Projects

Evaluation of the Field Test of New York State's Quality Rating and Improvement System

Across the country, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are showing promise as a complex, but feasible strategy for improving the quality of care and early education provided in settings serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. New York State's QRIS (QUALITYstarsNY) shares many characteristics with other state early childhood education quality rating and improvement systems. Quality standards in QUALITYstarsNY have currently been developed for center-based and home-based or family providers in four areas:

• Learning environment
• Family engagement
• Qualifications and experience
• Leadership and management

The field test to take place over the 12 month period between September 2009 and August 2010 is intended to provide evidence of the system's feasibility and validity, to identify areas in which the system could be improved, and to estimate likely costs of full implementation including supports for quality improvement.

CAPD, with its partners at the National Center for Children in Poverty and consultants, is evaluating the QUALITYstarsNY field test, which is being conducted in 13 communities across the state with both center-based and home-based providers. The evaluation is designed to address questions related to implementation issues, measurement of quality, results of participation, and costs for implementation and quality improvement.