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QUALITYstarsNY Field Test Community Information

Session 2010

WELCOME!

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AGENDA

• Welcome & Introductions

• Quality Rating & Improvement System

• QUALITYstarsNY

• The Field Test!

• Interested? Sign-up!

• Questions and Answers

• Anonymous Survey

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Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS)

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

States and Communities Operating, Piloting, Designing or Exploring QRIS, August 2009

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What is QUALITYstarsNY?

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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The Field Test!

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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

Participating Communities Represent the Diversity of

NYS

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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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Questions and Answers

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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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More Questions?

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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

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Thank you for coming!

Please complete our brief survey.