Quality Rating and Improvement System

Choose a question to get a drop down panel response.

What are the QRIS quality standards?
- Environment: Measures environment through the Environment Rating Scales
- Education: Documents current qualifications of owner or director, and educational levels of staff
- Professional Development: Documents ongoing education and training of director, owner, and staff
- Inclusion: Documents how a facility supports children's full participation and ways staff intentionally plan for each child and family to be successful
- Strengthening Families: Documents implementation of Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education
- Child-to-staff Ratio: Documents ratio of children to staff in each group
- Group Size: Documents the number of children in each group
- Business Practices: Documents business practices
Why has the QRIS been developed?
The QRIS has three goals.
1. Inform Parent Choice
  - Provide information to help parents seek quality in child care
  - Educate parents so they know what quality care is and are encouraged to request it
  - Measure quality
2. Improve the Quality of Child Care
  - Increase quality
  - More programs are prepared to serve children with special needs
  - Child care providers see themselves as professionals and increase their training and education
  - Produce positive outcomes for children
3. Implement Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education
  - Reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect by building family strengths
  - To partner with families and their networks in the prevention of child abuse and neglect
Explain the QRIS design process
1. Enhancement grants in 2004-05
2. QRIS design phase I 2007
3. QRIS design phase II 2008
  - Study of other states' QRIS
  - Peer-to-peer work with Missouri
  - National QRIS conferences
  - Monthly conference calls with QRIS participants
  - QRIS evaluation from each design phase
  - Independent consultation to revise standards to ensure uniformity of scale and scope, and to produce measurable results
  - Public forums in each region
  - Site visits in each region
  - Focus groups across the state
How does the QRIS build upon existing infrastructure?
Idaho's QRIS is built upon a foundation of the existing professional development system, IdahoSTARS (State Training and Registry System). Components include:
- Idaho Child Care Program
  - Provider eligibility for subsidy payment
- Professional Development Registry
  - Career Pathway
- Training and trainer approval
  - Training approval system
  - Training network
- Regional Quality Child Care Consultants (CCR&R)
  - Seven regional offices
- Mentors through Early Care and Education
  - Mentor approval
- Assessment network of independent contractors trained to reliability on:
  - Environment Rating Scales
    
    ECERS-R, ITERS-R, FCCERS-R, SACERS
What changes have been made to the QRIS as a result of the design phases and public input?
- The assessment network has been restructured to ensure reliability and accountability.
  - An Assessment Specialist has been hired to manage the assessment network
    
    The Assessment Specialist will develop a Technical Assistance plan when necessary
  - Assessors will be trained to reliability at the University of North Carolina by the authors of the scales.
  - Assessors will use standardized, computerized data system to record scores and author reports.
  - Assessors will offer trainings on the scales in their regions.
  - Assessors will travel across regions to maintain reliability across the state.
  - Assessors will verify some materials on site for some quality indicators.
- Mentors will receive extensive training on the QRIS so they can offer technical assistance as well as mentoring:
  - A QRIS Workbook will be posted on-line to be used by mentors, Quality Consultants, directors and owners.
  - Mentors will receive training in the standards and the QRIS paperwork.
- The QRIS has been revised.
  - Standards have been simplified.
  - Providers will request points in each standard and verify each indicator with documentation.
  - Paperwork has been simplified and repetition eliminated.
  - A QRIS poster has been developed to explain the standards and aid in planning.
  - Improvement plans will be created in a standardized template.
  - Details regarding the QRIS as a three-year cycle have been finalized - a star rating will be valid for three years, with funding available for each of the three years.
- Regional Child Care Resource and Referral Quality Consultants will receive extensive training on the QRIS so they can offer technical assistance and connect providers to the resources they need:
  - A QRIS Orientation will be offered in each Child Care Resource & Referral Office across the state.
  - CCR&R Quality Consultants will conduct site visits with directors/owners who have begun the process to review the application (similar to PDS orientations).
  - CCR&R Quality Consultants will 'sign off' on QRIS paperwork to ensure it is complete prior to submission.
How to Get a Star Rating: The QRIS Process
The IdahoSTARS QRIS emphasizes quality improvement. Facilities in the QRIS are recognized for the quality practices already in place. At the same time, facilities must intentionally plan improvements for the three years a STAR rating is valid. Funding is available to support planned improvements as long as goals are met along the way and funding is available.

How long will it take? There are many steps to receiving a star rating; the process from attending the QRIS Orientation to getting a rating may take 18 months or longer. Facilities operate on their own schedule.

There are only two 'deadlines' for the QRIS:
- Application for a Facility Profile is due 90 days after the QRIS site visit with the Consultant.
- Application for a STAR Rating is due one year after a facility receives funding for the QRIS Improvement Plan
STEP 1: The facility obtains a license. All facilities must be licensed to participate in the QRIS. Licensed facilities must meet the health and safety requirements of the state of Idaho, including criminal history checks.

STEP 2: The facility director attends an orientation to the QRIS. The QRIS Orientation is available in each region of the state through the CCR&R office.

STEP 3: The Regional Quality Child Care Consultant visits the director who has signed the QRIS Letter of Commitment.

STEP 4: The facility director attends training on the Environment Rating Scales. This training explains the scales and prepares the director for the assessment process.

STEP 5: Classroom(s) in the facility receive an environment assessment using the Environment Rating Scales.

STEP 6: The facility completes an Application for a Facility Profile. This is a self-study of current practices as they relate to the quality standards.

STEP 7: The director submits the Application for a Facility Profile in to the Consultant within 90 days of the first QRIS site visit.

STEP 8: A Facility Profile is generated by the QRIS office. The Facility Profile verifies the quality indicators that the facility has documented. The Profile outlines the facility's strengths and areas needing improvement.

STEP 9: The facility uses the Facility Profile to create an improvement plan toward highest quality, using the QRIS quality indicators as a planning tool.

STEP 10: The facility submits the IdahoSTARS QRIS Improvement Plan and Funding Request to the QRIS office.

STEP 11: After working to implement the improvement plan (for 6 months or longer) the facility applies for a STAR rating. This application is due one year from the time the facility receives funds for the improvement plan.

STEP 12: The facility receives a STAR rating.

STEP 13: Facilities submit yearly reports, improvement plans, and funding requests.

STEP 14: Facilities apply for STAR rating renewal every three years.
Why should I join the QRIS?

You should join the QRIS because the QRIS will support you in your efforts to provide quality child care and higher quality child care is better for children. Research repeatedly shows that children who spend time in high quality settings have more success later in life. They are more likely to graduate high school, move on to college, earn more money over the course of their lives, have a more durable family life and be engaged in civic life. They are less likely to have behavior problems in school, encounter the juvenile justice system, become a teen parent and use drugs and alcohol.
Why does the facility have to be licensed to participate?

The facility must be licensed because investing in a licensing indicates a minimal commitment to quality. It ensures a facility is operating in compliance with the law and that appropriate personnel and family members have passed criminal history background checks.
How do I get a license if my city does not require one?

Dial 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine for assistance with a child care license. Or apply on-line at: http://www.211.idaho.gov/daycare/daycarelicensing.html
What is Technical Assistance?

Technical Assistance is target assistance for those classrooms that score below 3.0 on an Environment Rating Scale assessment. Technical Assistance is provided by the IdahoSTARS Assessment Specialist and is designed to help providers address issues realating to health and safety. Funding is available on an as-needed basis.
How long is a STAR rating valid?

A facility's STAR rating is valid for three years.
What happens if I am ready to move to the next STAR level before three years is up?

A facility can apply to receive a new STAR rating prior to their anniversary by submitting an application with a re-rating fee. For more information, see Understanding the STAR Rating, page 65.
How long does a facility get to work on the QRIS Improvement Plan?

A facility can work on their QRIS Improvement Plan for one year after funding is received. After one year, the facility must apply for a STAR rating. Funding is available yearly as long as Improvement Plans are updated and reports submitted on goals accomplished and in progress, and as long as funds are available.
Who can help me plan improvements?

Mentor/coaches are available to help plan improvements, as is your Regional Child Care Consultant.
What are the QRIS deadlines?

The entire process from attending the QRIS Orientation may take 18 months or longer. Facilities operate on their own schedule. The only 'deadline' for the QRIS is determined by when a facility receives funding for the QRIS Improvement Plan. Once a funding request is approved and the facility receives funds, the facility has one year to apply for a STAR rating. If a facility does not apply at the end of one year, the facility will be assigned a rating based on the Facility Profile and the facility will be ineligible for IdahoSTARS incentives.
Who conducts the environment assessments?

Environment assessments are conducted by Environment Rating Scale assessors. The assessors are trained observers of quality environments. For more information on the Environment Rating Scales and assessors, view the Orientation to the Environment Rating Scales video on-line at www.idahostars.org.
What exactly is a CDA?

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is for an individual who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded a CDA Credential. A CDA is given according to the CDA Competency Goals in center-based, home visitor or family child care programs.
What is the difference between a Child Development Associate (CDA) and an Associate's Degree in Child Development (AA or AAS)?

A CDA is a credential awarded to an individual from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington DC. This credential may or may not be based on college credits and is subject to renewal every 3-5 years. An Associate's Degree is awarded from an accredited college or university, it is based entirely on college credits, and never expires or needs to be renewed.
How do I let parents know that the facility is participating in QRIS?

Announce participation to parents so they can share the excitement of the process and applaud the facility's commitment to quality. The QRIS process can help parents learn about quality and how quality positively impacts their children. The Strengthening Families Quality Indicator focuses on parent involvement. Find a template of a QRIS Parent Letter on page 75 of the workbook as an example of how to introduce parents to the QRIS and continuous quality improvement.
Where can I find quality materials and equipment for my program?

Download this PDF file: IdahoSTARS Vendor List.

If you are a director or owner of a child care facility, this PDF document

will help you visualize the process.

IdahoSTARS - Quality Rating and Improvement System FAQ

QRIS Frequently Asked Questions
PDF Version

IdahoSTARS - Quality Rating and Improvement System FAQ

QRIS Frequently Asked Questions PDF Version

QRIS Frequently Asked Questions
PDF Version