Planning & Implementation

The QRIS Resource Guide is intended as a tool for States and communities to explore key issues and decision points during the planning and implementation of a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS).[1] The Guide is divided into eight sections. Each section contains a set of questions, with guidance for addressing the questions, for States to consider and discuss when planning, implementing, or revising a QRIS.

Many states are designing or expanding quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) to include school-age programs. This brief provides an overview of key considerations for developing effective strategies to including school-age programs in QRIS.

This report covers 18 months of the Minnesota Parent Aware QRIS pilot from July, 2008 through December, 2009, and is part of the process evaluation of the program.  The report addresses the supply of programs and the tuition rates charged by programs in the pilot areas, provides a synthesis of data from multiple sources to describe the number and percent of eligible programs that have enrolled in Parent Aware, their patterns of enrollment, and the star ratings received by those programs.

This document highlights the Partners in Quality for Early Learning initiative, the accreditation project, the quality rating system, scholarship initiatives, and a compensation initiative. Lessons learned about Kansas City's experience in attempting to build a system of quality early learning throughout the metropolitan area are discussed.

A toolkit designed to assist implementers in understanding and advocating for a systems-building approach to improving the quality of early childhood programs. The Toolkit contains a description of the function of QRIS and worksheets for planning a QRIS, including financing, rating tiers, program and provider supports, and discusses the role of NAEYC accreditation.

Sample guidelines and considerations to assist in planning and implementing a quality rating system.

The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the

Provides common categories of state QRIS standards, listed by order of frequency.

A QRS planning tool with common categories and types of center-based program standards.

Planning tool with common categories and types of family child care program standards.