Delaware Stars TQRIS Verna Thompson Delaware Department of Education Mary Sonnenberg University of Delaware

Historical perspective  Delaware Governor Markell and General Assembly appropriated $22 million Boost the state’s child care subsidy system Fund the administration of Stars Fund a tiered reimbursement component  December 2011 – RTTT-ELC awarded As part of the Early Learning Challenge, public schools could now participate in Delaware Stars  Revision of Stars Standards Practice Principles: Continuity, Inclusion, Intentionality QRIS Development in Delaware

619 Workgroup Decision made to use same system for all early care and education  Completed alignment document  Stars standards and 619 federal regulations; state procedures  Revised 619 Procedures Manual to align to DE Stars standards  Will lead to clearly defined procedures for 619 programs  Will lead to improved inclusive settings for 619 programs RTTT ELC Target for participation and # children with disabilities  In 2012, 7 of the 16 school district 619 programs volunteered to participate  619 programs recruiting community programs to apply to DE Stars 619 Participation in Delaware Stars 2012

May achieve Star Level 3  If they have less than 50% typically developing peers in classrooms  If they have required documentation listed in 619 Procedures Manual  Score at least a 3 on Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) May achieve Star Level 4 or 5  If they have at least 50% typically developing peers in all classrooms  If they have required documentation listed in 619 Procedures Manual  Score at least a 4 or 5 on Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale - Revised (ECERS-R) 619 Participation in Delaware Stars Requirements to Promote Inclusion in 2012

 Barriers to being able to move forward…  Limited slots for state-funded preschool  School districts limited resources to support typically developing peers  ERS assessment  Part-day programs  During this time one program moved forward and became a Star Level 4 Good idea…but not quite there

 Cross-sector work group reconvened  Looked at challenges and ways to meet them and develop options for inclusion  Work group committed to school districts being part of QRIS  Looked at different ways to meet standards  Created Alternative Pathway for 619 programs  Revised crosswalk  Guidelines for programs with multiple funding streams  Portfolio review  Inclusion planning document Back to the table…

 Today what we are seeing… 11 of the 16 school district 619 programs in Delaware Stars  Multiple sites per school district 7 now rated Star Level 4 under Alternative Pathway 4 new applications Programs requesting assessment for Star Level 5 Increased interest in participation  Inclusion Planning Document Blended programs, braided funding streams Co-teaching in four school districts Increase in itinerant teachers Collaborative training with community based providers Individualization of strategies in increase inclusive practices that work for the districts Moving in the right direction…

Seven districts have quality classrooms meeting standards for Star 4 Four districts going through major restructuring of their programs to improve inclusion while participating in Delaware Stars Three districts are completely inclusive What a difference…

 Dealing with funding streams and structures Continue to be challenges Different regulations and procedures  Creative strategies for increasing inclusion Developing Collaboration with community-based providers  Survey results - supports and resources addressed Implementation  QRIS Standards For all children  ERS  Curriculum  Accommodations Work in progress