Upcoming Webinars

This webinar presented by Mathematica’s Center for Improving Research Evidence (CIRE) examined Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRISs). Most states are already operating or developing QRISs, and federal investments and support are encouraging these efforts. The webinar provided the federal and state context for QRIS data needs and highlighted a new resource—the Quality Rating and Improvement System Evaluation Toolkit developed by Mathematica and Child Trends staff. The toolkit provides step-by-step instructions for assessing how QRISs work and measuring their effects. A state child care administrator shared lessons from working with the state research team to design evaluations and data systems that collect policy-relevant performance data and manage and improve QRISs. 

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Consistent studies have shown that the quality of teacher-child interaction is related to preschooler gains in pre-reading and math skills and contributes to preschoolers' social competence in the kindergarten year and beyond. To that end, researchers at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education created the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (TM) (CLASS (TM)) tool to observe and assess emotional, organizational, and instructional elements of quality in early childhood educational environments.  The system is now being used to assess preschool classrooms and is being piloted in toddler programs as well. Final publication of the Toddler CLASS is expected in January 2013, while the Infant CLASS (TM) tool is under development.

Several states have now integrated CLASS (TM) into their quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS).  On this webinar, you will learn more about the CLASS (TM) tool.  You will also hear from several states that have integrated CLASS into their quality rating system. They will share both the benefits and challenges of using this system. 

This webinar is helpful to state leaders currently developing, piloting or updating their QRIS systems and those who want to learn more about CLASS (TM) and how it can be used to not only assess but also improve the quality of teacher-child interaction.

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On May 27, 2011, BUILD presented a webinar on alignment of QRIS and P-3 to a large, diverse audience. Two emerging movements – Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and P-3 (pre-school through 3rd grade) – present opportunities to improve the quality of children’s early experiences. Presenting from their paper written for BUILD and entitled QRIS and P-3: Creating Synergy Across Systems to Close Achievement Gaps and Improve Opportunities for Young Children, co-authors Kristie Kauerz, Ed.D. and Abby Thorman, Ph.D. explored opportunities for alignment across the two systems. Kauerz and Thorman discussed the overarching challenges that these two parallel movements face and provided an overview of the QRIS and P-3 landscapes. Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Rhode Island KIDS Count, Ralph Smith, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Arron Jiron, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, provided comments in response from the philanthropic community.

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Stakeholders in Washington State, like stakeholders in many states, have grappled with how best to improve child care quality. To address this issue, Thrive by Five Washington (Thrive), representatives from several communities (including two demonstration communities), and other stakeholders worked closely with the Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) to develop a child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). In 2009, Thrive and the two demonstration communities began the Seeds to Success Modified Field Test (Seeds) to assess the effectiveness of a streamlined version of the DEL model. During this presentation, representatives from Thrive and DEL described the Seeds coaching and quality improvement grant model offered to the demonstration communities through the Seeds Modified Field Test and the origins of the field test and its 6-month evaluation. The evaluation team from Mathematica Policy Research presented findings from the randomized controlled trial that compared providers in the two demonstration communities who received Seeds to those that did not, as well as findings about implementation of the model. The presenters then shared lessons learned from the field test and how the state and its partners have used lessons from the field test to further develop and expand Seeds implementation.

To listen to an audio recording and view powerpoints from this presentation:

http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=hmdwes