National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement QRIS Standards Learning Table Session #4: Efficiency: Streamlining QRIS using your State Knowledge and Data-based Experience

Introductions and Updates Introduce the state team (Name, title, agency) AR DE KY MS NH NM OK TX Update us on what your state team has been doing on revising your QRIS since our last call. If a certain resource or idea has been particularly helpful, tell us about that. 2

Homework Discussion What have you revised and why? What data did you use?

Overview Data systems and standards Using data for decision-making in QRIS design and revision Kentucky experience using data NAEYC experience using data Data efforts (national)

QRIS Data Systems Support Implementation Online application (provider portals for uploading documents, connecting to relevant resources) Data import from other systems (regulation, registry, onsite assessment reports, etc.) Calculating ratings Supporting the QI/TA functions …Data!

Use Data to Eliminate Criteria If your state data show that all or most providers meet a criterion (no variation by level), consider dropping it. Or move the criterion to Level 1. Or if it’s an essential element defining quality, keep it, but don’t use it to determine ratings.

Use Data to Move/Revise Criteria Suppose your state data show that very few or no providers meet a criterion. If it’s not an essential element of quality, consider dropping it completely. If it is an essential element of quality, consider – moving the criterion to the top Level or – moving it into the CQI section of your QRIS – focusing TA and PD on improvement on it, and not including it in ratings until practice has advanced.

Use Data to Find ‘Predictor’ Criteria With research partners, explore the relationships among criteria. Is there a set of items that consistently are met? It is possible to determine statistically if one of them is a “predictor” (if it’s met, very highly likely that the others are also met)

Use Data to Revise QRIS Suppose the data shows that programs in your state QRIS are meeting many criteria (but not all) in the block above where they are now.. Use criteria level data from the programs currently participating in QRIS to model how programs might score in alternative rating structures – points or hybrid KY has done that!

Presented with permission from Child Trends (2012)

NAEYC Accreditation Reliability and Validity Study Findings of note in re QRIS and accreditation Validity: Meaningful and significant differences in the percent of criteria met in several standards (Teaching, Relationships, Assessment of Child Progress) between programs that achieve accreditation and those that do not. Content: Strong positive relationship between meeting lead teacher qualifications and meeting higher proportion of criteria in Relationships; Content: On overall diversity and cultural competence criteria, significant difference between programs that achieve accreditation (91% met) and those that do not (77% met)

NAEYC Accreditation as a Mark of Program Quality Kyle Snow, Ph.D. Senior Scholar and Director Center for Applied Research National Association for the Education of Young Children Research Policy Practice

Goals 1.Overview of NAEYC Accreditation 2.What do we know about Accreditation 3.NAEYC Accreditation & QRIS Congruence

About NAEYC Accreditation NAEYC Accreditation is a meaningful tool for program quality improvement for programs serving children birth through kindergarten. Developed in the early 1980s A comprehensive system review and reinvention was fully implemented in fall In 2010 an independent review of the site visit and decision protocols was completed validating these processes.

A Portrait of Accredited Programs Program Affiliations: – College/University 5.6% – Employer-Sponsored 7.1% – Faith-based Institution 9.5% – Head Start 31.7% – Hospital 2.4% – Migrant services 1.6% – Military Installation 2.4% – Public School 19.8% – US Government Facility 3.2% – Parent Cooperative 11.1% – Indian Tribe.8% – Alaskan Native Village.8% Corporate Structure: – Non Profit 60.3% – Public Agency 19.0% – For Profit 19.0% – Not stated 2 1.6% Special Populations: – None 47.6% – Migrant workers 4.8% – Teen parents 23% – Homeless families 17.5% – Other: 19.0% (incl. 13.5% low income) As of 11/24/12, there are 6,748 accredited programs serving 592,675 children

Quality Improvement About NAEYC Accreditation Meet and Maintain Standards Becoming a Candidate Becoming an Applicant Enrollment in Self-Study Step Process Site Visit Self-Assessment

NAEYC Program Standards and Criteria Standard – Topic Criteria – Indicator(s) Sources of Evidence

NAEYC Program Standards and Criteria Possible Outcomes: – Accredited – Deferred – Denied To be accredited: – 80% of all assessed criteria in each standard – 70% on all criteria assessed in each group – All Required Criteria

NAEYC Accreditation - Recap Programs strive to meet NAEYC program standards Programs self-assess Assess programs against 10 standards that are research based Performance based upon multiple indicators and multiple sources of evidence Process allows for self-assessment and NAEYC performance feedback Process includes quality indicator and improvement systems But – does it really define quality, can programs attain it, can they maintain it, and can it be monitored?

What do we know about Accreditation? Reinvention and Criteria validation – During field tests for reinvention, NAEYC (2005) reported significant correlations between criteria (at the standard level) and Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) scores among 70 early childhood programs. The strongest relationships were found between overall quality and program standards for relationships, curriculum, and teaching. Validation studies – Sachs and Weiland (2010): schools engaged in accreditation scored higher on subscales of the ECERS-R, and children had higher scores on the Peabody Picture – Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III) compared to peers in programs not accredited (even after controlling for initial PPVT scores). State-level data within QRIS systems – PA Keystone STARS program (OCDEL, 2010) showed significant correlations between accreditation and environmental ratings of program quality (ECERS, ITERS, SACERS)

What do we know about Accreditation? Trend Briefs ( – communications intended to share data on programs seeking accreditation and to connect the findings to early childhood research trends. – Releases to date: Teaching: Accreditation of Programs for Young Children Standard 3 Assessment of Child Progress: Accreditation of Programs for Young Children Standard 4 Relationships: Accreditation of Programs for Young Children Standard 1 Supporting Cultural Competence: Accreditation of Programs for Young Children Cross-Cutting Theme in Program Standards – Upcoming: Family Engagement: Accreditation of Programs for Young Children Cross- Cutting Theme in Program Standards

What do we know about Accreditation? Trend Briefs: Data source: – Sample included 130 programs receiving accreditation site visits between September 2009 and July – Data captured on all 417 NAEYC criteria – Comparisons between accredited and not accredited programs’ performance on all criteria

What do we know about Accreditation? Trend Briefs - Selected findings: – Relationships (NAEYC Standard 1) Differences are noted in terms of programs’ means of dealing with challenging behavior, but even more so in the degree to which programs provide a “predictable, consistent, and harmonious” classroom. – Teaching (NAEYC Standard 3) Programs differ primarily among criteria that assess the use of scaffolding strategies in the classroom. – Assessment of Child Progress (NAEYC Standard 4) Programs accredited by NAEYC demonstrate a planned, intentional use of child assessment and communication of assessment results: using assessments to improve instruction and program design, and to effectively communicate assessment results to other teachers and families.

What do we know about Accreditation? Trend Briefs - Selected findings: – Supporting Cultural Competence (Cross-Standard) Many of the same criteria that prove the most challenging overall also differentiate between programs that became accredited and those that did not. Differences in how programs can connect with diverse families and engage them in the child’s program Differences in programs’ ability to understand, and respect, diversity in family values, especially when they may differ from those of the teacher. Differences in hiring diverse staff and ensuring staff receive training that includes working with diverse families. Differences in providing children with varied and deep experiences to support their own cultural competence.

What do we know about Accreditation? Some data to suggest valid indicator of quality – Need more validation studies and data Analysis of Accreditation data show differentiation between programs accredited and those not accredited, even when all attempt to reach same criteria – Future analyses can identify performance clusters, possible examine program performance pre-self-study to site visit to examine potential for quality improvement processes

Accreditation and QRIS Congruence State recognition of accreditation within QRIS ratings Some states use NAEYC Standards for specific areas – Alignment of program standards – Streamlining for programs that meet accreditation standards Accreditation Facilitation (Program Quality Improvement) Project models

Accreditation and QRIS Congruence State QRIS systems include accreditation in various ways: – Not recognized – Awarding additional points towards rating (overall or in specific areas, varying by system) – Enter at top (or near-top) rating Some combine accreditation with ERS visits Some differentiate accrediting bodies

Accreditation and QRIS Congruence In what ways can states benefit from NAEYC experience through accreditation in designing and implementing QRIS systems for program quality recognition and improvement, and in communicating with families?

Data Can Facilitate Cross-State Sharing and Comparison What data elements does your system need? Are there common definitions of data elements? National data efforts to be aware of…

Common Education Data Standards Early Learning is one domain in the overall P- 20 data model

Quality Initiatives Research and Evaluation Consortium (INQUIRE) INQUIRE supports high quality, policy-relevant research and evaluation on quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) and other quality initiatives by providing a learning community and resources to support researchers. The INQUIRE Consortium also provides input and information to state administrators and other policymakers and practitioners on evaluation strategies, new research, interpretation of research results, and implications of new research for practice. Child Trends helps to facilitate INQUIRE activities

INQUIRE and Data QRIS/QI Data Elements workgroup of INQUIRE worked with US Department of Education group focusing on Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) to create a recommended list of data elements, which is out now for public comment. developing a list of recommended data elements for QRIS and Quality Improvement purposes will be developing a set of data elements, especially for child care state administrators and CCDF reporting

Questions, Reflections, Comments?

Homework for January 3, 2013 Effective Cross-Sector QRIS: Challenges and Opportunities Cross-sector QRIS means one that aims for participation by most group early care and education providers, regardless of funding stream or auspice. At a minimum, this includes child care centers and family child care homes, Pre-K and Head Start, i.e., all publically supported and licensed settings, but not informal caregivers. A survey monkey link will be ed to you for use in completing the homework questions. – Due December 14 th (for webinar)

Homework Questions What challenges have you experienced in your efforts to develop and/or implement a cross-sector QRIS? What successes have you had with cross-sector QRIS? How do license-exempt centers (e.g. preK programs located in public or private schools) participate in your QRIS? Have you created an 'equivalent' standard for licensing? What have you learned about strategies for effectively engaging the support systems of other sectors (e.g. the Head Start T/TA system or early intervention training) in QRIS supports? Have you tried to engage monitoring or accountability systems from other sectors (such as collaborating with Head Start or PreK monitoring)? Have you worked with systems like early intervention, child welfare, and others to ensure that they understand QRIS and prioritize child placements in higher-quality settings?

Thank You NCCCQI does not endorse any non-Federal organization, publication, or resource. Follow-up Contacts: National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement