Knocking it All Down: Why We Need to Build a New Quality Rating Improvement System
This session was presented during BUILD 2022 National Conference.
Sometimes the best way forward is to knock down existing structures and rebuild them from the ground up. Such is the case with QRIS, which should measure meaningful differences in the quality of ECE programs but in practice are only weakly associated with child outcomes. As a result, providers lack the information they need to improve and families do not know which programs will best address their needs. Using powerful videos and real-world state examples, the session explores how states can more accurately and equitably measure critical aspects of program quality that support children’s healthy growth and development.
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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.