TQRIS, I'm Seeing STARS!
You are participating in TQRIS, Michigan's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System, you have a STAR rating, now what does that mean??
Our History...
In Michigan, 64% of children under the age of 6 are in the care of someone other than a family member on a regular basis. Research clearly shows that it is the quality of this early learning and care that matters most. The typical child care and/or early learning setting in Michigan is licensed but not accredited (less than 4% of center-based programs are accredited). TQRIS provides us with a widespread objective basis by which to assess the quality of programs. With this information there is a way to determine where quality gaps exist, effectively target funding and supports to address those gaps, establish incentives for programs to improve, and empower parents to make informed choices about their children's early learning and care.
Our Vision...
Implementing a QRIS helps Michigan take another essential step on the road to assuring that all children in Michigan arrive at Kindergarten safe, healthy, eager and prepared for school success. A QRIS helps to assure that children are ready for Kindergarten, providers have a clear path to improve quality, and families have information to make the best, most informed, decisions for their child's early learning and care.
What is High Quality and Why Does Great Start to Quality Matter?
High quality child care and preschool programs provide a safe place for children to learn and explore their world. Children have healthy snacks and meals. They have toys and activities to teach them new skills. The setting is clean. Providers and educators respond to children's needs and help them learn. Parents and providers are partners in the child's early learning and care. Higher quality programs also will track children's development to make sure they are growing and learning. The tracking will help guide activities to benefit children the most.
Great Start to Quality helps parents find the best child care and preschool for their child, and helps providers improve the care and education they give to children. Standards set by Great Start to Quality are used to rate child care and preschool programs to ensure that Michigan's youngest children have high-quality early learning experiences.
Great Start to Quality uses more than 40 different criteria under 5 quality standards:
Great Start to Quality standards for child care and preschool were developed by early learning professionals and parents, including national experts. Programs/providers are rated in five key areas, as briefly outlined below.
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Staff qualifications and experience - provider/program staff have attained higher education levels, Child Development Associate or Montessori credentials, training, relevant experience, etc.
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Family and community engagement - program/provider communicates with parents and assists them in finding other resources in the community, etc.
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Administration and management - program/provider has written personnel policies, evaluates staff performance and takes other steps to retain staff, etc.
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Learning environment - program's/provider's facility is free of environmental risks such as asbestos; has nutrition and physical activity plans for children; monitors children's development and advises parents of concerns, etc.
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Curriculum/instruction - program/provider has a statement of educational/developmental priorities for children; an approved curriculum; a routine but flexible daily schedule, etc.
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I'm Seeing STARS, what do they mean?
Program meets licensing requirements.
Program meets licensing requirements and is participating in Great Start to Quality.
Program demonstrates quality across some standards.
Program demonstrates quality across several standards.
Program demonstrates quality across almost all standards.
Program demonstrates highest quality.
The following preview to a documentary series was shared yesterday by our Great Start Collaborative and fits right in to this message about the history and work of our State's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System. We are proud to work with all of you in creating high quality early experiences for young children and their families! Thanks for all you do!
(After clicking the link, you may have to click the box titled "The Documentary" and then click "Preview The Series". It is an 11 minute clip, enjoy!)
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