What aspects of early care and education settings are viewed as most critical for supporting positive outcomes for families and children? The Quality Sub-Study of the Maryland-Minnesota Research Partnership explores this question from the perspective of both parents and providers. Understanding how parents and providers perceive quality can provide valuable insights into design and refinements of the quality measures used within a state Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) or inform individual program evaluation or program quality improvement plans. The components of quality explored in the quality sub-study include family-sensitive caregiving practices, strategies to implement developmentally appropriate instructional practices (including use of curriculum and child assessment strategies), strategies to support children's social and emotional development, and cultural sensitivity. The perspectives of parents and early care and education providers about quality and quality practices, and linkages between those practices and outcomes for children and families, are examined. Several different data collection vehicles are used as part of the quality sub-study, including a longitudinal parent survey in both Minnesota and Maryland and semi-structured interviews with parents and providers. This brief focuses on findings from semi-structured telephone interviews conducted with 19 low-income parents in Minnesota. (author abstract)