After School Programs Needed to Test QRIS Process This Year

Calling all programs that serve elementary and/or middle school youth!

We need your help to participate in a pilot program of the OEC’s QRIS system. School-age programs are different than programs serving younger children in many important ways, and this pilot test is a crucial way to ensure that the eventual QRIS system will be meet the needs of afterschool programs. Please consider participating (start with the survey link below by August 1) — see all the details below from the Office of Early Childhood:

Opportunity to Be a Part of Pilot for the Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS)

The CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is piloting a QRIS to recognize the quality work of early care and education providers. The OEC held listening tours in the fall and spring to guide the development of the QRIS. A draft QRIS is now ready for a pilot within the state.

The OEC is recruiting approximately 100 early care and education providers to participate in a pilot of QRIS. The OEC welcomes all types of early care and education programs including home-based providers, center-based providers, public school preschool, and after school programs.

As a pilot site, in the fall you will receive a pre-recognition “score” based on the QRIS model. You will then be offered technical assistance on an area you self-select, based on the “score” through the winter. Finally in the spring, you will receive a post-recognition “score”. These scores will only be used as data for the model and will not be made publically available by program. There is also the expectation that the pilot sites will attend focus groups in the fall and spring to support the development of the Family Engagement pillar and the Leadership pillar. Finally pilot sites will be using the QRIS DRAFT workbook and providing feedback.

If you are interested in participating in the pilot of QRIS, complete the brief online survey at the link no later than August 1, 2017. Completing this form only indicates your program’s interest and is not a commitment to participation in the pilot. You can anticipate that you will hear back with further details regarding participation in the pilot by September 1, 2017.

Thanks for your consideration.

Survey Link: https://sdect.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5svh9MqarB0PIdT