Collaboration Between 619 and Delaware Stars Verna Thompson and Rena Hallam

Agenda  History and Context for Delaware Stars  619 Engagement in QRIS  Considerations and Lessons Learned

History and Context for DE Stars QRIS  2007  Test Pilot for DE Stars QRIS  619 Coordinator on QRIS Advisory Committee  Children with Special Needs - Separate DE Stars component  2011  Governor Markell provides $22 million surplus  Funded -Delaware Stars QRIS  Tiered Reimbursement for Programs in Higher Tiers  2012  Delaware receives Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant  49% Funds - DE Stars QRIS Tiered Reimbursement Education Enhancements - Staff

Delaware’s application is built around two key goals : To accelerate advancement of the state’s system of supports and services for young children and their families; and To enhance current practice for Delaware to become an outstanding national model Delaware’s RTT ELC Application Strategy 12% of funds requested 49% of funds requested 28% of funds requested 8% of funds requested Note: 2% of funds requested are for staff support and 1% for required technical assistance.

Strengthening Stars  High Quality Programs “Stars … will be aggressively promoted as a unified framework for quality and vehicle for improvement, to be adopted and understood by programs, educators, and families.” – DE RTT-ELC Application Key Activities  Stars tiered reimbursement  Stars measurement and evaluation  Technical assistance and support  Purchase of care enhancements  Family engagement Number of Programs Participation in Stars by Rating 5 Significant Goals Drastically increase participation in Stars 100% of licensed centers, ECAP, Head Start 45% of family child care providers 50% Part B Section 619 and Title I Create POC efficiencies Increase family awareness of Stars and the importance of program quality (2015)

Strengthen Stars  High Quality Programs Delaware Stars QRIS Five Quality Tiers Tier 1 – OCCL License Tier 5 – Highest Level of Quality Four Dimensions (Inclusion is embedded in all) Learning Environments Family and Community Partnerships Professional Development and Qualifications Management and Administration

Redesign of Delaware Stars  Structural Change from Building Blocks to a Points/Hybrid System  Modify SLD 1 as an induction phase – “Commitment to Quality”  Emphasis on stakeholder involvement and systems change  Reconceptualize standards and practice to build on and integrate with the existing state structure  Reinvigorate technical assistance with a strengths- based, relationship-based model 7

Redesign of Delaware Stars  Stars Management Team Focus –  Engage more programs in Stars  Use a strengths-based approach to quality improvement  Target programs serving high needs children and their families 8

Comparative Participation Rates 2010 and

Comparative Star Level Distribution 10

619 Engagement in QRIS  DE Stars Standards  Inclusion indicator included in each component  Will lead to improved quality settings for children with disabilities  619 Program Participation in DE Stars  Developing 619 Procedures Manual – aligning standards with DE Stars  Will lead to clearly defined procedures for 619 programs in DE  Will lead to improved inclusive settings for 619 programs

Partnership Between Delaware Stars and 619 Programs Strategies to build coordinated PD system  619 on Professional Development Committee  EIEIO – Expanding Inclusive Early Intervention Opportunities Committee  Developed Inclusion Certificate for Early Childhood  Integrated PD Work Group with Part C and 619  Information sharing on Delaware Stars Quality Standards  Information sharing on special education topics  Work together on special PD projects

Early Care & Education Center Standards 100 Points Domain: Family and Community Partnerships Maximum 20 points Rationale: Family involvement and reciprocal family-provider relationships are fundamental to high quality early care and education services. This dimension of practice emphasizes ongoing, bi-directional communication between families and programs. Meaningful family engagement in early care and education programs requires attention and sensitivity to the needs of all families. Further, collaboration between child care programs and schools/other agencies assists programs in accessing resources to meet the needs of young children and their families. Categories: Communication (FC), Involvement & Support (FS), Community Partnerships (FP) Code Standard Points FC1 Maximum 2 points Program welcomes all children and their families with procedures that embrace inclusion and diversity. 2 points FC2 Maximum 4 points Each classroom provides regular written correspondence with families. For classrooms with children predominately 0-36 months, correspondence is individualized and provided daily For classrooms with children predominately 37 months and older, correspondence can be group and weekly 4 points FC3 Maximum 1 point Program conducts conferences with families at least twice annually. 1 point FS1 Maximum 4 points Program makes accommodations for families of children with identified disabilities or who are dual language learners. Accommodations for families of children with identified disabilities Accommodations for families of children who are dual language learners 2 points

Crosswalk between Delaware Stars and 619

Partnerships Between DE Stars and 619  619 Coordinator  Involved in DE Stars development  On DE Stars Management Team  619 QRIS Work Group  Developed DE Stars/619 crosswalk  Working on 619 Procedures Manual  619 Programs working with community programs  Collecting information on where children are enrolled  Increasing Family Awareness of DE Stars  Encouraging community EC programs to enroll in DE Stars  Working with DE Stars TA’s to provide support

Considerations  Licensing Requirements  DE Stars Programs required to be licensed  619 School district programs are licensing-exempt  Licensed exempt programs not entitled to grants, tiered reimbursements  DE Stars standards  Designed for Center-based programs  Itinerant programs?  Standards designed for regular education programs including children with special needs  619 Procedures Manual being developed  Developing Quality Standards aligned to Stars  Quality standards for inclusive 619 programs  Inclusion Certificate for EC staff  PD to lead to skill development of EC staff

Considerations  Difficulties  619 Present Participation in DE Stars  No rating for programs this year  619/Stars Work Group Formed to develop Alignment document (Procedures Manual)  Goal – to lead to quality inclusive 619 programs  ERS Assessment – standard for DE Stars  Accommodations needed for 619 programs

Considerations  Challenges leading to working partnerships between DE Stars and 619