Anne Mitchell

Drawn from an analysis of the 2010 Compendium of Quality Rating Systems and Evaluations, this chart provides an overview of frequent questions from states in regard to key process, policy and procedural issues that often arise from states during the development, implementation and expansion of th

QRIS Selected Policy&Procedures.docx

This powerpoint presentation provides an excellent "visual" as part of a webinar that was held focusing on the "Toward Better Policy for Early Care and Education in the United States."

BetterPolicyPowerpointFINAL.pdf

Early Learning Challenge: QRIS Planning Tool

This tool was created to assist states in their planning to meet the Early Learning Challenge guidelines for development and expansion of state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems.

QRISToolFinal.doc

Toward Better Policy for Early Care and Education in the United States: Resource Materials

This resource list was created as an accompaniment to the paper on "Towards Better Policy for Early Care and Education in the United States."

BetterPolicyWebinarHANDOUT.docx

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and Head Start Alignment

This paper was developed in response to the many questions which arose during the 2011 Early Learning Challenge grant planning process when applicants were asked to align and integrate Head Start into their state quality rating and improvement system. The paper outlines some of the benefits and challenges of such an alignment process and poses questions for next steps that must be taken at the federal and state level to support greater alignment efforts in the future.

QRIS Head Start Alignment.pdf

Toward Better Policy for Early Care and Education in the United States

This brief, written by two of the foremost leaders in the early childhood field, provides a new way of thinking about ECE public policy that:

BetterPolicyPaper.doc

This 50-state matrix (as well as the District of Columbia) provides data on the status of states in establishing early learning guidelines and inclusion of curriculum and child assessment in standards established within their state quality rating and improvement systems.

QRIS_ELS&Curriculum&Assessment_Summary_2011draft.pdf

The QRIS Cost Estimation Model is a web-based tool that can help users project QRIS costs and allows users to generate multiple reports that compare the cost of a pilot, phased-in approach, or fully implemented QRIS. The model requires users to enter assumptions (e.g., projected participation rates, number of QRIS levels, and provider incentives), and can illustrate how different elements impact cost.

This 2009 brief presents nine short- and long-term steps the Federal government can take to support State developments of effective quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS). QRIS are systemic strategies to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. QRIS can be helpful to guide decisions on how to target resources, focus dollars on results, streamline administration, and build quality.

This brief focuses on the potential of QRIS to be a framework to reform and unify the early care and education sections into a coherent early care and education system.