Quality Rating Improvement System

Background:
Based on local data and national research indicating that higher quality child care results in greater school readiness, child care quality improvement has been identified as a regional priority.  The SBSHR Quality Improvement Initiative includes four components:

VIRGINIA’S QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM

Virginia’s Quality Rating and Improvement System offers a market-based solution to promoting high quality and consistency among early childhood programs.  It supports continuous quality improvement in public and private early education providers with the ultimate goal being that all children arrive in kindergarten ready to succeed.  To encourage provider participation, recognize provider achievements and improvements in quality, and reward success, Virginia’s QRIS includes supports, like mentoring, technical assistance, early learning materials and teacher training and education to help and reward programs as they improve in quality.  Virginia’s Star Quality program provides an easy to use tool for families so they can choose the best early care and education programs for their children. 

Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads will implement the QRIS in 28 centers across the region.  Assessments, mentorship and star ratings will be provided to centers participating. 

• QRIS Standard

FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME MENTORSHIP AND IMPROVEMENT

As a precursor to the development of a QRIS standard for family home child care, Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads has partnered with The Planning Council to provide assessments and mentorship to 10 family child care providers in the region.

Link to list of homes participating.
Contact information for The Planning Council

TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In early childhood education, features that affect quality focus largely around the teacher.  Effective early childhood professionals have a strong background in early education and child development.  Teachers should have the warmth and sensitivity to engage children, fostering positive interactions with them, and to work in partnership with their families, recognizing and respecting cultural differences.  They should communicate in a way that nurtures self-confidence in children and interact both individually and in small groups to promote exploration in the classroom always encouraging questions and conversations. 

In South Hampton Roads only 36% of early childhood teachers and 21% of family care providers have at least a two-year degree.  Only 22% of teachers and 9% of family care providers have a bachelor’s degree.  Eleven percent of preschool teachers and 29% of family care providers have a high school education or less, with no additional training or coursework.  Annual turnover rate among full-time early childhood teachers and assistants is 27%.  The median hourly wage is $8 ($16,000 annually) to teachers on child care centers and $4.04 ($8,080 per year) for family care providers.  Low pay, high turnover and low levels of education among teachers mean that South Hampton Roads children still struggle with inconsistent educators in the years when the establishment of trust and the promotion of learning in a stable environment are most important. 

To address this issue and improve child care quality by increasing the education level of teachers, directors and family home providers, SBSHR will work with TCC to provide scholarships and bonuses for educational advancement to the teachers in the 28 centers and 10 family child care homes participating in the Quality Improvement Initiative.

CHILD CARE QUALITY AND CHILD OUTCOMES EVALUATION

Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads has commissioned a Child Outcomes Study to evaluate the impact that QRIS participation has had on participating centers and the children who attend them.

The evaluation includes quality reviews of 31 area preschools and outcome assessments of over 300 four-year-olds to examine the impact of local quality improvement initiatives.

INVESTMENT AND IMPACT

Over $1 million will be invested over two years to support the Quality Improvement Initiative. 

Programs involved are eligible to receive:

• scholarships
• mentorship
• early learning materials
• curriculum
• facility upgrades

Results:

• Childcare centers and homes will have information about the quality of their programs and support to make targeted improvements
• Families will have the information needed to demand better quality care and education for their children
• Communities will better understand where quality programs exist (and don’t) to guide their investment decisions
• Through the child outcome evaluation, the region and state can assess the effectiveness of the investment made in ensuring children are more ready for school and make adjustments to the system based on the feedback provided

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

• Call Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads for more information 226-8826
• Put your center on the waiting list for participation
• Adopt-A-Center to become part of the initiative