OREGON’S QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR EI/ECSE PERSONNEL Gary Glasenapp Teaching Research Institute Center on Early Learning Western Oregon University 1

Session Objectives 2  Participants will:  Have a general understanding of Oregon’s QRIS.  Understand how Oregon’s QRIS addresses supporting children with disabilities and their families.  Understand the implications of Oregon’s QRIS for EI/ECSE personnel.  Identify what EI/ECSE administrators can do to enhance collaboration with QRIS, CCR&Rs and Early Learning Hubs to support young children with disabilities.

Oregon’s Early Childhood Inclusion Collaborative (OECIC) 3

OECIC 4  Subgrant from Oregon Department of Education  Provide support to Oregon Counties  Increase number of community placement sites  Increase quality of community placement sites  Increase collaboration  Different levels of TA/support  Universal  Targeted  Intensive

What is Oregon’s QRIS? 5

What is QRIS? Quality 6

What is QRIS? Rating 7

What is QRIS? Improvement 8

What is QRIS? System 9

What is QRIS? Quality for Better Outcomes for Children in Oregon 10

In the spotlight State and National Focus On Early Childhood Care and Education 11

Oregon’s Focus on Early Childhood  Governor Kitzhaber’s focus on Education  Oregon Educational Investment Board 

Oregon’s % of Oregonians by % will hold a bachelor’s degree or higher 40% will hold an associate’s degree or post- secondary credential Remaining 20% will hold a high school diploma or equivalent 13

1. Ensure all children are ready for kindergarten and reading at grade-level in 3 rd grade. 2. Children are raised in stable and attached families. 3. Integrate resources and services statewide. E ARLY L EARNING D IVISION ’ S V ISION 14

Early Learning in Oregon  Early Learning Council and Early Learning Division Initiatives to meet the vision  QRIS  Kindergarten Entry Assessment  Universal Screening  Early Learning HUBS 15

Early Learning in Oregon  Successful Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge federal grant  Systems building money for early childhood in Oregon  $30 million over 4 years 16

National Focus on Early Learning  President Obama is also focusing on and investing in the future through young children Short video can be found at  In November 2013 Senator Harkin introduced the Strong Start for America’s Children Act that has bipartisan sponsorship and support for-children 17

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Why QRIS? Oregon’s QRIS History and Field Test 19

Oregon’s QRIS is Not New Oregon’s QRIS National QRIS Quality Indicators Oregon’s Programs of Quality Targeted Research Oregon Registry 20

Partners Oregon’s QRIS Child Care Resource and Referral Teaching Research Institute at WOU Oregon Center for Career Development Oregon State University/ Portland State University Office of Child Care 21

Oregon’s QRIS Field Test Field test available statewide March 2014 Teen Parent Programs NAEYC, NAFCC, ACSI, OPQ Head Start Fall 2013 Multnomah Deschutes/Crook/Jefferson Linn/Benton Lane/Douglas January

So, what is it? Oregon’s QRIS Overview 23

QRIS Components Building Block with 5 Tiers 5 Domains 2 Versions of Materials Quality Improvement Quality Improvement Plans Self- Assessments Supports Quality Rating Portfolio System of Documentation Incentives 24

Oregon’s QRIS 5 Tier Building Block System 25

Overall categories of quality 5 total Domains Program standards, organized by domain 33 total Standards Star levels of standards Usually 3 per standard Some standards only have 1 or 2 indicators Indicators Found in portfolio only Measurable structural indicators that standard is present in program Evidence QRIS Standards Structure 26

QRIS Materials Structure Self-Assessment Domains Standards Indicators Quality Improvement Plan Domains Standards Indicators Portfolio Domains Standards Indicators Evidence 27

QRIS Domains and Standards 12 Standards Children’s Learning and Development 6 Standards Health and Safety 5 Standards Personnel Qualifications 4 Standards Family Partnerships 6 Standards Administration and Business Practices 28

Star Level Indicators: Building Block 5-Star 4-Star 3-Star 4-Star 5-Star 29

Basics of the QRIS Process Commit QRIS Increasing Quality Training Application Self Assessment Participate Quality Improvement Plan Quality Improvement supports Technical Assistance with portfolio Financial Supports of $1000-$2000 Achieve Submit portfolio to Western Oregon University Portfolio reviewed by experts Receive a rating and financial incentive Incentives between $500-$2500

Oregon’s QRIS and Supporting Children with Disabilities and Their Families 31

How Oregon’s QRIS Addresses Children with Disabilities and Their Families 32  Based on premise that inclusion of children with disabilities should be part of Oregon’s QRIS  Oregon’s QRIS addresses the needs of ALL children and families  No separate Domain for children with disabilities  Woven throughout Domains and Standards

Examples from Oregon’s QRIS 33  LD1- 4 Star: The program’s philosophy explicitly ensures the inclusion of all children.  LD3 – 3 Star: The program uses a basic indoor environmental arrangement that supports children’s learning and development that includes including space that:  is accessible to all children enrolled in the program  has enough room for equipment needed by children with disabilities  LD7 – 3 Star: The program uses basic curriculum activities that support children’s learning and development that include:  adaptations that allow all children, including those with disabilities to participate  HS5 – 3 &4 Star: Including children with special health needs.  FP1: Program uses family input and feedback to guide program planning and policy decisions.  FP2: Program meets individual needs of children through mutually respectful, two- way communication with families.

Implications of Oregon’s QRIS for EI/ECSE Personnel 34

35 Implications of Oregon’s QRIS for EI/ECSE Personnel Better services for ALL children and families Oregon’s QRIS identifies quality ELDP programs More choices to place children with disabilities More children with disabilities placed in community settings Increased collaboration between ECE programs, EI/ECSE, CCR&Rs

36 Implications of Oregon’s QRIS for Supporting Children with Disabilities in Community Programs Better services for ALL children and families Increased quality of program Recognize quality of program Provide services to more children and families Increased collaboration between EI/ECSE, CCR&Rs, other agencies

What can EI/ECSE administrators do to enhance collaboration with QRIS, CCR&Rs and Early Learning Hubs to support young children with disabilities? Activity 37

Questions? 38

Contact Information 39  Gary Glasenapp   Tom Udell   Mandy Stanley 

OREGON’S QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM 40

OREGON’S EARLY CHILDHOOD INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE 41