Miami-Dade County, Florida January 2010

Cost, Quality, Child Outcomes Study states 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 2 nd grade) Cognitive, language, social-emotional National interest in QRIS Incentivize and support quality in private, tuition-based industry Voluntary standards above licensing Why Quality Rating Improvement System-QRIS?

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

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 History

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

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

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

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 Components & Providers

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 Data Management

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

Baseline Rating Analysis

Star Rating after Baseline Changes in level 1 – 5 from Baseline to first Star Rating N = 35 Increased by 2 levels Increased by 1 level Maintained levels 1 – 3 Maintained levels 4 or 5 Decreased by 1 level

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 Publicizing Stars

The Children’s Trust Click For Providers. Click Quality Counts Jesse Leinfelder More Information