What's Next for Great Start to Quality
October 2021
Updates on Revisions to Great Start to Quality
Following the two Quality Indicator pilots conducted in the Spring of 2021, the Great Start to Quality Advisory Committee provided recommendations to the Department of Education, Office of Great Start, all of which were accepted. Over the course of the next few editions of this newsletter, we will provide more details on each of these areas of the new quality improvement structure for Great Start to Quality. Great attention was paid to the supportive nature of these changes for all child care providers and the children and families they serve.
A New Model - A New Way of Thinking
As Quality Rating and Improvement Systems evolve around the country, many are realizing the punitive nature of a rating system and have shifted the focus to one of quality improvement. Michigan will do the same. 

Quality Improvement is a process; a journey that is continuous. Over the coming months we will share with you more about the new model in which there are no ratings, but rather levels where providers demonstrate continuous quality improvement.  
Indicators
A new set of quality indicators has been established. Providers and programs will use the indicators during a self-reflection process. The indicators will be used to demonstrate areas in which the program is strong and can help identify goals in areas where the program chooses to continue to improve. 
CLASS Threshold Scores
As we have shared, CLASS will be the new assessment tool used to measure high-quality adult-child interactions in the classroom, beginning in the fall of 2022. The Advisory Committee has recommended a set of threshold scores that must be met in order to achieve the highest level of quality in the new system. These scores are based on national averages of Head Start programs, other state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems and findings from the pilot programs in Michigan.
More Practice Observations
Now that threshold scores have been established, Great Start to Quality reliable Assessors will be conducting additional opportunities to practice the process, give programs a chance to see what happens during an observation and get the observation results to help with their own quality improvement planning prior to the official launch of the new process in the fall of 2022. This will also support Great Start to Quality Assessors in refining their observation process, report writing, and communication related to the CLASS tool.
What’s Next
In the next edition, we will share the new Quality Indicators and describe more about the process of Self-Reflection. Stay tuned.
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If you are thinking about how to maintain or continue making quality improvements, or if you’re ready to learn more and need help, contact your local Great Start to Quality Resource Center by calling 1-877-614-7328 or visit www.greatstarttoquality.org.
Funding from the Office of Great Start within the Michigan Department of Education supports the implementation of Great Start.