A Quality Rating System Parent Aware A Quality Rating System

What is Parent Aware? Voluntary Rating Tool Identifies, recognize, and celebrates quality in early education Designed by professional, child care providers and parents

Pilot Program Parent Aware began as a privately funded pilot project in July of 2007 Purpose: to address the fact that in Minnesota, today nearly half of children arrive at kindergarten underprepared.

Pilot Program Included: Locations: Licensed child care providers (center and home based) Early educators Locations: Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties City of St. Paul Areas of North Minneapolis Areas of Wayzata

Expansion Minnesota Received: Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) “The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge takes a holistic approach to early education, promotes innovation, and focuses on what it takes to help put young children on the path of learning, opportunity, and success.” Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Expansion RTT-ELC Grant Key Aligning and raising standards for existing early learning and development programs Improving training and support for the early learning workforce through evidence-based practices Building robust evaluation systems that promote effective practices and programs to help parents make informed decisions.

Expansion Expansion: Starts in 2012 Continues to add counties each year Entire state by 2015

Mission Parent Aware wants all Minnesota children to be ready for kindergarten How: By providing free, research-based tools, and resources that help parents ask important questions and make informed choices about high quality early learning opportunities

Partners Minnesota Department of Human Services Minnesota Early Learning Foundation Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network Minnesota Department of Education Child Trends University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Education and Development Wilder Research United Way

Why Participate Parent Aware: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dGsygtL7FJc <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dGsygtL7FJc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Process Visit: http://www.parentawareratings.org/ Contact: Child Care Resource and Referral Agency at http://mnchildcare.org/ Attend: Information meeting and Orientation Meeting Receive: Coaching, training, rating, marketing tools

Process Accelerated Process if Accredited Accreditations that are eligible for Four Stars Earned: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) The Council on Accreditation (COA) The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) The American Montessori Society (AMS) The Association Montessori International (AMI)

Components Points awarded in the following areas: • Learning environment and curriculum • Adult/child interaction • Staff/provider education • Tracking child progress (assessment) • Children’s health and safety • Family partnerships

Components Learning environment and curriculum Use a curriculum aligned with the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress or Birth-3 Indicators of Progress in all classrooms Full list of aligned curricula listed on website for Infant - Toddler and Prekindergarten

Components Common aligned curricula Bank Street Developmental Interaction Approach Creative Curriculum Family Child Care Preschool Infants, Toddlers, and Twos The High Scope Preschool Curriculum Infant/Toddler Curriculum Montessori

Components Adult/child interaction Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Goal of CLASS Positive Climate Concept Development Positive Climate—focuses on how teachers interact with children to develop warm relationships that promote children’s enjoyment of the classroom community. Concept Development—focuses on how teachers interact with children to promote higher-order thinking and cognition. Provides: Emotional Support; Classroom Organization; Instructional Support

Components Tracking child progress (Assessment) Conducted at lease twice a year Assess all areas of the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress or Birth-3 Indicators of Progress in all classrooms Aligned assessment available of website

Components Common aligned assessments High/Scope Infant-Toddler Child Observation Record Preschool Child Observation Record The Ounce Scale Teaching Strategies-Gold Assessment Work Sampling System

Components Staff/provider education Educational level Special trainings Health and Wellness Special needs children Developmental areas Cultures and socioeconomic levels differences Nutrition, health education, obesity training, food program Special needs children: developmental disabilities, special health needs, behavioral challenges Developmental areas: social-emotional, language, literacy, mathematical thinking and physical development in young children Cultures and socioeconomic levels differences

Components Children’s health and safety Examples: Supporting families needs in areas of medical assistance Public health services Consultants

Components Family Partnerships Child Care Assistance Program Minnesota Family Investment Program Medical assistance Public health services Bridge to Benefits – https//mn.bridgetobenefits.org

Trainings Minnesota Center for Professional Development Provides trainings Tracks progress of each professional Website: http://mncpd.org/