Washington State QRIS: Stakeholder-Focused Quality Recognition Revisions
This session was presented during the BUILD 2021 National Conference.
In the past year, Early Achievers, Washington state’s QRIS has been undergoing a revision. This revision was spurred by the circumstances of the pandemic and to ensure quality improvement work continues. We took the pandemic as an opportunity to hone in on the lessons learned from data collected over the years. State partners came together to propose and receive feedback on the revisions centering equity all along. You will learn about: how state partners collaborated on the proposed system; the stakeholder engagement process that informed the new QRIS; and the components of our virtual QRIS.
Explore More
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.