Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System

QRIS Updates FY 11 QRIS Program Participation FY 11 Quality Improvement Grants (T4Q) Related Spending and Area of Focus QRIS Standard Exemption Requests FY12 QRIS Activities & Next Steps 2

FY 11 QRIS Program Participation 3

QRIS Participation: Status of QRIS Applications 4 QRIS Program Type Central MA Metro Metro Boston Northeast Southeast and Cape Western MA Grand Total Center/School Based Family Child Care After School/Out of School Time Grand Total QRIS Applications Submitted as Final as of 9/02/2011 QRIS Program Type Central MA Metro Metro Boston Northeast Southeast and Cape Western MA Grand Total Center/School Based Family Child Care After School/Out of School Time Grand Total ~ 1027 Entry-Phased QRIS Applications (Draft Applications) as of 9/02/2011

5 QRIS Participation QRIS Self-Assessed Levels by Program Type & Region Program Type & Self Assessed Level Central MAMetro Metro Boston Northeast Southeast and Cape Western MAGrand Total Center/School Based Working Towards Level Level Level Level Level Family Child Care Level Level Level 311 Level 4112 After School/ Out of School Time Working Towards Level 111 Level Level Level 311 Level 411 Grand Total

QRIS Participation: The Massachusetts Quality Rating & Improvement System is considered a partially voluntary system. QRIS participation is typically voluntary with some exceptions. Programs that are recipients of particular EEC funding opportunities are required to participate in QRIS per terms of the grant and/or contract. To meet the QRIS Participation requirements programs are expected to: 1.Complete a QRIS Application and self-assessment in the on-line QRIS Program Manager, 2.Submit the QRIS application as final to EEC via the QRIS Program Manager, and 3.Mail the required documentation to EEC for review and QRIS verification. 6

QRIS Participation: Building a Comprehensive Coordinated System of Quality EEC licensed programs and license exempt programs that are recipients of the EEC funding opportunities listed below are required to participate in QRIS per the terms of the funding opportunity. FY 12 Head Start Supplemental Grants (FY12- 33% program participation, FY13 66% program participation, FY14 100% program participation) FY12 Universal Pre-Kindergarten Grants -100% participation FY12 Child Care Quality Literacy Support Grant -100% participation FY 11 Kindergarten Entry Enrichment Program (KEEP) -100% participation FY 11 REKEEP: KEEP Before & After School Care -100% participation FY11 PSCCE - Pre School Child Care Education 100% participation FY 11 Assessment Training Grant - 100% participation (Associated) FY 11 Quality Program Improvement Grant -100% participation (T4Q) FY 10 Infant -Toddler Learning Environments - 100% participation (CIF) As of May 2012, Family Child Care and Out of School Time programs that received funding for EEC contracted slots will be required to participate in QRIS. 7

FY 11 Quality Improvement Grants (T4Q) Related Spending and Area of Focus 8

QRIS Grants: Statewide Participation Between March 2010 and June 2011, $6.08M in QRIS Program Quality and Improvement grant funding has been awarded to 1089 programs located in 43% of the Commonwealth's 351 towns and cities. QRIS grant funding has reached programs in 178 communities across the Commonwealth FY10: 134 communities and FY 11: 140 communities (44 new communities reached in FY11) 9 FY 10 and FY11 Number QRIS Grant Awards by Region RegionFY10FY11Total Central MA Greater Boston Metro North East Western MA South East, Cape & Islands Grand Total

FY11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant (ARRA) Approximately 926 programs and educators applied for funding through this RFP, requesting over $7.7 million in grants. In total, $2,8M in funding was awarded to 449 QRIS participants, representing all QRIS program types and regions across the Commonwealth. Family Child Care: 356 applications received, 52% awarded grants Center-Based/School-Based: 401 applications received, 48% awarded- 197 grants Out-of School Time/After School: 150 applications received, 44% awarded- 66 grants Across all QRIS program types: 49% of the programs that applied received funding. 10

FY 11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants Number of Grantees by Region and QRIS Program Type 11 QRIS Program Type Central MA Greater Boston Metro North East South East, Cape & Islands Western MA Grand Total Center-Based & School-Based Family Child Care Out of School/ After School Grand Total

FY 11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants Number of Grantees by Region and QRIS Program Type 12

FY11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant Together for Quality (T4Q) Partnership QRIS Foundational Training: Trainings designed to assist programs in QRIS grant application process were provided in each EEC region by the CAYL Institute. QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants: The United Way issued the request for proposals (RFPs) and is overseeing the administration, implementation, and evaluation of grants. $2.82 million has been awarded to 449 grantees. T4Q Field Coach Program (Wheelock): 25 trained field coaches have been providing mentoring and content-focused consultation to programs in professional development, curriculum and instruction, child assessment, program management, and/or QRIS Implementation 111 grantees that indicated interest through their grant application received technical assistance and mentoring support. 13

QRIS Category for Quality Improvement Efforts Frequency of Use for Improvement Plan Activities Center-Based / School Based Programs Category 1: Curriculum and Learning Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development Category 4: family and Community Engagement Family Child Care Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments Category 1: Curriculum and Learning After School/Out-of School Time Programs Category 1: Curriculum and Learning Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments Category 4: family and Community Engagement Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development 14

FY11 QRIS Grant Most Frequent Requested Spending Categories Supplies and materials: textbooks and instructional materials Supplies and materials: non-instructional materials Equipment Contractual Services- Specialist 15

QRIS Standard Exemption Requests 16

QRIS Exemption Requests Policy Requesting an exemption is an option that program may use to qualify for a QRIS self-assessment rating, when programs have identified specific barriers to meeting the standards, at one particular QRIS Rating Level. Programs may apply for up to 4 exemptions, per QRIS program type, on their QRIS self-assessment application to self assess at one particular QRIS level. a) Three (3) of these exemptions may be applied to standards criteria that programs should have resolved within 12 months of their QRIS application submission date. b) One (1) of these exemptions may be applied towards one standard criterion that may require a significant length of time to achieve – more than 12 months to achieve. (for example Staff obtainment of a BA degree). FY11 Quality Improvement Grants Applicants via T4Q were also offered an the option to request Environment Rating Scale Exemptions (ERS Exemption Request)

QRIS Exemption Requests Process for Programs For each QRIS exemption request programs were asked to provide: reason program does not currently meet the standard written implementation plan (in QPM) timeline for meeting the standard (if the timeline exceeds a 12 month period programs were asked to offer an additional explanation). All QRIS exemption requests are reviewed during the QRIS rating verification process. Each request will either received a determination: Exemption Granted, Exemption Not Granted, or Exemption Pending (if additional information is needed to make the Exemption Determination)

*Based on the 1453 QRIS Applications received as of August 5, 2011 QRIS Standards Exemption Requests Update 832 QRIS Exemption Requests were received in 15% of the QRIS applications submitted as final as of August 5, requests received in 135 Center-based/School-Based applications 28 requests received in 26 Family Child Care applications 256 requests received in 53 After School/ Out of School Time applications 352 were Environment Rating Scale Exemption Requests The ERS Exemption request offered programs an opportunity to complete the scale and submit Self-Assessment ERS Scores for each classroom for QRIS Level 2 by June 1 st The ERS exemption included multiple QRIS Level 2 standards that used the ITERS-R, ECERSS-R, FCCERS-R, SACERS self- assessed score as the measurement method Approximately 33% of the ERS Exemption requests (115) are eligible for consideration

QRIS Exemption Requests by QRIS Level & Program Type 480 Exemptions Requests were received for QRIS Standards ERS Exemption Requests not reflected above QRIS Standard Level Center-Based/ School-Based Family Child Care After School/Out of School Time Grand Total Level 133* Level Level Level Grand Total *Requests received from one(1) EEC licensed-exempt program Approximately 63% of the 480 exemption requests are eligible for consideration, as the other requests exceeded the program’s QRIS Self-Assessed Level or were not needed.

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QRIS Exemption Requests Trends Most programs request less than four 4 exemption 10% of the exemption requests will require additional information to make the Exemption Determination due to missing reason, implementation plan and/or timeline Several programs requested exemptions related to Environmental Rating Scale item scores received a score below 3, and the program requested time to address via their improvement plan 16% of the exemptions requests were regarding the Bachelor’s degree requirements for Level 2 QRIS standards, all programs provided a reason for their requests; the majority indicated that more than 12 months would be needed to meet the standard the level of completeness of the implementation plans varied, and. 8% of the exemption requests pertained to health consultant agreements and annual visits, and all programs shared implementation plans that were resolvable within a 12 month period.

FY12 QRIS Activities & Next Steps 23

24 FY 12 Next Steps for QRIS FY12 Quality Program Improvement Grants – Anticipated $800, to be awarded in fall. QRIS Overview – an on-line course will be developed and translated into 3 languages Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian to enhance QRIS Entry-Phase supports Additional on-line course to be developed that support specific standards in-depth in the areas of 1A Curriculum, Learning and Diversity 3A & 3B Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development 4A Family and Community Engagement