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AGENDA
• Welcome & Introductions
• Quality Rating & Improvement System
• QUALITYstarsNY
• The Field Test!
• Interested? Sign-up!
• Questions and Answers
• Anonymous Survey
What is a Quality Rating and Improvement
System?• System to support and sustain quality in
all early learning settings• Funding to help early learning programs
improve quality• Benchmarks to inform consumers about
high-quality early learning• Summary: An organized way to assess,
improve and communicate the quality of early care and education programs
For compliance with standards & revision
of system
Monitoring & Accountability
Ongoing, adequate & linked to quality standards
Financial Supports
Program & professional development for programs & practitioners to meet
and maintain quality standards
Supports for Continuous Quality Improvement
For consumers, programs,
practitioners, funders
Engagement,Outreach & Promotion
for programs (and practitioners) aligned to Early Learning Standards
Standards & Rating
QSNY: Framework for our Early Learning System
Key Elements of QUALITYstarsNY
• Statewide and voluntary • Five Star levels• One Star granted to regulated programs
after simple application• Many ways to reach higher star levels
through a point system• Technical assistance, professional
development and financial incentives to help all early learning settings improve
Brief History of QSNY
• The NYS QRS Work Group (2005-2007)
• Focus groups with families & early learning programs & practitioners
• Design Group drafted standards and designed field test (2008 - 2009)
The Standards• What is a “Standard?”
– Defines a goal of practice– Based on scientific data or represents consensus
on high quality
• QSNY Standards build on existing regulatory frameworks e.g. Head Start Standards, NAEYC and NAFCC Accreditation Standards
• Two versions of Standards: Center-based and Family home-based
• Draft versions are available online: www.qualitystarsny.org
Where are we now?
• Governor’s Children’s Cabinet & Advisory Board embraced QRIS
• NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council tasked with implementing QUALITYstarsNY
• NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute is managing the field test: www.earlychildhoodnyc.org
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We Need You! • We need your expertise
• Help make QUALITYstarsNY better
• In exchange you will receive:– Expert assessment
– Quality consultation
– $$$
– A plan to improve your programs
• The field test is…– A way to test the system as it has been designed so far
• The field test will help us answer the questions:– How much effort does the application and documentation process
take?– How well do the standards distinguish levels of quality?– In what ways, if any, should the point system be changed?– What might improve quality and how much does it cost?– What information about ECE quality and improvement is learned
through the application and consultation process?
• The field test is not…– Exactly what will happen during full implementation; the process
may change– A way to describe the quality of ECE in the State or any specific
community (not a representative sample)
The Field Test
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The Field Test
ProcessAssessmen
ts
Quality Consultant Expertise
Standards Checklist
and Documentati
on
ProviderFeedback
Field Test
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Environment Rating Scale Assessment
• What does the ERS measure?– Schedule– Interactions– Accessibility of materials– Space management– Health & Safety
• Classrooms selected by Evaluator• Approximately 50% of classrooms will be
observed• Observations will last approximately 4
hours per classroom/home
Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale - Revised (ITERS R) Birth through 36 months
Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale - Revised (ECERS R) 37 months through entrance into 1st grade
Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale- Revised(FCCERS-R) Mixed age group in a home setting
Environment Rating Scales
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Additional Assessments
• Some programs may also participate in some additional assessments:– Supports for early literacy development in
preschools
– Caregiver-child interactions in infant/toddler centers
– Nutrition and opportunities for active play
– Demonstration of cultural competence
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Standards Checklist Completion
• Standards checklist • Supporting documentation• Administrator and Staff
Qualifications form• Feedback
Note: Points and ratings based on field test applications will not be publicized.
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Quality Improvement Planning
• Meet with an expert consultant• Create a Quality Improvement Plan
based on Director/Provider priorities
• Incorporate ERS scores and areas of improvement identified in the Standards Checklist
• Provide feedback• Receive limited resources for plan
implementation
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Provide Feedback
• Community Information Session Survey• Standards Checklist Feedback• QIP feedback • Possible interviews (sample of
participants)
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Field Test Tasks
• If you are selected to participate you will …– Complete Consent Forms– Schedule and allow ERS assessments– Complete Standards Checklist with
supporting documentation– Complete Staff Qualification forms– Meet with a quality improvement consultant
and develop an improvement plan– Participate in field test surveys and
interviews
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Timeline
Task Date
Apply to participate By February 19th
Receive selection notification
By March 5th
Schedule and receive ERS assessments
March – May
Complete standards checklist
By April 19th
Receive assessment scores
By May 31th
Meet with QI Consultant and complete surveys
By June 30th
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A Winning Partnership
• You’re helping to make this important initiative a reality.
• Benefits to Programs/Providers– Expert assessment– Quality consultation– Stipend– Support for professional development– EIP
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– All center- and family-based providers licensed/registered with OCFS or NYC DOHMH
– Registered/licensed UPK and Head Start classrooms in CBOs and/or public schools
– UPK and Head Start in public schools– 4410/preschool special education
classrooms– SED registered nursery schools
Programs & Providers Eligible to Apply for the
Field Test
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• In urban, suburban, & rural communities
• Serving children with child care subsidies
• Privately funded programs
• Accredited and non-accredited programs
• Serving children & families from diverse language, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds
• Representing a range of quality levels & improvement needs
Statewide Field Test Includes
Diverse Sample
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Apply to Participate
• If you are interested! Sign-Up!– Complete and mail the Application to Participate
and Classroom Information Form (if applicable)• Two versions: one for school or center-based sites and
one for family home based sites
• Apply on-line! – www.surveymonkey.com/s/SchoolCenterApplica
tion– www.surveymonkey.com/s/FamilyHomeApplicat
ion
• Application deadline is February 19, 2010
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Common Questions
• Will my rating or scores be publicized?
• I am accredited. Why should I participate?
• What if I don’t agree with the ERS and standards checklist scores?
• If I participate in the field test, will my scores carry over into full implementation phase?
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If you need more information…
• Contact your lead agency representative
• Contact Ola at (212) 652-2067• Visit the website:
www.qualitystarsny.org