A statewide quality rating and improvement system: The case for New York
A discussion of lessons for QUALITYstarsNY, the New York State child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), from the experiences of QRIS implementation and funding in other states
Fact Sheets & Briefs
Accreditation as an alternative pathway to quality in QRIS
A comparison of the Illinois child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) ratings that child care centers would receive through either their accreditation status or their observed quality, based on data for 55 accredited child care centers applying to the Illinois QRIS
Reports & Papers
Key elements of a QRIS validation plan: Guidance and planning template
A guide and tools to ensure that child care quality rating and improvement systems accurately measure and rate quality
Methods
Quality Profiles in Early Childhood: An Example from Virginia's Quality Rating Improvement System
This study examines data collected on the quality of centers participating in Virginia's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to identify patterns and profiles of quality in these settings using a clustering technique. Identified patterns are compared with the composite quality level assigned by the state to determine associations with existing quality profiles across Virginia's 290 participating centers. It is expected that two profiles represent "high overall" and "low overall" patterns of quality, in addition to profiles that demonstrate differential levels or relative strengths and weakness among settings with regard to quality. If patterns of quality features do not bear significant associations with the star ratings, this information can be used by state leaders to reexamine thresholds for determining between star levels.
Administration for Children and Families/OPRE Projects
Keystone STARS technical assistance
Findings from a comparison of quality improvements in child care providers that received technical assistance services through Keystone STARS, the Pennsylvania child care quality rating and improvement system, to quality improvements in those that did not, based on STAR ratings for 425 technical assistance recipients and 808 matched comparison providers
Reports & Papers
QUALITYstarsNY Recruitment Project evaluation report
An evaluation of efforts to recruit early care and education programs for the 2012-2014 implementation of QUALITYstarsNY, New York State's quality rating and improvement system, based on data collected from 7 recruitment agencies, 419 QUALITYstarsNY applicants, and 9 quality improvement specialists
Reports & Papers
Using generalized additive modeling to empirically identify thresholds within the ITERS in relation to toddlers' cognitive development
Research linking high-quality child care programs and children's cognitive development has contributed to the growing popularity of child care quality benchmarking efforts such as quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS). Consequently, there has been an increased interest in and a need for approaches to identifying thresholds, or cutpoints, in the child care quality measures used in these benchmarking efforts that differentiate between different levels of children's cognitive functioning. To date, research has provided little guidance to policymakers as to where these thresholds should be set. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) data set, this study explores the use of generalized additive modeling (GAM) as a method of identifying thresholds on the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS) in relation to toddlers' performance on the Mental Development subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (the Bayley Mental Development Scale Short Form--Research Edition, or BMDSF-R). The present findings suggest that simple linear models do not always correctly depict the relationships between ITERS scores and BMDSF-R scores and that GAM derived thresholds were more effective at differentiating among children's performance levels on the BMDSF-R. Additionally, the present findings suggest that there is a minimum threshold on the ITERS that must be exceeded before significant improvements in children's cognitive development can be expected. There may also be a ceiling threshold on the ITERS, such that beyond a certain level, only marginal increases in children's BMDSF-R scores are observed. (author abstract)
Reports & Papers
Children's progress update: Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs, 2011-2012
An overview of the growth of children's skills in and families' perceptions of child care programs in the two highest-rated tiers of Keystone STARS, the Pennsylvania child care quality rating and improvement system
Fact Sheets & Briefs
YoungStar in Wisconsin: Analysis of data as of July 2012
An exploration of the implementation in Wisconsin of YoungStar, the state child care quality rating and improvement system, including information on child care program ratings and resources devoted to program improvement
Other
After two years of YoungStar, a more complete picture emerges
A study of the implementation of YoungStar, the Wisconsin state child care quality rating and improvement system, in Milwaukee County, based on an analysis of administrative data on Milwaukee County providers during the program's first two years
Reports & Papers
Assessing quality across all STAR levels
Findings from a study of the relationship of the observed quality of child care programs participating in Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania's child care quality rating system, to their STARS rating, based on data for 46 randomly-selected programs
Reports & Papers
Steps to Excellence Project: Pilot process evaluation [Executive summary]
A summary of an implementation evaluation of the Steps to Excellence Project (STEP), Los Angeles County's child care quality rating and improvement system, that examines participating providers' experiences of STEP, based on provider surveys, key informant group discussions, and analysis of administrative data
Executive Summary
Trends in child care licensing: 2011
An examination of state child care licensing requirements and policies, including those related to monitoring and enforcement, ratios and group size, staff qualifications, parent communication, health and nutrition, emergency preparedness, and inclusion
Other
Steps to Excellence Project: Pilot process evaluation
An implementation evaluation of the Steps to Excellence Project (STEP), Los Angeles County's child care quality rating and improvement system, that examines participating providers' experiences of STEP, based on provider surveys, key informant group discussions, and analysis of administrative data
Reports & Papers
State child care licensing requirements to promote healthy weight
An overview of provisions in state child care licensing regulations related to nutrition, physical activity, and screen time
Other
QUALITYstarsNY Readiness Project evaluation report
An evaluation of training efforts as part of the implementation of QUALITYstarsNY, New York State's quality rating and improvement system, that examines child care providers' experiences of facilitator-led trainings and facilitators' experiences of the training they received themselves, based on a survey of 24 facilitators and 903 child care providers
Reports & Papers
Revising state licensing requirements: Readiness for change
An overview of considerations for assessing the capacity and readiness of states to revise their child care licensing systems
Fact Sheets & Briefs
YoungStar trends early 2012 to Feb. 2013: Movement toward higher quality ratings
An examination of changes in the quality ratings of child care providers participating in YoungStar, the Wisconsin state child care quality rating and improvement system
Fact Sheets & Briefs
Trends in child care center licensing regulations and policies for 2011
An analysis of state child care center licensing requirements and policies, including those related to staffing, child-adult ratios, health and nutrition, inspections, monitoring, and enforcement, based on a survey of state child care licensing agencies and a compilation of state licensing requirements
Reports & Papers
Trends in family child care home licensing requirements and policies for 2011
An analysis of state family child care home licensing requirements and policies, including those related to staffing, group size, health and nutrition, inspections, monitoring, and enforcement, based on a survey of state child care licensing agencies and a compilation of state licensing requirements
Reports & Papers
Trends in group child care home licensing regulations and policies for 2011
An analysis of state group child care home licensing requirements and policies, including those related to staffing, group size, health and nutrition, inspections, monitoring, and enforcement, based on a survey of state child care licensing agencies and a compilation of state licensing requirements
Reports & Papers
Risk assessment and licensing compliance
A presentation of approaches in state child care licensing systems in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Virginia to assessing the risk of harm to children in noncompliant child care facilities
Fact Sheets & Briefs
Infant and toddler care and education in Milwaukee
An overview of Early Head Start programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and an examination of Milwaukee subsidized child care programs serving infants and toddlers and also participating in YoungStar, the state child care quality rating and improvement system, based on administrative data and interviews with directors of highly-rated YoungStar child care progams
Reports & Papers
North Carolina 2011 child care market rate study
A study of child care market rates and their geographic distribution across the state of North Carolina by care type, child age, and quality rating and improvement system quality level, and also including information on receipt of nonmonetary contributions, barriers to providing high-quality care, responses to current economic conditions, and subsidized care, based on surveys from 6,843 child care centers and family child care homes
Reports & Papers
North Carolina 2011 child care market rate study [Executive summary]
A summary of a study of child care market rates and their geographic distribution across the state of North Carolina by care type, child age, and quality rating and improvement system quality level, and also including information on receipt of nonmonetary contributions, barriers to providing high-quality care, responses to current economic conditions, and subsidized care, based on surveys from 6,843 child care centers and family child care homes
Executive Summary
