Quality Rating & Improvement Systems Powerful Policy for Improving and Unifying Early Care and Education From Judy Goldfarb Hartford Area Child Care Collaborative From Louise Stoney & Anne Mitchell Alliance for Early Childhood Finance Forum to Explore A QRIS for Connecticut March 20, 2008 Karen Rainville CT Association for the Education of Young Children CT Head Start Association DSS Director’s Forum

Our Goals Overview of what a Quality Rating & Improvement System may look like Where CT is in the development of a QRIS Gather feedback from you as providers

So what is it?? QRIS is a system to easily identify quality levels of programs using an identifying symbol (usually stars), as well as offering incentives and supports to help programs improve quality and move through the various levels.

So What Is Its Purpose?? Helps to benchmark quality for consumers Provides incentives and resources to programs Creates stronger infrastructure to support and sustain the quality of programs regardless of setting or funding stream

A Guide for States and Communities Developing QRS Designed as a hands- on, practical resource Organized as a planning tool to use as States consider how to develop a new QRS or improve an existing one Outlines the common elements and State and community examples Available at

Financing QRIS Designed to provide guidance on QRIS funding, including: Planning Administration Technical Assistance Financial Supports and Incentives for programs and practitioners Engagement & Outreach

QRIS Starts from the perspective of ECE being Market-Driven Providers offer services for a price Consumers choose and pay Tuition is the largest source of revenue

ECE is a Unique Market because it serves both public & private needs Enables parents to work (private) Prepares children for school & life (public) Enhances productivity of educational system (public) Strengthens future workforce (public)

Good Outcomes = Higher Standards Higher Standards = Higher Costs Higher Costs = Higher Prices When consumers pay most of the bill, the result is CONFLICT !

So Where Does QRIS Fit In?? QRIS isn’t just about ratings, it is a market intervention. It includes: 1.Quality Assurance – standards, assessment & monitoring 2.Supply Side Interventions – program and practitioner supports (TA and PD) and financial incentives 3.Demand Side Interventions – ratings, consumer education and financial incentives

States with QRS

The Five Common Elements of a QRIS Standards Accountability (assessment & monitoring) Program and practitioner outreach and support Financial incentives specifically linked to compliance with quality standards Family/consumer education Source: Mitchell (2005.

Within the Standards Category ▪ Staff Qualifications & Professional Development ▪ Environment ▪ Curriculum and Learning Included in most QRIS and backed by research

Often Included in the Standards Category ▪Family Engagement ▪ Leadership and Management Included in some QRIS Research not available or not strong

QRIS Is For All Children

National Accreditation and QRIS Where does it fit? In all but 1 state QRIS, accreditation is: ▪ the highest rating (top level), or ▪ accreditation + extra criteria is top level, or ▪ accreditation is one way to reach the top level, or ▪ in points system, accreditation = points.

Supply Side: Program and Practitioner Support Technical assistance –Quality Improvement Plans –Mentoring and Coaching –Accreditation Facilitation Professional development –Training, workshops –College courses leading to degrees, distance learning Financial incentives

Supply Side: Financial Incentives Grants, bonuses and awards Scholarships Wage supplements Tax credits for ECE programs, practitioners and investors All linked to QRIS levels Source: Mitchell (2005)

Demand Side: Financial Incentives Tiered reimbursement rates (or other 3 rd party tuition subsidy) Tax credits – higher, refundable state income tax credits for parents (DCTC) Be creative!

Consumer Engagement: a Demand Side Strategy Symbols - establish a QRIS indicator (usually star) as a consumer guide Education and Outreach – ensure that consumers, funders, practitioners, the general public understand QRIS symbols and rating system Multi-faceted – communication in many forms; many messengers If we don’t fundamentally change consumer behavior we won’t change the system!

So What Are Some Key Points??

Broad Participation is Key to Effective Demand All states include child care centers and family child care homes Most include school-age programs and Head Start Some QRIS include Pre-K None include unregulated family, friend, and neighbor care High participation (among the many types of programs parents use) is key to success!

So what would it take to get you to jump in??

Bottom Line, What Have We Learned From Other States?? Does QRIS Work? Yes! Quality is improving Better child outcomes in higher quality centers (NC) Evaluations in NC, OK, PA and TN

Trends & Implications QRIS is: ▪ an accountability system ▪ a framework to unify sectors of ECE system ▪ a finance strategy that addresses market failures a fast growing trend It’s a SYSTEM!

So What Do These Things Look Like?? Block/Step System Level 1: all the Level 1 criteria must be met. Level 2: all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met. Level 3 : all the Level 1 and Level 2 and Level 3 criteria must be met Level 4: all the Level 1 and Level 2 and Level 3 and Level 4 criteria must be met Level 5: all the Level 1 and Level 2 and Level 3 and Level 4 and Level 5 criteria must be met

Point System Each level determined by number of points earned in each set of common standards Program administration Family support/engagement Staff qualifications/Professional Development Compensation Program Evaluation Licensing/Compliance

Combination System Level 1: all the Level 1 criteria must be met. Level 2: all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met. Levels 3-5: all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met, and then the program must earn a minimum of one point in each of the Level 3-5 categories. For levels 3-5, the level is determined by the total number of points earned.

National Lessons Learned ▪ Make it simple - older QRIS are being revised, for simplicity & cost-effectiveness. ▪ Make it dynamic – QRIS standards can change, based on new knowledge. ▪ Align with child outcomes – QRIS can effectively incorporate child assessments. ▪ Align QRIS Standards and Finance – programs can’t succeed without funding; funding won’t produce results without standards.

Quality Early Care & Education System A Standards-Based ECE System Design Engagement & Outreach (Selling the Vision) for Programs, Practitioners, & Consumers Engagement & Outreach (Selling the Vision) for Programs & Practitioners Monitoring & Accountability (to ensure compliance with standards) Programs: Technical Assistance & Support Practitioners: Professional Development Support/Infrastructure to Meet Standards  Legal/Regulatory Standards  Funding Standards  Voluntary Standards Quality Standards for Programs and Practitioners for Programs, Practitioners, & Consumers On-going Financial Assistance (Linked to Meeting Standards)

Aligned with Early Learning Standards to ensure compliance with standards Monitoring & Accountability linked to meeting standards On-going Financial Assistance to meet /maintain standards Professional/Program Development For consumers, programs practitioners Engagement & Outreach for programs and practitioners aligned to Early Learning Standards Quality Standards QRIS = the Framework for the Early Care and Education System

What’s Connecticut Doing CT Government Structure Law Work group Timeline

CT’s ECE Government Structure Governor’s Office ECE Cabinet Established by the Governor in 2005 Subcommittees: Accountability Family/Community EC Research & Policy Council Established by the Governor in 2006 Subcommittees: Research Management/Infrastructure Finance/Cost Modeling QRIS

Why Connecticut? This work is specified in Connecticut statute section 20 which states: –“The ECE Cabinet established under section 10-16s of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall develop minimum standards and a range of higher standards of quality for all early care and education programs receiving state funding. Not later than December 31, 2008, and annually thereafter, the cabinet shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-14a of the general statutes, on the plan developed in accordance with this section to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, education, human service and higher education and employment advancement.”

Work Group A QRIS workgroup under the auspices of the Early Childhood Research & Policy Council was convened to deliberate on the core components of a QRIS in the CT context and provide recommendations to the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. Mary Budrawich Devon Conover Christine Devine Marta Diez Dona Ditrio – Head Start Nanci Dower - CAEYC Rita Esposito Deb Flis Amparo Garcia Judy Goldfarb George Hensinger Dawn Homer-Bouthiette Shaun McNally Mary Jane Newman – DSS Centers Joan Parris Gerri Rowell Jessica Sager Gwen Samuels Kim Sandor Carlota Schechter Joyce Staples Sherri Sutera Myra Jones Taylor Amy Watson Sue Wilson

2008 Timeline February-September: monthly Work Group meetings September: recommended plan presented to the Governor’s Early Childhood Research & Policy Council (ECRPC) October: recommendations to Early Childhood Education Cabinet QRIS WG will communicate regularly with the ECRPC throughout the process via Janice Gruendel.

Standards & Accountability Establish & recommend Program Standards and criteria Develop & recommend accountability measures and monitoring system Recommend strategy for selecting administrative entity There are 4 sub-groups of the QRIS Work Group, each working on specific pieces

Program & Practitioner Supports & Outreach Develop & recommend model for responsive program and practitioner support (building strategically on current resources) Create & recommend outreach plan to recruit & retain providers in QRIS

Financing & Incentives Develop & recommend model for incentives and rewards Identify financial needs of recommended CT QRIS Assist in costing out components of QRIS in CT Identify & recommend current and potential resources & strategies for financing

Consumer Education & Outreach Develop & recommend identity and “brand” for CT QRIS Create & recommend outreach plan to inform families and fundamentally change consumer behavior

QRIS Work Flow & Internal/External Communications Issues Proposal Consideration/Discussion Confidentiality Recommendations

Decision-making Thumbs Up = Yes, I agree and support this Thumbs Sideways = this is OK; I can live with it. Thumbs Down = No, I have a serious problem and cannot support this. Majority thumbs up on important matters Voters are committed to explaining the reasons for their votes All votes are thumbs up or sideways, a decision is made If one or more thumbs are down voter and group will try to reach acceptable agreement

Draft Recommendations The CT QRIS will be a voluntary system for Early Care and Education (ECE) and School Age (SA) programs that provides strong incentives to draw all programs into the system and help all programs continuously improve quality. State agencies will require participation for funded programs.

Draft Recommendations Programs serving all children B-12 –Phase 1 = Birth to 5 –Phase 2 = All center settings (licensed and exempt) All regulated home-based settings Voluntary Five steps

Resources    Sign up for QRIS Network List to obtain information going forward: b7FYbBfLSyIkoItayg_3d_3d 

So what do you think??

Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children 2321 Whitney Avenue Suite 501 Hamden, CT Ph: Fax: