cares for Quality Kids proposal Reflects input from 15+ listening sessions held statewide since July 1, 2008 Several changes reflective of feedback: Micro-grants Training and Technical Assistance Resources Quality link to reimbursement rates Incorporation of health and wellness points Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

8. Elements of Strong QRIS Systems Clear Goals and Expectations Incentives for meeting standards, consequences for not meeting standards Monitoring of performance Evaluation of program performance Encouraging improved performance through quality improvement support, technical assistance and financial incentives. Rand Corporation, 2009 Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

9. YoungStar will… • Support child care providers in WI • Help parents make child care choices • Align Shares payments with quality • Prevent fraud Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

10. Training & Education Quality Improvement T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships REWARD Stipends Supporting Families Together Association Child Care Food Program Courses & Credentials Child Care Information Center The Registry Strengthening Families DHS Physical Activity Initiative Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations Wisconsin Is Building on Strength Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Regulation: Licensing & Certification Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

11.   33-40 Points  23-32 Points  11-22 Points  0-10 Points Regulated but not in compliance Regulated and in regulatory compliance Regulated programs Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

12. Support Child Care Providers with… • Training • Technical Assistance • Grants Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

13. Regional Service Delivery • DCF will select six regional entities to administer YoungStar • Entities will be expected to build partnerships and connections to support providers and parents • Emphasis will be placed on entities that can leverage additional resources and have strong partnerships in place to deliver services • Regional entities will be responsible for: • Child care assessments • Administration of quality microgrants • Training and technical assistance • Assisting parents find child care • Working with DCF and other key partners for YoungStar Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

14. Service Delivery Areas Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

15. Child Care Quality Indicators Educational Qualifications Learning Environment and Curriculum Health and Well Being of Children Professional Business Practices Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

16. Quality Indicator Point Totals Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

17. Educational Qualifications Teacher or provider education is one of the strongest predictors of providing high quality early care and education. Center director education is also linked to quality. The Group and Family Child Care models provide opportunity for recognition of education levels, credit based work beyond high school, and credentials. Group Center director’s education is also an opportunity to acquire points. Wisconsin will work with The Registry to verify educational credentials. Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

18. Learning Environment and Curriculum Quality Improvement Plan Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Improving Child Outcomes Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

19. Business and Professional Practices Child Care Business Practices Practices to support teaching staff and provider Benefits for Program Staff Involving Parents in Program Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

20. Child Health and Well-Being Nutrition Physical Activity Strengthening Families and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Supporting inclusion of all children Promoting social and emotional health Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

21. Participating in YoungStar Programs who receive Wisconsin Shares will be required to participate YoungStar contract with program will be required to participate All programs must agree to timely and accurate reporting of Wisconsin Shares to participate For programs not in Wisconsin Shares, participation is voluntary Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

22. Participating in YoungStar How do programs accumulate points? What are options for gradually increasing points? Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

23. Example 1: Emily’s Family Child Care • The provider has the Infant-Toddler Credential • Program has signed YoungStar contract and has established timely and accurate reporting of Wisconsin Shares – required for participation (no points earned) • She participates in the Food Program Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

24. How program could move to 3 Star For Emily’s program to move to a 3 star program from original 4 points, she could: • Develop a quality improvement program* – self assessed. (1 pt) • Incorporate Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards into programming (1 point) • Demonstrate that she’s received WMELS training (1 point) • Demonstrate physical activity standards in program (1 point) • Document yearly budget planning and program financial assessment (1 point)* • Document strong parental involvement (2 points) *Required for 3 Star Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

25. How program could move to 4 Star For Emily’s program to move to a 4 star program starting from 11 points, she could add to her portfolio: • Administrator Credential – adds 6 points) • Use a research-based instrument for quality improvement plan (1 point) • Have an independent entity verify quality improvement plan (2 points) • Score an average of 5 on Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale with no subscale less than 3. (3 points) • Document parent handbook spelling out policies for vacation, holidays and sick leave for program staff and related family attendance policies. (1 point) *Required for 4 Star Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

26. Example 2: 3 Star Licensed Group Center – Rainbow Preschool Education 12 teachers: 6 teachers have 6 credits and 6 teachers have AA degrees Director has a related Associate Degree and an Administrator’s credential Learning Environment Quality Improvement Plan has been developed.* Curriculum is aligned with WMELS Business and Professional Practices Ongoing yearly budget review* Demonstrates 3 of or more best practice for professional development (2 points) Health and Wellness Participates in CAFCP (1point) * Required for 3 Star Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

27. Moving to 4 Star The chart on the left shows two different paths for accumulating points to move the center from a 3 to a 4 Star tar program. Required criteria for 4 Star include: • ECERS Score • Written copy of employment policies and procedures • Lead Teachers with infant/toddler or inclusion credentials for 50% of classrooms * Required for 4 Star Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

28. How will parents get information? • Individual child care provider ratings will be posted on-line • Information on quality child care will be provided by regional entities and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies in their community • www.dcf.wisconsin.gov Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

29. Additional Resources More detailed information is available on-line – www.dcf.wisconsin.gov Updates will be ongoing to website as implementation occurs Questions can be director to the Wisconsin Child Care Information Center – info@ccic.gov 608-224-6173 or 1-800-362-7353 Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

30. www.dcf.wisconsin.gov