1 Early Education and Care Advisory Council September 20, 2013 Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) UPDATES

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Massachusetts has developed high quality benchmarks, which are aligned with state early childhood standards (MA Early Learning Guidelines for Infants & Toddlers, Preschool Learning Guidelines and the Pre-K Common Core of the MA Curriculum Frameworks), as well as some Head Start, National Association of Educating Young Children accreditation, and other early learning and development standards. 2

There are five categories in QRIS: 1.) Curriculum and Learning a. Curriculum, Assessment and Diversity b. Teacher/Child Relationships and Interactions 2.) Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments 3.) Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development a. Designated Program Administrator Qualifications and Professional Development b. Program Staff Qualifications and Professional Development 4.) Family and Community Engagement 5.) Leadership, Management and Administration 3 QRIS is a Comprehensive Assessment that Encompasses All Programmatic Aspects

Three Different Program Types The five categories and two sub-categories remain consistent, however the individual standards have been adapted for effectiveness in three different program types: Center-Based and School Based (CBSB) Family Child Care (FCC) After School and Out of School Time Programs (ASOST) 4

QRIS Updates July and August 2013 Program Quality Specialists Caseload QRIS Working Group NAEYC/QRIS Alignment Study QRIS Health Advisors QRIS Improvement Grants QRIS Program Manager (On-line Application System) Professional Development Requirements APT-O and APT-Q Tools Interagency Reliability QRIS Policy Manual QRIS Orientation Sessions BUILD National Meeting/RTT Technical Assistance QRIS Q&A QRIS Field Surveys QRIS Validation Study Level One License Exempt Programs PAC Environmental Rating Scales Policy Development

Program Quality Specialists Caseload- Caseloads have been established for each region. A table identifying PQS, CCR&R and EPS Grantee for all Massachusetts cities and towns is in development. QRIS Working Group- the mission statement has been created, and meeting dates have been scheduled. EEC has now begun outreach to individuals who have shared an interest in participating in this group, or have been recommended by EEC staff or stakeholders. NAEYC/QRIS Alignment Study- 11 visits have been completed, 7 visits are scheduled for September. All visits will be done by October. The study findings are expected in November. EEC staff will be presenting with NAEYC at the national conference in November. QRIS Health Advisors- Four HA’s have been hired and are supporting QRIS by: Developing criteria for QRIS Health Consultant visits (increasing requirements from Level 1 through Level 4) Identifying and/or developing trainings that support programs with health and safety related QRIS standards Providing QRIS Health Consultant visits to FCC providers that have requested an exemption for this standard (as part of the pilot only) Developing an orientation for QRIS Health Consultants 6

QRIS Improvement Grants- Round 1 grants were awarded to 368 programs. The total amount awarded up to $1,587,386 (cost reimbursement basis). Awards By Program Type: FCC – 133 $541, CB – 165 $779, ASOST – 70 $265, Awards By Region: Region 1 64 $254, Region 2 49 $161, Region $548, Region 4 35 $148, Region 5 72 $308, Region 6 43 $165, Round 2 of the grant closed on September 10, Five technical assistance meetings were held throughout the Commonwealth. Funding options include: durable goods and service option program planning time Funding amount available to programs: a program/educator that serves 20 children or less- eligible for up to $3,000 a program that serves children- eligible for up to $5,000 a program that serves 100 children or more- eligible for up to $7,000 7

8 QRIS Program Manager (QPM)- EEC staff and UMDI staff have been reviewing the on-line application system in preparation for the launch of a revised and more user-friendly system. QRIS Professional Development Requirements- EEC has collected QRIS professional development resources that are being used by members of the field. We have also mapped the required trainings to the appropriate standards, and begun to identify the availability of appropriate trainings. EEC will reach out to members of the field beginning in the fall, to help identify key content area needed in each of the required trainings. APT-O/APT-Q Tools- EEC staff are working with NIOST and ESE to build relationships and determine how best to support the field with trainings on the APT-O and APT-Q tools. EEC is also mapping the standards to the revised versions of the tools.

Interagency Reliability- The Program Quality Specialist Unit has created a standardized site visit protocol for Level 1 and Level 2 programs. Work has also begun on standardizing: orientation for programs/providers technical assistance for programs/providers verification methods for QRIS application documents QRIS Policy Manual- EEC staff has begun to work on a QRIS policy manual (with support from our RTT Technical Assistance). QRIS Orientation Sessions- Program Quality Specialists have begun holding QRIS orientation sessions after regional license-renewal meetings. BUILD National Meeting- 1 EEC staff member and 2 UMDI staff members attended the national meeting July 31-August 2 in D.C. Participants attended breakout sessions and connected with QRIS representatives from other states. 9

QRIS Q & A- EEC has begun development of a QRIS Q &A. EEC will build the Q&A monthly based on questions posed by the field. QRIS Field Surveys- UMDI will be administering a QRIS survey to the field this fall, to programs/providers participating in QRIS, as well as programs/providers not participating in QRIS. We hope to gain a better understanding of strengths and challenges of QRIS, as well as gauge the interest of non-participants. QRIS Validation Study- The QRIS Pilot Study was completed in June EEC and UMDI are now working together to re-examine the QRIS Validation Study design, with support from our Senior Advisor for the Administration for Children and Families. Key questions include: Is there a difference in program quality at different QRIS levels? Are child outcomes stronger at the higher QRIS levels? Key concerns: Sample selection (tiers, program types, cities/towns, ages of the children) Outcomes (cognitive, language, social/emotional, approaches to learning, physical) Assessment Tools/Instruments Timeline

QRIS Level 1 License-Exempt Programs- EEC is working on a new affidavit and simplified checklist for license-exempt programs that are participating in QRIS. Peer Assistance and Coaching (PAC)- The field has been solicited to apply to become Consultant Teachers (CTs) or Mentees. Some quality CTs and Mentees were identified through a competitive process. EPS Grantees are assisting with recruitment of additional CTs and Mentees. Scopes of work were awarded for the following: Relationship-based coaching training: Little Sprouts CLASS training: UMass Boston CLASS reliable observers: Early Childhood Associates Scopes of work were also put out for ERS reliable raters and an Instructional cloud-based platform to support coaching. Environmental Rating Scales Policy Development- Approximately 340 classroom observations have been completed. EEC and Wellesley College are working together on policy development that will address the challenges identified through ERS classroom observations. EEC will engage the QRIS Working Group, EEC Board Policy and Research Committee and others throughout the process.

Quality Rating and Improvement System Program Engagement LEVEL 1 GRANTED * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

LEVEL 2 GRANTED * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

LEVEL 3 GRANTED PENDING RELIABLE RATER VISIT * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

SELF-ASSESSED LEVEL 1 APPLICATIONS – IN PROCESS OR WAITING FOR REVIEW * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

* Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count SELF-ASSESSED LEVEL 2 APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS OR WAITING FOR REVIEW

SELF-ASSESSED LEVEL 3 APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS OR WAITING FOR REVIEW * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

SELF-ASSESSED LEVEL 4 APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS OR WAITING FOR REVIEW * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

NO SELF-ASSESSED LEVEL APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS OR WAITING FOR REVIEW * Data taken on 7/18/13, not a unique count

Questions, comments, concerns…