Quality Improvement

Supporting Babies Through QRIS is a series of documents developed by ZERO TO THREE’s Policy Center to help ensure that Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are supporting the unique developm…

This webinar presented ZERO TO THREE’s newly created Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) self-assessment tool and discussed ways to help states and jurisdictions identify QRIS components th…

Pennsylvania recently completed an 18-month process to update Keystone STARS, the state’s quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), to make it more flexible while maintaining rigor.

In May 2013, the New York City Council passed legislation requiring employers with 20 or more workers to provide paid sick leave.

In June 2011, Connecticut became the first state to pass paid sick leave legislation.

Last week Nebraska passed the School Readiness Tax Credit Act, creating two new tax credits designed to increase access to high quality early care and education (ECE) programs.

Tennessee is enlisting child care providers in the fight against obesity with the Gold Sneaker initiative.

Tennessee knows one of the best ways to improve early learning and care for children is to support early childhood professionals.

Georgia launched a voluntary quality rating and improvement system in January 2012 with the expectation that 700 child care programs would begin participating in the first year.

North Carolina is working to reduce infant mortality rates and improve birth outcomes through its innovative Pregnancy Medical Home program.

As of 2016, Mississippi Building Blocks worked with 29 centers across the state, and over 500 early childhood programs in 31 counties have benefitted from free equipment, a research-based curriculum,…

State leaders in Minnesota are building an early childhood mental health system that connects evidence to practice, training, and policy.

In July 2015, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas released a website and online toolkit aimed at strengthe…

Learn how the state is focusing on training of staff and foster parents demonstrates a commitment to the very youngest vulnerable children.

Iowa's Quality Rating System (QRS), is a voluntary rating system for child development homes, licensed child care centers and preschools, and child care programs that are operated by school districts…

Better Baby Care Indiana is a statewide initiative to promote the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and their families.

Learn more about Indianas QRIS, Paths to QUALITY, a voluntary statewide rating system for early care and education programs.

Illinois has a long history of engaging in efforts to ensure that all infants and toddlers have developmental and social emotional screenings and receive follow-up supports and services.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) administers the Illinois Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program in 6 communities, through 25 organizations providing home …

Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) leadership have identified staff recruitment and retention as critical goals since the program began.

Read this brief summary of the full report, "Modeling Quality Costs for Delaware Stars: Report on the Program Cost of Quality."

Connecticut state agencies have embraced Results Based Accountability to assess and make improvements to citizens’ quality of life.

Learn how the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP®) program is one of the first statewide, comprehensive, data-driven Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation programs in the nation.

In recent years the Colorado legislature has taken several steps to improve the accessibility of high quality child care in the state.

In California, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program has been a catalyst for collaborative planning and systems building across programs serving young children and t…

Learn about California's collaborative effort to increase the use of standardized developmental screening tools and referral into early intervention services for all young children.

Here's how California is strengthening family engagement, investing in the early childhood workforce, and supporting local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS).

Enhanced rates for accredited programs assist with the costs associated in meeting higher standards such as implementing developmentally appropriate practices, providing lower staff/child ratios, and…

Resource information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families

The West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources project (WVECTCR) provides resources and professional development opportunities for early care and education professionals and par…

In response to legislation that was passed in early 2010, three organizations—Washingtons Department of Early Learning, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and privately funded partne…

In June 2015, Washington passed a two-year state budget that included a $6.18 million increase for home visiting.

South Carolinas Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program leaders recognized a gap between evidence-based practice and what was happening on the ground related to alleviatin…

In 2005, Rhode Island Kids Count brought partners together to begin the conversation about creating a QRIS in the state.

In December 2011, Rhode Island was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) …

Reaching for the Stars is Oklahoma's quality rating system for child care centers and homes.

In 2011, a group of leading child welfare and early childhood development organizations published A Call to Action on Behalf of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers.

In 2004, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS), the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), pediatricians, mental health providers, and home visitors came together to improve aw…

Ohio's Core Competencies for Early Childhood Mental Health Professionals were developed by a 12-person work group from around the state, covering a broad range of experience and expertise (Ohio Depar…

Winning Beginning NY is a statewide coalition working toward the goal of high-quality, affordable and accessible early care and learning for all New York families.

Field-tested in 2010, New Yorks QUALITYstarsNY is a project of the states Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) and provides program quality standards for each modality of early childhood programs …

In 2012, New Mexico reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant (January 1, 2013- December 31, 2016) and proposed activities to improve its early learni…

The Nebraska Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (N-MIECHV) programs in Nebraska, including the Nebraska Panhandle region, metro areas of Lincoln and Omaha, rural counties in both nort…

"Look for the STARS" is a five-level quality rating improvement system (QRIS) designed by New Mexicos Office of Child Development under the Child, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to help parents…

In November 2009, Lakes & Prairies Child Care Resource and Referral received a grant from United Way of Cass-Clay and the Fargo-Moorehead Area Foundation to implement a pilot Early Childhood Quality …

"T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) is an educational scholarship opportunity for early childhood providers in licensed child care center-based, group-based and family chi…

In August 2012, the Michigan Department of Community Health released an Infant Mortality Reduction Plan to combat infant mortality and reduce disparities among racial and ethnic groups.

With support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Greater New Orleans Child Care Rebuild Collaborative in Louisiana piloted Bridge to Quality, an initiative to help early care and education cent…

In October 2010, Montana began field testing a revised quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) that aligns research-based quality indicators with workforce development, financial incentives, and…

Reorganization within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families in 2006 included the launch of the Home Visitation Initiative with the overall goal of providing community-based education and…

Parent Aware was originally available statewide to programs eligible for Accelerated Pathway to Rating (Accredited child care centers, accredited family child care providers, Head Start, Early Head S…

Early on, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program leaders recognized that their clients were likely to have a number of stressors, including maternal and infant mental…

In 2014, Massachusetts conducted a thorough study of the states subsidized child care system in order to more efficiently and effectively manage the provision of child care services.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) have improved coordination between the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Head Start/Early Head Star…

In 2009 the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) received a $14.4 million incentive grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs as part of the American …

In December 2011, Minnesota was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sys…

To coordinate state efforts to improve children's readiness for school, Ohio Governor John Kasich created an Early Education and Development Officer position within the Governors Office of 21st Centu…

Missouri's Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) team is comprised of the Nurse-Family Partnership Program, Parents as Teachers and the Early Head Start Home Based Option.

In early May 2008, former New Jersey Governor John S. Corzine signed into law paid family-leave legislation (A873), taking a major step forward in supporting the states working families. The legislat…

The Childrens Trust of South Carolina is South Carolinas Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grantee.

To create a more sustainable approach to home visiting, state and local communities have focused on two key priorities: systems building and leveraging private sector resources.

STARS for KIDS NOW is Kentucky's voluntary quality rating system for licensed Type I and Type II child care centers and certified family child care homes.

Virginia's success in addressing maternal depression is due in large part to the commitment of state leaders to address the systems and infrastructure issues (e.g., reimbursement for screening, provi…

Virginia supports centralized intake in four re¬gions with Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program funds.

Oklahoma's Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) team prioritizes centralized intake in its collaboration, planning and systems building efforts.

Maryland libraries are transforming how they interact with families.

Rhode Island passed legislation instituting the Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program (TCI) in July 2013 to provide paid family leave.

Quality Improvement resource information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families

In December 2013, Georgia became one of six states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant in Phase 3 of the program.

North Carolina has a one-year extension to its 2012 Race To The Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

In 2012, Illinois reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sys…

Learn how Delaware is using the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant to improve its early learning and development systems.

Learn how Colorado is implementing the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

Learn how California is using Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge funds to strengthen their early childhood systems.

In December 2011, Ohio was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) systems.

In 2012, Wisconsin reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sy…

In December 2011, Washington was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sy…

In December, 2013, Vermont became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

In December 2011, Rhode Island was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) …

In December, 2013, Pennsylvania became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

In 2012, Oregon reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) syste…

In 2012, New Mexico reapplied for and was awarded the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant (January 1, 2013- December 31, 2016) and proposed activities to improve its early learni…

In December, 2013, New Jersey became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

In December, 2013, Kentucky became one of six states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant. Through this grant, the state is directing substantial resources to support…

In December, 2013, Michigan became one of the six newest states to receive a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.

In December 2011, Maryland was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) syst…

The Massachusetts Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant 2014 Annual Performance Report outlined progress in the following areas:

In December 2011, Minnesota was awarded a four-year Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant and proposed the following targets to improve its early learning and development (ELD) sys…

Since 2002, Nevada has extended the day/year of existing Early Head Start services.

Learn how since 1998, Illinois has extended the day/year of existing Early Head Start Services through policies to ease blending funds.

Since 1999, Idaho has expanded the capacity of Early Head Start (EHS) programs by allowing state supplemental funds to be used for EHS.

This report describes the diverse strategies states are using to build upon Early Head Start and offers recommendations for states interested in expanding this proven program.

Learn how the EQ initiative provides training, technical assistance, and support for three primary components.

ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draw on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This webinar featured the findings from a joint report entitled Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk and highlighted two states’ efforts to expand …

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

The 2012 joint report, Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand…

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

Resource information on state policies and initiatives that impact infants, toddlers and their families

This joint 2012 Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand…

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their famili…

The 2012 Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and e…

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and their families.

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their famili…

This 2012 joint report, Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers At Risk, by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to exp…

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on newly conducted research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers, and their families.