Arizona Begins Implementation of Quality Rating and Improvement System

Child Care, Quality Improvement, Quality Rating Systems

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In June 2011, Arizona rolled out its quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), Quality First, as part of its commitment to an interconnected early learning system. Quality First is a voluntary rating system that assesses child care centers and home-based providers on safety, environment, curriculum, credentialing, and teaching style. The program is carried out by First Things First, a state government initiative for early childhood development and services. After the initial evaluation, coaches work with providers on a plan to improve the quality of their services. By participating in Quality First, child care providers may access funds for equipment, environmental improvements, and teacher training. Beginning in 2012 providers, based on their star rating, will also be assigned a certain number of student scholarships intended for low-income families with the goal of raising standards while closing the achievement gap.

As of June 2011, the program had 709 participating center and home-based child care providers, which Quality First projects to expand to more than 900 sites statewide by 2013. Each program is rated on a one-to-five star scale to help Arizona’s parents evaluate their early care and education options. Beginning in summer 2012, parents will also be able to access an online system to review providers’ ratings, which they can use to make choices about their children’s care.

Arizona’s system demonstrates a dedication to quality by supporting providers in their efforts to improve child care and meet the statewide standards. The rating system is the third phase of the Quality First initiative, which first assessed child care providers and then began working with them to improve quality through technical assistance and coaching in 2009. The Quality First program sets forth a cohesive concept of “quality” for the care and education of children birth to five years in Arizona and allows for better alignment with the state’s K-12 schools.

For more information about Quality First, visit the First Things First website at www.azftf.gov.