Early Childhood Associates, Inc.

Our work brings us to the forefront of policy and quality improvement initiatives on the local, state and federal level. The results of our work makes a significant impact on QRIS systems, core competencies and alignment. Evaluating the QRIS model is a two pronged approach. Building an implementation evaluation into the QRIS to assess the infrastructure, best practices and cost effectiveness can lead to improvements in assessing quality components of QRIS, technical assistance offered and in reaching parents and communicating the level of quality in early care and education settings. However, the ultimate goal of the QRIS system is to ensure that children experience quality care and emerge with the highest possible levels of school readiness outcomes. To accomplish this requires a carefully planned validation study. Based on our extensive work with QRIS systems, outcome research and evaluation and participation on QRIS Validation Study Advisory Boards we have created a validation study plan. States have been responding to new waves of scientific research by developing and revising core knowledge and core competencies (CKCC) for early childhood professionals. Our approach to revising CKCC is based on our work in Michigan, Massachusetts, and our extensive review of national resources and CKCC projects in eight other states. It ensures the relevancy and appropriateness of CKCC and PD systems so that they are aligned with state early learning standards, consistent with the latest research on young children and families, and accessible to the full range of early childhood educators. The goal of alignment planning is to sharpen and concretize the design and implementation of early childhood services to ensure a viable, cohesive, high quality, community-wide effort for young children. The paradigm shifts that are needed to fully embrace alignment across the service delivery system are enormous. We have a Five Part Strategy to tackle these issues.