Miami-Dade County, Florida January 2010

1. Miami-Dade County, Florida January 2010

2. Why Quality Rating Improvement System-QRIS? Cost, Quality, Child Outcomes Study 1995 • 4 states - 400 centers • Only 8% infant care and 24% preschool care rated high quality • Some so bad as to endanger children’s well-being Children of the Cost-Quality Study Go to School 1999 • Higher quality child care correlated with better child outcomes in school (800 children thru 2nd grade) • Cognitive, language, social-emotional National interest in QRIS • Incentivize and support quality in private, tuition-based industry • Voluntary standards above licensing

3. Ensure high quality ECE through voluntary higher standards Enhance quality through supports and incentives Help families make good choices with a trustworthy rating system Quality Counts Goals

4. History • FL Early Learning Coalitions formed 1999 • Advocates studied elegant models from other states • NC, PA, OK, TN • FL Coalitions and CSCs got going (state ECE is very decentralized): • Palm Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville, Pinellas, Broward, Miami-Dade • Voluntary Multi-County QRIS Collaborative to align standards • Children’s Trust convened stakeholders to design a local system • 5 Star QRIS • ECE Professional Development

5. Standards 5 incremental steps (5 Stars) in 6 areas Learning Environment Health & Safety, Learning Activities, Interaction Staff Qualifications Ratios-Group Sizes Family Engagement Program Administration Curriculum

6. Introduction, Application, Selection (aim for representative cross-section each cohort) Link to TA and Career Advisor Extensive Self-study Formal assessment for baseline, detailed report Quality improvement plan Apply for supports Scholarships, WAGE$, Grants Work on quality improvement Renewal Annual Update; 3 year cycle for Star Rating Steps in the Process

7. Designed and funded by Children’s Trust, Early Learning Coalition (ELC), Early Childhood Initiative Foundation/Ready Schools Miami Implementation via ELC Florida International University Family Central Inc. University of Miami Mailman Center The Children's Forum Devereux Florida National Institute for Innovative Leadership United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education Additional funding leveraged Miami-Dade CAA Head Start/Early Head Start Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Ready Schools Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) Miami Dade College Partners

8. Components & Providers Quality Rating Improvement System • “Hub” project management- ELC • Technical Assistance- FIU, FCI, UM • Formal Assessment- Devereux FL • Support Grants-Achievement Awards- ELC Professional Development • Career Advisors & Registry- Children’s Forum • Wage$ Incentives- Children’s Forum • Targeted In-service Training- United Way • College Course Development- Miami Dade College

9. Data Management Continuous Quality Improvement Web-based Early Learning System-WELS • Track & analyze all QRIS data • Customize supports; help determine which supports make biggest difference ECE Professional Development Registry • Database of the ECE workforce education & experience • Teachers, trainers, trainings • Identify needs, engage partners to address needs, track progress over time Independent evaluation –FPG Institute at University of North Carolina

10. System Building All sectors working together as a coherent early care & education system

11. Baseline Rating Analysis

12. Star Rating after Baseline

13. Publicizing Stars Moving slowly • Economic intervention in market “industry” • Be careful that dis-incentives don’t outweigh incentives • Celebrate 3, 4, 5 Stars -Don’t drive out 1, 2s with negative publicity • Need critical mass of ~60% of total number rated Promotional angle: Our program cares so much about quality for your child that we are participating in Quality Counts

14. The Children’s Trust www.thechildrenstrust.org Click For Providers. Click Quality Counts Jesse Leinfelder jesse@thechildrenstrust.org 305.571.5700 More Information