Transcript Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System QRIS Updates  FY 11 QRIS Program Participation  FY 11 Quality Improvement Grants (T4Q) Related Spending and Area of.

Massachusetts
Quality Rating and Improvement System
QRIS Updates
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
FY 11 QRIS Program Participation

FY 11 Quality Improvement Grants (T4Q)
Related Spending and Area of Focus
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QRIS Standard Exemption Requests

FY12 QRIS Activities & Next Steps
FY 11 QRIS Program Participation
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QRIS Participation: Status of QRIS Applications
~ 1027 Entry-Phased QRIS Applications (Draft Applications) as of 9/02/2011
QRIS Program
Type
Central
MA
Metro
Metro
Boston
Northeast
Center/School
Based
37
80
50
71
75
65
378
Family Child Care
133
22
94
154
73
52
528
After School/Out of
School Time
9
29
36
26
5
16
121
Grand Total
179
131
180
251
153
133
1027
Southeast Western
and Cape
MA
1474 QRIS Applications Submitted as Final
Grand
Total
as of 9/02/2011
QRIS Program
Type
Central
MA
Metro
Metro
Boston
Northeast
Center/School
Based
61
80
93
80
117
109
540
Family Child Care
146
77
118
268
74
45
728
After School/Out of
School Time
18
42
32
45
38
31
206
Grand Total
225
199
243
393
229
185
1474
4
Southeast Western
and Cape
MA
Grand
Total
QRIS Participation QRIS Self-Assessed Levels by Program Type & Region
Program Type & Self
Central MA
Assessed Level
Center/School Based
61
Working Towards Level 1
Level 1
47
Level 2
6
Level 3
8
Level 4
80
Metro
Boston
93
61
8
7
75
9
8
4
1
1
1
Metro
Northeast
80
1
67
11
Southeast
Western MA Grand Total
and Cape
117
109
540
2
1
4
89
95
434
24
13
71
1
24
7
Family Child Care
146
77
118
268
74
45
728
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
After School/ Out of School
Time
Working Towards Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Grand Total
141
4
75
2
116
1
262
4
1
72
2
44
2
710
15
1
2
45
38
31
206
5
1
18
13
5
225
1
42
32
31
11
1
23
7
1
199
243
36
9
393
36
2
28
2
229
1
185
1
167
36
1
1
1474
QRIS Participation:
The Massachusetts Quality Rating & Improvement System is
considered a partially voluntary system.
 QRIS participation is typically voluntary with some exceptions.
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Programs that are recipients of particular EEC funding
opportunities are required to participate in QRIS per terms of the
grant and/or contract.
To meet the QRIS Participation requirements programs are
expected to:
1. Complete a QRIS Application and self-assessment in the
on-line QRIS Program Manager,
2. Submit the QRIS application as final to EEC via the QRIS
Program Manager, and
3. Mail the required documentation to EEC for review and
QRIS verification.
QRIS Participation:
Building a Comprehensive Coordinated System of Quality

EEC licensed programs and license exempt programs that are
recipients of the EEC funding opportunities listed below are required
to participate in QRIS per the terms of the funding opportunity.
FY 12 Head Start Supplemental Grants
(FY12- 33% program participation, FY13 66% program participation, FY14
100% program participation)
 FY12 Universal Pre-Kindergarten Grants -100% participation
 FY12 Child Care Quality Literacy Support Grant -100% participation
 FY 11 Kindergarten Entry Enrichment Program (KEEP) -100% participation
 FY 11 REKEEP: KEEP Before & After School Care -100% participation
 FY11 PSCCE - Pre School Child Care Education 100% participation
 FY 11 Assessment Training Grant - 100% participation (Associated)
 FY 11 Quality Program Improvement Grant -100% participation (T4Q)
 FY 10 Infant -Toddler Learning Environments - 100% participation (CIF)
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As of May 2012, Family Child Care and Out of School Time programs
that received funding for EEC contracted slots will be required to
participate in QRIS.
FY 11 Quality Improvement Grants (T4Q)
Related Spending and Area of Focus
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QRIS Grants: Statewide Participation
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Between March 2010 and June 2011, $6.08M in QRIS Program Quality
and Improvement grant funding has been awarded to 1089 programs
located in 43% of the Commonwealth's 351 towns and cities.
QRIS grant funding has reached programs in 178 communities across
the Commonwealth FY10: 134 communities and FY 11: 140
communities (44 new communities reached in FY11)
FY 10 and FY11 Number QRIS Grant Awards by Region
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Region
FY10
FY11
Total
Central MA
Greater Boston
Metro
North East
Western MA
South East, Cape & Islands
Grand Total
83
58
46
226
105
122
640
68
95
36
77
76
97
449
151
153
82
301
179
219
1089
FY11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant (ARRA)
Approximately 926 programs and educators applied for
funding through this RFP, requesting over $7.7 million in
grants.
In total, $2,8M in funding was awarded to 449 QRIS
participants, representing all QRIS program types and regions
across the Commonwealth.
 Family Child Care: 356 applications received, 52% awarded
- 186 grants
 Center-Based/School-Based: 401 applications received,
48% awarded- 197 grants
 Out-of School Time/After School: 150 applications
received, 44% awarded- 66 grants
 Across all QRIS program types: 49% of the programs that
applied received funding.
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FY 11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants
Number of Grantees by Region and QRIS Program Type
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QRIS Program
Type
Central
MA
Greater
Boston
Metro
North
East
South
East,
Cape &
Islands
Center-Based &
School-Based
21
41
17
24
38
56
197
Family Child Care
38
42
8
40
46
12
186
Out of School/
After School
9
12
11
13
13
8
66
Grand Total
68
95
36
77
97
76
449
Western
MA
Grand
Total
FY 11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants
Number of Grantees by Region and QRIS Program Type
186
41%
Center-Based & School-Based
Family Child Care
197
44%
Out of School/ After School
76
17%
Greater Boston
95
21%
77
17%
12
Central MA
68
15%
97
22%
36
8%
66
15%
Metro
North East
South East, Cape & Islands
Western MA
FY11 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant
Together for Quality (T4Q) Partnership
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QRIS Foundational Training: Trainings designed to assist
programs in QRIS grant application process were provided in
each EEC region by the CAYL Institute.
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QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants: The United Way
issued the request for proposals (RFPs) and is overseeing the
administration, implementation, and evaluation of grants.
$2.82 million has been awarded to 449 grantees.
T4Q Field Coach Program (Wheelock): 25 trained field coaches
have been providing mentoring and content-focused
consultation to programs in professional development,
curriculum and instruction, child assessment,
program management, and/or QRIS Implementation
 111 grantees that indicated interest through their grant
application received technical assistance and mentoring support.
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QRIS Category for Quality Improvement Efforts
Frequency of Use for Improvement Plan Activities
Center-Based / School Based Programs
 Category 1: Curriculum and Learning
 Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments
 Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration
 Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development
 Category 4: family and Community Engagement
 Family Child Care
 Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration
 Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development
 Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments
 Category 1: Curriculum and Learning
 After School/Out-of School Time Programs
 Category 1: Curriculum and Learning
 Category 2: Safe, Healthy Indoor and Outdoor Environments
 Category 4: family and Community Engagement
 Category 5: Leadership, Management and Administration
 Category 3: Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development
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FY11 QRIS Grant
Most Frequent Requested Spending Categories
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Supplies and materials: textbooks and
instructional materials
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Supplies and materials: non-instructional
materials
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Equipment
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Contractual Services- Specialist
QRIS Standard Exemption Requests
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QRIS Exemption Requests Policy
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Requesting an exemption is an option that program may use to
qualify for a QRIS self-assessment rating, when programs have
identified specific barriers to meeting the standards, at one
particular QRIS Rating Level.
Programs may apply for up to 4 exemptions, per QRIS program type,
on their QRIS self-assessment application to self assess at one
particular QRIS level.
Three (3) of these exemptions may be applied to standards criteria
that programs should have resolved within 12 months of their QRIS
application submission date.
b) One (1) of these exemptions may be applied towards one standard
criterion that may require a significant length of time to achieve –
more than 12 months to achieve. (for example Staff obtainment of a
BA degree).
a)
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FY11 Quality Improvement Grants Applicants via T4Q were also
offered an the option to request Environment Rating Scale
Exemptions (ERS Exemption Request)
QRIS Exemption Requests Process for Programs
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For each QRIS exemption request programs were asked to
provide:
reason program does not currently meet the standard
 written implementation plan (in QPM)
 timeline for meeting the standard (if the timeline exceeds a
12 month period programs were asked to offer an
additional explanation).
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All QRIS exemption requests are reviewed during the
QRIS rating verification process. Each request will either
received a determination:
Exemption Granted,
 Exemption Not Granted, or
 Exemption Pending (if additional information is needed to
make the Exemption Determination)
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QRIS Standards Exemption Requests Update
*Based on the 1453 QRIS Applications received as of August 5, 2011

832 QRIS Exemption Requests were received in 15% of the
QRIS applications submitted as final as of August 5, 2011.
 547 requests received in 135 Center-based/School-Based
applications
 28 requests received in 26 Family Child Care applications
 256 requests received in 53 After School/ Out of School
Time applications
 352 were Environment Rating Scale Exemption Requests
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The ERS Exemption request offered programs an opportunity to
complete the scale and submit Self-Assessment ERS Scores for
each classroom for QRIS Level 2 by June 1st
The ERS exemption included multiple QRIS Level 2 standards
that used the ITERS-R, ECERSS-R, FCCERS-R, SACERS selfassessed score as the measurement method
Approximately 33% of the ERS Exemption requests (115)
are eligible for consideration
QRIS Exemption Requests by QRIS Level & Program Type

480 Exemptions Requests were received for QRIS Standards
Approximately 63% of the 480 exemption requests are eligible for
consideration, as the other requests exceeded the program’s
QRIS Self-Assessed Level or were not needed.
QRIS Standard Level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Grand Total
Center-Based/
School-Based
243
51
42
336
Family Child Care
26
1
27
After School/Out
of School Time
Grand Total
3
106
1
7
117
3*
375
52
50
480
*Requests received from one(1) EEC licensed-exempt program
ERS Exemption Requests not reflected above
Level 2 Standards
Exemption Requests by QRIS Subcategories (375)
3B. Program Staff /Site Coodinator Qualifications and Professional Development
3A. Program Administrator Qualifications and Professional Development
4A. Family and Community Engagement
2A. Safe, Healthy, Indoor and Outdoor Environments
5A. Leadership, Management, and Administration
1A. Curriculum, Assessment, and Diversity
5B. Supervision
1B. Teacher-Child Relationships and Interactions
14%
13%
5%
8%
18%
11%
4%
36%
21
2%
QRIS Exemption Requests Trends
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Most programs request less than four 4 exemption
10% of the exemption requests will require additional information to make the
Exemption Determination due to missing reason, implementation plan and/or
timeline
Several programs requested exemptions related to Environmental Rating Scale
item scores received a score below 3, and the program requested time to
address via their improvement plan
16% of the exemptions requests were regarding the Bachelor’s degree
requirements for Level 2 QRIS standards,
 all programs provided a reason for their requests;
 the majority indicated that more than 12 months would be needed to meet
the standard
 the level of completeness of the implementation plans varied, and.
8% of the exemption requests pertained to health consultant agreements and
annual visits, and all programs shared implementation plans that were
resolvable within a 12 month period.
FY12 QRIS Activities & Next Steps
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FY 12 Next Steps for QRIS

FY12 Quality Program Improvement Grants – Anticipated
$800,000.00 to be awarded in fall.
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QRIS Overview – an on-line course will be developed and
translated into 3 languages Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian to
enhance QRIS Entry-Phase supports
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Additional on-line course to be developed that support specific
standards in-depth in the areas of
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1A Curriculum, Learning and Diversity
3A & 3B Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development
4A Family and Community Engagement