Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has developed a voluntary incentive program to improve quality of child care services in our state and provide greater information to parents about what to look for when seeking care. Quality Rated is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. Similar to rating systems for other service-related industries, quality ratings will be awarded to programs that meet defined program standards that go beyond Georgia’s minimum licensing requirements.
During 2012, DECAL will study the Quality Rated process, analyze the rating system, and listen to participants’ feedback . A participating program’s quality rating will NOT be publicized during the first 12-18 months of Quality Rated. If a child care program participates in Quality Rated in 2012, the program will receive support services, will learn about the various components of its quality rating, and will provide valuable feedback to DECAL . DECAL plans to further support programs participating in Quality Rated by implementing tiered reimbursement in 2013 when quality ratings are published.
To learn more about Quality Rated, sign up for a Quality Rated orientation session sponsored by your local child care resource and referral agency by clicking the following link: https://www.cnp2000.decal.ga.gov/QualityRatedTraining/Splash.asp.
Or visit the Quality Rated webpage at qualityrated.decal.ga.gov where eligible programs can begin the application process. For answers to questions about Quality Rated, call the Quality Rated Help Desk at 1-855-800-7747.
Components of QR
5 Standards of a Portfolio
1.Director/Teacher Qualifications
2. Teacher/Child Ratio Requirements
3. Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity
4. Family Partnership ( Strengthening Familes)
5. Intentional Learning Practices ( Ages and Stages)
Unannounced Observations using ERS
ITERS
ECERS
SACERS
Both the obsevation scores and portfolio scores will be combine to determine a center's total/overall score. There will be 5 additional points assigned if a center is currently accredited. There are three levels of "Quality Rated".
We will publish a list of incentives that DECAL is working on for centers to help support them as they move through
.
Why this type of approach can be a good thing and how it works best.
- Centers will try to improve quality to look better against competition- someone is keeping score.
- Parents will be able to see where centers in geographic areas rank versus their competition.
- Higher performing centers will be able to charge more for their services because parents will begin to understand the “quality” part of the equation.
- States with “rating” systems where monetary incentives such as tiered reimbursements for higher rated centers, property tax breaks, tax exempt status, etc all provide additional reasons for owners to improve quality.
- Parental education must accompany such a system for it to succeed.