Who Does What Best? Some Thoughts about State Roles in the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships
The federally-funded Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships represent an opportunity to advance high-quality, comprehensive early childhood systems focused on the youngest children with the greatest need. The state is a critical player in terms of ensuring quality, efficiency, and equity, so in exploring the potential of Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, this paper investigates what role states can play and what we can learn from state- level work in the first round of Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants. BUILD highlights a selection of examples of partnerships between state and local leaders.
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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.