Refining Indiana’s quality rating system & powering up our quality coaching workforce
Partnerships for Early Learners hosts a fellow who combines academic research with practical experience to refine Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY™ rating and improvement system. Working in tandem with both Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning and early education professionals, our fellow focuses on the continuous improvement of this key piece of infrastructure.
One key outcome of this fellowship is a series of briefs exploring quality rating and improvement systems, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Deconstructed. The series has been developed through funding from the Lilly Endowment and examines the similarities and differences of various aspects of QRIS programs from across the country.
- Brief 1: Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, An Introduction to Quality Rating and Improvement Systems and Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY™ – This issue is an introduction to the history and structure of QRIS programs.
- Brief 2: Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, Technical Assistance and Provider Supports and Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY™ – This issue explains the technical assistance and supports offered to participating early care and education providers.
- Future issues will examine technical assistance, the use of incentives, and financing QRIS programs, among other aspects of QRIS implementation.
In addition to this fellow, we are investing in a coaching surge across the state, designed to serve more programs and support local child care resource and referral agencies in adding more quality options for families. These new quality coaches will guide programs as they reach higher levels of quality and focus on the meaningful interactions that spark early learning.
Recent News
Safe Sleep Update: No Swaddles in Indiana Child Care Programs
New views on swaddling via the National Resource Center For Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. In response to emergent research, the state of Indiana has updated their licensing requirements around safe sleep. The new safe sleep directive is that infants can no longer be swaddled in regulated child care settings….
Positive Behavior Begins with Effective Environments
When it comes to classroom management, some things are easier said than done. And you’ve probably heard many opinions on discipline about what “you should be doing.” But as an early childhood professional, you know that positive behaviors start with positive environments, classroom preparedness and good techniques. Caring for the littlest learners is one…