Home-based Child Care and Cost Estimation Modeling
With increased attention on the broken child care market and the urgent need for a more effective and equitable approach to how states fund access to quality child care, this webinar will discuss what a cost estimation model is, the process of developing a model, and how a model can be used to inform child care policy, such as subsidy rates and grants or contracts. In particular this discussion will focus on cost modeling in relationship to family child care providers; family child care is a cornerstone of the early care and education system yet is a very different service approach than center or school based settings. Join this webinar to explore how cost modeling and family child care comes together, the benefits to this modeling approach and impact on understanding family child care operations.
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Leading an Early Childhood Team Through the Quality Improvement Process
Article October 7, 2026
Published in Young Children, this 2024 article provides an operational guide for aligning state QIS requirements with broader national standards, quality grants, and staff incentives.
Much-Needed Changes in Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Should Promote Equity
Blog October 7, 2026
Blog authors Gina Adams and Danielle Ewen outline systemic flaws in traditional models. This 2024 blog details how traditional QRIS frameworks often inadequately support parents, underinvest in actual center improvement, and inadvertently exacerbate funding inequalities among diverse childcare providers.
Four Trends in Early Care and Education Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
Fact Sheet October 7, 2026
This 2024 brief evaluates Parent Aware (Minnesota's system) and synthesizes interviews across six states (Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington). It identifies critical, modern pathways for administrators looking to overhaul and redesign state frameworks.