Early childhood education: Quality Rating & Improvement Systems

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems have become a hot topic in early childhood education. QRIS are rating and assessment systems designed to assess early childhood programs, provide incentives to improve them, and communicate their level of quality. The five components of QRIS are: (1) standards, (2) accountability measures, (3) program and practitioner outreach and support, (4) financing incentives, and (5) parent and consumer education efforts. A number of states have implemented QRIS, and many that have not yet are in the process of creating them.

We have been actively monitoring QRIS in the states. Our particular areas of interest include:

• whether QRIS is an effective mechanism for improving compensation for the early childhood workforce;
• if the neediest children are being served through QRIS; and
• to what extent have the states that already have QRIS examined improvements to their current system.

We want to hear from you! Has the QRIS in your state improved your compensation and your ability to further your professional development? What has your experience been as an early childhood educator with QRIS? What improvements should be made to current QRIS policies? Email us at ece@aft.org with your comments and feedback.