Resource Collection: Quality Rating and Improvement Systems 3.0 Tools and Resources

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are evolving rapidly. As part of BUILD's effort to support QRIS to reform and strengthen early learning systems, we have created a suite of resources, dubbed QRIS 3.0.

QRIS leaders are evaluating their systems to identify opportunities for improvement, trying new strategies, and in some cases, creating new QRIS models. To contribute to the evolution of QRIS, BUILD has conducted research and prepared resources to support the rapid pace of innovation in QRIS. This work by the BUILD Initiative addresses QRIS design and implementation, the continuing challenges of financing, communications for public policy purposes, and the intersection of QRIS and pre-K.

Over a three-year period (2017- 2019) BUILD convened teams from 21 states to participate in The BUILD QRIS 3.0 Think Tanks. In these sessions, teams came together to self-assess their own QRIS, using a tool developed by BUILD, and identified one or two issues of high-priority focus. The think tank offered an opportunity for state leaders to engage with a peer community, take a deeper dive into priority issues they identified, and learn together. These are the resources that emerged from this work.

Caring for Our Youngest: State Strategies for Improving the Quality of Child Care for Children Under Age Three Through Quality Improvement Systems

Report January 1, 2020

What are the most important mechanisms for quality improvement for very young children, those prenatal to age three? How are states addressing this challenging issue? This brief will explore those questions, provide examples from the states, and suggest new forward-looking strategies to continue the momentum to ensure we are putting our efforts and resources where we know they will make the most impact.

Engaging Family Child Care in QRIS

Report June 1, 2019

Children are in out-of-home care settings more than ever, as their parents are working due to necessity or choice. The increased need for care is exacerbated by the barriers families face in finding quality care; in some instances, what is available or affordable to a family is not of the quality that we know can positively impact child development and learning. family child care in state systems and quality support efforts. This report explores why the integration of family child care in QRIS is critical, outlines several integration considerations and strategies, and provides state examples.

Toward Integration: State Approaches to Head Start Partnering in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems

Report July 1, 2018

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems are rapidly evolving from a child care- focused approach to one that is seeking to embrace a multiplicity of early learning programs including Head Start. The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) included a specific focus on using QRISs for all early learning programs and, more recently, in the issuance of revised performance standards for Head Start, the Office of Head Start made its strongest statement of support yet for integrating Head Start and QRISs. Integrating Head Start and QRISs is key to addressing the growing need for quality Early Care and Education (ECE) settings. This report looks at five states with different integration approaches - Arkansas, Montana, Oregon, Illinois and North Carolina – and explores the lessons learned from these diverse models.

Video: QRIS 3.0 Tools and Resources

Archived Webinar March 23, 2017

This webinar announcing BUILD’s QRIS 3.0 Tools and Resources provides an outline of the self-assessment tool and its purpose, information about financing for quality rating and improvement systems, state approaches to integrating PreK in QRIS and building cross-sector integration, communications and advocacy strategies, and tips for states on using the tools.

QRIS 3.0 Webinar Deck

Slide Deck March 23, 2017

This webinar slide deck announcing BUILD’s QRIS 3.0 Tools and Resources provides an outline of the self-assessment tool and its purpose, information about financing for quality rating and improvement systems, state approaches to integrating PreK in QRIS and building cross-sector integration, communications and advocacy strategies, and tips for states on using the tools

Tool for a Cross-Sector QRIS

Planning Tool March 1, 2017

Complete with a scoring rubric, and a self-populating summary chart, the tool is designed to assess QRIS—areas of strength as well as challenges—to inform next steps in QRIS development. This tool focuses on cross-sector QRIS that seek to support school readiness, healthy child development, and equitable outcomes for young children.

Toward Coherence: State Approaches to Integrating Pre-K in QRIS

Report January 1, 2017

At the state level, both Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and pre- kindergarten (pre-K) are on the rise. This paper explores cross-sector QRIS, which we define as QRIS that are inclusive of child care and pre-K programs. The paper aims to support policymakers and advocates as they examine their existing approaches and strive to increase coherence, effectiveness and equity.

Communications Strategies for Expanding Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS): A Primer for Reaching Policy Audiences

Report January 1, 2017

As state early learning leaders continue to improve and expand their QRIS, having policymakers understand and value the integral role it plays in a state early learning system is essential – especially as their support is critical for investment of public resources. This primer was developed to help with creating strategies and messages to effectively reach out to and communicate with policymakers.

Finance and QRIS

Report January 1, 2017

QRIS, if robustly and thoughtfully funded, can be a powerful strategy for improving the quality of early care and education. This report covers a number of strategies to address the continuing challenges of financing, provides examples of QRIS design and implementation, and examines the need to gain adequate public investment to support QRIS sufficiently to meet its full potential.

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems: Stakeholder Theories of Change and Models of Practice Study Report, Expert Panel Reflections and Recommendations

Report March 1, 2015

This paper reports on a study clarifying the different state QRIS model – what they look like, how the states describe their purposes, how they differ in inputs activities, outputs and outcomes. It also includes insights and reflections from a BUILD Think Tank, QRIS 3.0, where nearly two dozen national, state and local leaders, providers and researchers came together to hear the results of the research and to discuss critical questions and next steps in QRIS development. The paper also includes eight recommendations for next step activities.