The creation and implementation of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) has become a key topic in early childhood education in the last ten years. QRIS is designed to be a rating and assessment system to evaluate early childhood education programs for children ages birth through five, provide incentives and support to improve quality, and communicate their level of quality to the public by attaching a rating to the early childhood program.

The five components of QRIS include:

• - standards;
• - accountability measures;
• - program and practitioner outreach and support;
• - financing incentives; and
• - parent and consumer education efforts.
 

A number of states have implemented QRIS, and many that have not are in the process of creating them. The Obama administration is very interested in these and is looking at attaching incentives to state QRIS programs. CCW/AFTEF has been actively monitoring QRIS in the states. Our particular areas of interest include

• - whether QRIS is an effective mechanism for improving compensation and working conditions for the early childhood workforce;
• - if the neediest children are being served as a result of programs implementing QRIS or getting high ratings on QRIS;
• - and to what extent have the states that already have QRIS implemented improvements to their current system.
 

FAQ's about QRIS

What is QRIS?
QRIS stands for Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. It is a rating and assessment system designed to assess early childhood programs, provide incentives to improve them, and communicate their level of quality to the public. These programs are frequently supported by quality set-aside funds from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).   The first statewide QRIS was implemented by Oklahoma in 1998.

When and how was QRIS developed?
The first statewide QRIS was implemented in Oklahoma in 1998. Since then, states have individually decided whether or not to create a QRIS and how to go about doing so. It has not yet been mandated for all states to have QRIS on the federal level. However, the Obama administration is very interested in pursuing QRIS development and implementation in the states.

What does a QRIS rating mean?
Quality ratings are awarded to early childhood education programs that meet a set of defined program standards. The rating components used in a state's QRIS are determined by the governing agency who overseas the QRIS.

Does this affect Head Start or preschool teachers in K-12 schools?
Thus far, preschool teachers in K-12 schools have not been associated with QRIS in the states. However, there are states in which Head Start facilities are a part of the QRIS. Such states include Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont. For state specific information on who is involved in QRIS in your state visit the NCCIC website (http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/qrisresourceguide/index.cfm?do=qrisstate).


What are the components of QRIS?
Because QRIS are not federal programs, states have explored, piloted, and implemented QRIS as they see fit. It is for this reason that QRIS and their implementation differ by state. States differ on the type of components in their QRIS as well as their method of implementation. The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) (http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/) designates a QRIS as statewide if the system is open to providers in all geographic areas of the State and has the following five components in place:

        1. Standards: Built on state-specific child care licensing requirements, these standards add multiple steps between licensing and higher quality standards. For example, a child care center may be a     Star 1, if they meet the standards necessary for licensing. At the same time, another child care center may be a Star 4, because they not only meet the necessary licensing requirements, but they go above and beyond to reach high-quality state standards.

        2. Accountability measures: Accountability and monitoring determine how well programs meet QRIS standards, and assign ratings based on their performance. In most States, the licensing agency alone, or in partnership with the subsidy agency or a private entity, monitors the QRIS. States use a variety of approaches, such as onsite visits, program self-assessments, and document reviews and verifications, to monitor QRIS standards.

        3. Program and practitioner outreach and support: Training, mentoring and technical assistance support is provided to help programs increase quality. Some states have hired personnel to support QRIS participants. For example, Pennsylvania has "Star Managers" that work within a designated region of QRIS participants in the state.

        4. Financing incentives: Financial incentives, as determined by the state governing agency, are awarded to programs when quality levels are achieved. According to NCCIC (http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/qrisresourceguide/index.cfm?do=qrisabout), all statewide QRIS provides financial incentives of some kind, including increased CCDF subsidy reimbursement rates, bonuses, quality grants, or merit awards; refundable tax credits; loans linked to quality ratings; and priority on applications for practitioner wage initiatives, scholarships, or other professional development supports.  However, states vary on the amount of financial incentives offered and the use of discretion with such financial rewards.

        5. Parent/Consumer education efforts: States differ in their method of indicating a QRIS participant. For example, New Mexico uses a "Star" system to indicate levels of quality, whereas, the District of Columbia uses "Bronze, Silver, and Gold" to indicate quality ratings in their QRIS participants. These indicators are used to show the level of program quality in a center and to inform parents of that quality. Also, many states have developed media campaigns and outreach materials to promote their QRIS and educate the public.

Which providers/programs are subject to (or must implement) QRIS?
Child care centers, family child care home providers, and/or Head Start programs participate in QRIS. It varies depending on the state structure of QRIS, financing and regulation that is attached. NCCIC has a breakdown (http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/qrisresourceguide/index.cfm?do=qrisstate) of participants by state on their website.

Which states currently utilize QRIS?
As of March 2010, the following are currently operating statewide QRIS with all five components: Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont.  Those states not listed here, are either piloting or exploring QRIS. For more information on your specific state visit the NCCIC website (http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/qrisresourceguide/index.cfm?do=qrisstate).

Who do I contact for more information about QRIS in my state?
The QRIS Resource Network (http://qrisnetwork.org/) has created a contact listing by state on their website (http://qrisnetwork.org/state-qris-contacts). Also available on their website is a listing of state resources and profiles (http://qrisnetwork.org/state-qris-resources) that contains resources that have been developed by individual states to support their QRIS implementation.