Transcript 2013 QRIS Grants

2014 QRIS Program Quality
Improvement Grants
Wendy Valentine, M.Ed.
Senior Director, United Way of Mass Bay and
Merrimack Valley
Goal
To provide QRIS Program Quality
Improvement Grants to all eligible
programs/educators in the mixed delivery
system to make program improvements in
pursuit of upward progress on the levels
defined in the QRIS system
2013 QRIS Grants
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Total funding of up to $2,500,000 awarded to
programs in two rounds of funding
Grantees represented 631 programs and
providers in all five regions
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236 Family Childcare programs
255 Center based programs
140 Afterschool/Out of School Time programs
2013 Grants Process
Applicants Proposed Quality Improvement
Related Purchases and Expenditures
Grantees Selected; Program Planning OR
Durable Goods and Services Funding
Awarded (Grants of $3000, $5000 or
$7000 Based on Total Enrollment)
Grantees Make Proposed Purchases and
Expenditures
Proposed Changes
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Modify grant cycle and structure to promote
increased long-term, sustainable program quality
improvements
Increase the infrastructure to provide access to
technical assistance prior to proposing grant
purchases and expenditures
Provide training for program administrators and
providers on connecting data results to program
improvement planning
Provide training for program administrators and
providers on integrating program improvement
planning and grant-related purchases and
expenditures
Technical Assistance Model
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QRIS Technical Assistance & Resource
Conference
Regional Group Technical Assistance
Meetings
Technical Assistance Consultation as
Needed
Program Improvement Plan Approval
Emerging Research Suggests
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A consultant model of professional development
support is associated with better outcomes for
children
When engaged in professional development in a
content area, access to a mentor/coach is linked to
improvements in practice for educators
This benefit is also seen for family child care
educators
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Schilder, D. Young, J., Anastasopoulos, L., Kimura, S. & Rivera, B. (2011). Massachusetts Quality Rating and
Improvement System Provisional Standards Study: Final Report. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Department of Early
Education and Care. http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs1/qris/20110307_ma_qris_provisional_study_final_rpt.pdf
Schilder, D, Canada, D., Paulk, S., & Smith Leavell, A. (2012) Review of Research on Child Care Quality. Boston,
MA: Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
2014 Proposed Grant Structure
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Single round of grants
Technical Assistance support for grantees
integrated into the process
Development of Program Improvement Plans
a required component of grant
Grantees receive both Program Planning
Funding (to develop a plan) and Durable
Goods and Services Funding (to implement
the plan)
2014 Grants Process
Grantees Selected – Spring 2014
Technical Assistance and Resource Conference –
Spring 2014
Program Planning Funding Awarded – Summer 2014
Ongoing Technical Assistance – Summer and Fall 2014
Program Improvement Plans Developed and Approved
– Summer and Fall 2014
Durable Goods and Services Funding Awarded –
Summer and Fall 2014
Program Improvement Plans Implemented – Fall 2014
Next Steps
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Vet QRIS Improvement Grant proposed changes
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EEC Program Quality Unit (2/6/14)
Online Survey Link Sent to programs and providers (2/7/2014)
EPS Coaches and Mentors (2/18/14)
QRIS Working Group- Program Administrators (2/26/14)
QRIS Working Group- Educators and Providers (2/27/14)
Revised Grant Solicitation reflecting changes
ECC Legal review of Revised Grant Solicitation
Questions?