Quality Rating and Improvement System: A Plan for Connecticut

1. Quality Rating and Improvement System: A Plan for Connecticut August 2008

2. Welcome

3. QRIS Work Group • QRIS Work Group (WG) • Early Childhood Research & Policy Council (ECPRC) • Early Childhood Education Cabinet • QRIS Guiding Committee

4. QRIS Timeline • March - September 2008 WG Meetings • August 2008 Community Forums to present draft recommendations to the public and gather feedback • September 2008 recommendations to ECRPC • October 2008 ECRPC recommendations to ECE Cabinet • December 2008 ECE Cabinet makes final recommendations to Legislature The information contained in this presentation is reflective of the CT QRIS Work Group. These are recommendations that will be presented to ECRPC and EC Cabinet for acceptance.

5. Purpose of QRIS A Quality Rating and Improvement System: • Measures quality • Offers Supports to help programs meet these standards • Continuously improve quality • Promotes the quality of programs

6. Resources Used to Form Recommendations Research included: • Extensive literature and website reviews • Presentations • Personal Interviews • Public Forums • Consultation with Experts

7. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) defines a QRIS as: • “ a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs.”

8. The QRIS National Movement • Beginning in 1998, 17 states have implemented statewide Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. • Nearly all of the remaining states are in the development, pilot, field testing, or regional implementation phases

9. Guiding Principles of the WG • Base quality standards & criteria on research • Coordinate with existing systems • Identify priority standards • Use measurable criteria • Keep it simple

10. Goals of the Work Group • Improve the well-being of children in Connecticut • Achieve high quality across ALL early care and education programs in all areas of Connecticut

11. Participating Program Types • Licensed center-based ECE programs • Licensed-exempt center-based ECE programs (including those operated in schools) • Regulated Family Day Care Homes and Group Day Care Homes

12. Building Block Approach • All participating programs will have to meet the same set of specified quality criteria to achieve each level of quality and • Required to achieve all of the requirements for that and all preceding levels.

13. Level 5 Accredited/ Approved PLUS Level 4 Accredited/Approved programs Level 3 Moving toward accreditation/approval standards Improving beyond licensing regulations Level 2 Level 1 Licensed by CT Department of Health Entry Level License-exempt and unlicensed programs System Entry + 5 Rated Levels Improving beyond licensing regulations

14. Entry Level ENTRY • Allows unlicensed programs mandated to participateto apply, be oriented to the continuous quality improvement (CQI) process, and be approved and evaluated • Entry Level programs must agree to become licensed within a designated time frame and must develop and implement an Individual Program Improvement Plan

15. Level 1: Licensed Programs • Program meets compliance as demonstrated by standards of health, safety and basic support for child development • Individual Program Improvement Plan (IPIP)

16. Level 2 • Program is licensed and implements good practices above and beyond licensing expectations in all domains of quality

17. Level 3 • Program is licensed; • Consistently implements good practices above and beyond licensing expectations and; • Demonstrates progress toward becoming accredited/approved by meeting critical criteria in all domains of quality

18. Level 4: National Accreditation and Approval Systems • Program is licensed and has demonstrated a commitment to establishing high quality services by achieving accreditation/approval.

19. Level 4: National Accreditation and Approval Systems The accrediting bodies for the CT QRIS will include: • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); • National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC) and • Head Start (HS)

20. Level 5: National Accreditation and Approval Systems PLUS • Program is licensed • Program is accredited or approved by one of the recognized accrediting/approval bodies • A model program that consistently demonstrates exemplary practice in all domains of quality

21. Standards & Categories of Quality • Staff Qualifications and Professional Development • Family Engagement and Support • Learning Environment • Leadership and Management • Health and Safety Cultural Competence will be included and woven into each domain

22. Piloting Recommendations will be generated to include a piloting or field study phase

23. Program and Practitioner Supports

24. Goals for Improvement QRIS • Develop school ready children • Bring about lasting improvements to ECE settings that promote good child development • Build the desire and capacity in programs for continuous improvement and maintaining quality • Motivate and retain participation in the QRIS across setting and among public and private providers

25. Availability of a Continuum of Supports • Before the QRIS Rating • After Receiving QRIS Rating • Program Quality Improvement Assistance • Practitioner Assistance • Maintenance Assistance

26. Before and During the Initial Rating • Sign on Bonus • Orientation to QRIS (e.g. levels, benefits) • Pre-rating, self-assessment (e.g. materials and work shops) • Outreach to parents (What does QRIS mean for me?) • Tax Incentive to Parents • Tax Incentives for programs (e.g. corporate, income, property)

27. Program Quality Improvement • Outreach • Technical Assistance • Improvement Planning/Reviewing Results of Rating • Licensing • Facilities • Accreditation Facilitation • Grants for Improvement • Low or No Cost Local Level Supports

28. Practitioner Supports • Scholarships • Wage Supplements • Bonuses • Tax Incentives • Loan Forgiveness • Health Benefits

29. Maintenance • Grants for Continuing Quality • Public Recognition

30. Finance and Incentives Linked to the Participation

31. Target Groups for QRIS Incentives • Licensed or License-exempt Group Day Care Homes and Center-based Early Care and Education providers receiving state funds (through DSS, SDE, DCF, or Care4Kids) • Licensed or License-exempt Group Day Care Homes and Center-based Early Care and Education providers not receiving state funds of any kind. • Licensed Family Day Care Homes receiving state funds through Care4Kids reimbursements • Licensed Family Day Care Homes not receiving state funds through Care4Kids reimbursements

32. Audiences for Incentives Incentives are tailored to target these audiences: • Programs (organizations or family child care homes providing early care and education services) • Directors/Teachers • Consumers • Businesses

33. Types of Incentives • Targeted Incentives • Linked Incentives

34. Programs: Targeted Incentives • New incentives to providers to encourage participation in the QRIS program include: • Sign On Grant • Attainment Grants • Program Improvement Technical Assistance • Program Improvement Grants • Early Childhood Development Tax Credits

35. Directors and Teachers • Scholarships • Wage Subsidies • Bonuses • Tax Incentives • Loan Forgiveness • Health Benefits

36. Programs: Linked Incentives • Existing or proposed initiatives that should be linked to and enhanced by the QRIS system include: • Tiered School Readiness and DSS Child Development Center Grants • Tiered Reimbursement for Care4Kids or other subsidies • Facility improvement loans (CHEFA) • Practitioner Supports

37. Consumer • Family Tax Credit

38. Business • Business Tax Credit • Human Capital Investment Credit • Neighborhood Assistance Act

39. Administration Recommendations will be generated

41. Contact Information

42. Questions