California’s Quality Rating and Improvement System

July 27, 2010 1

California’s Quality Rating and Improvement System

California Head Start AssociationPolicy Summit

Nancy RemleyConsuelo Espinosa

Sarah Younglove

July 27, 2010

July 27, 2010 2

High Quality Early Education Programs:A 5-year History of California’s Actions

July 27, 2010 3

In 2006 - Proposition 82The Preschool for All Initiative: Provide a high-quality, voluntary preschool

education for every four-year-old in California. All four-year olds as of July 2010 must be able to

access a Preschool for All Program that met the requirements of the Act.

County Superintendents and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction would administer.

July 27, 2010 4

Preschool for All Initiative must include: A minimum of 3 hours per day for 180

days Curriculum that is:

Age and developmentally appropriate; and Based on statewide preschool learning

standards and guidelines aligned with academic standards for elementary children.

July 27, 2010 5

Classes of 20 children with one teacher and one aide meeting specific educational requirements

Required a workforce development plan so that by July 2016 all teachers would have a BA plus an Early Learning Credential, with some alternative qualifications allowed.

July 27, 2010 6

Prop 82 defeated 61 to 39% Defeat did not indicate the rejection of

preschool; however, the requirements of Prop 82 seemed: Too Much Too Soon Prop 82 mobilized and galvanized the

Early Education field

July 27, 2010 7

Next Steps:What can be done in a Year with

no Funding?

July 27, 2010 8

Superintendent of Public Instruction P-16 Council’s recommendation to streamline State Preschool:

July 27, 2010 9

The RAND four-part Study on

Early Care and Education in

The Golden State

July 27, 2010 10

The introduction of two critical pieces of legislation: Assembly Bill (AB) 2759 Senate Bill (SB) 1629

July 27, 2010 11

Assembly Bill (AB) 2759 Chapter 309, Statutes of 2008 Created the California State Preschool

Program The largest state-funded preschool

program in the nation

July 27, 2010 12

AB 2759 It consolidated funding for children age

3 and 5 in all Title 5 Programs. It provided the flexibility for a

contractor to offer part-day or full-day services, or both.

It ensured that funding would follow the child as he entered the system as an infant, through preschool, and into kindergarten.

July 27, 2010 13

AB 2759 It authorized utilizing the State

Preschool Reimbursement Rate for the part-day rate for all children in part day programs, including those served in General Child Development contracts.

It allowed the shifting of funds to begin the program into new CSPP contracts, and opportunities to shift funds during the contract year.

July 27, 2010 14

CAEL QIS Authorized through SB 1629 – Steinberg 2008Purpose Improve outcomes for children and reduce

California’s school readiness gap by improving the quality of our early learning and care programs

Intended for all children including:

* dual language learners

* children with disabilities and other special needs

July 27, 2010 15

CAEL QIS Advisory Charged with: Assessment and analysis of existing ECE

infrastructure

Development of early learning quality rating scale for birth to 5 programs

Development of a funding model aligned with the quality rating scale

Make recommendations on local, state, federal, and private resources

July 27, 2010 16

Advisory Committee Members Camille Maben, Child Development Division, CDE Anne McKinney, for Secretary of Education Dave Gordon, Superintendent, Sacramento County Office Sarah Tomlinson, for Joan Buchanan, Assembly Member Jeannie Oropeza, Dept. of Finance Venus Garth, Social Services Kris Perry, First 5 California Celia Ayala, Los Angeles Universal Preschool Dennis Vicars, Human Management Corporation Cliff Marcussen, Options Consuelo Espinoza, West Ed Toby Boyd, Elk Grove Unified School District

16

July 27, 2010 17

Subcommittees

Design ideas for licensing, quality rating, and improvement systems

Workforce and professional development and quality incentives

Family involvement and stakeholder engagement and advocacy

Finance and incentives, including funding model

Data systems for program improvement and research

July 27, 2010 18

Purpose of Subcommittees

Subcommittees are included in the enabling legislation (SB 1629-2009). They are intended to be a major strategy for public input and vetting of early learning quality improvement system options. Broad outreach is encouraged.

Advisory Committee will receive Subcommittee recommendations and issues for consideration and discussion; not as a requirement for approval.

Subcommittees are open to all interested participants who are responsible for accessing available information from previous meetings.

July 27, 2010 19

Decisions by CAEL QIS Advisory Committee Emphasize quality components in rating system that

show stronger links to child outcomes (e.g., process components)

Aim for fewer rather than more components Include licensing in entry tier but may require

revised licensing standards Consider independent assessment for higher rating

levels Pilot and further evaluate components viewed as

important but with limited research Experiment in pilot phase with alternative cut points

for measures

July 27, 2010 20

Advisory Committee Decisions

(continued) California’s QRS will include the following factors:

Be based on a block system – each tier building on the previous tier

Include up to five tiers with an entry level based on Title 22 and moving to aspirational and attainable criteria for Tier 5

Include licensed center-based programs and licensed family child care homes using consistent criteria for all programs

Include License-Exempt programs that meet 3 criteria certified through MOU with administering agency (6-10)

July 27, 2010 21

Advisory Committee Decisions (continued)

California’s QRS will include the following factors: Cultural and language competence will be integrated

into all quality elements with special emphasis on family involvement, staff education and training, and teaching and learning

Inclusion of children with special needs will be integrated into all quality elements with special emphasis on family involvement, staff education and training, and teaching and learning

Nutrition, health and physical activity are included in QRIS through Teaching and Learning quality element; CACFP info provided as TA in Tier 1 (6-10)

Definition of cultural and language competence to be based on Early Childhood Educator Competencies.

July 27, 2010 22


(continued) Quality Rating Structure will include the following process:

California’s QRIS sets quality elements and tiers Third party accreditation and validated performance

reviews will be used in conjunction with tiers but not incorporated into tiers:

Agencies are encouraged to map their quality criteria to California’s QRIS

Reciprocity with part, or all, of California’s QRIS will be considered with time-limited MOUs; related costs to be paid by agency requesting reciprocity.

July 27, 2010 23


(continued) California’s QRIS will include the following factors:

TA assists with achieving and maintaining the quality improvement plan that is prepared when a program goes through the QRIS process

TA is comprised on both internal and external resources, and TA resources identified locally and regionally

Support needs to be greater for entry level programs TA is available for all programs, and resources for

license-exempt care providers that are not in QRIS may include preparation for licensing

TA is done by different groups than assessment and rating to avoid conflicts of interest

July 27, 2010 24


The QRIS elements include: Ratio and Group Size: FCCH use Title 22 Licensing Standards and

Centers have approved Tiers Teaching and Learning

Alignment with Infant-Toddler and Preschool curriculum frameworks and foundations

ECERS for Tiers 1-5 with the use of CLASS/PARS for Tiers 4-5 in alternating rating periods

Program Leadership Use Program Director’s education and professional development as

proxy for Centers; include BAS/PAS for professional development for all Centers and FCCH

Family Involvement Included via ERS family of tools, plus menu of family education at

Tier 2 and transition plans at Tier 3. Staff education and on-going professional development - TBD

July 27, 2010 25

Work in Progress: 5 Proposed Elements for California’s QRISTier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5

Family Involvement

Inform Parents Educate Parents

Involve Parents

Engage Parents

Partner and Advocate with parents

Ratio-Group Size: Infant:

Toddler:

Preschool:

FCCH: Title 22

4:1 and 12

4:1 and 12

12:1 and 24

4:1 and 12

6:1 and 12

12:1 and 24

3:1 and 12

Or 4:1 and 8

4:1 and 12

8:1 and 24 or 10:1 and 20

3:1 and 12

Or 4:1 and 8

4:1 and 16

8:1 and 24 or 10:1 and 20

3:1 and 9

4:1 and 12

8:1 and 12 or

10:1 and 20

Staff Education and Training

Final descriptors for Tiers to be completed by Workforce Subcommittee with decisions at August CAEL QIS Advisory Committee meeting.

Teaching and Learning:

1. ERS + teacher-child interaction

2. Alignment to Foundations & Frameworks

Facilitated Self-Assessment

No req. score

Awareness

Facilitated Peer-Assessment

Exploring Integration

Independent Assessment

ERS 4.0 + CLASS/PARS

Developing Competency in

Integration



Building Competency in Integration



Full

Integration

Program Leadership

Program Director Education and experience for Centers

Use of PAS/BAS for professional development for Centers and FCCH

July 27, 2010 26

Next Steps for CAEL QIS

Final Report due to Governor and Legislature in December 2010

Continuation and expansion of CAEL QIS work with ELAC (Early Learning Advisory Council) established with Governor’s order on 11/09

Build on CAEL QIS members and add new members Application for federal funds for ELAC due 8/1/10 ELAC makes us eligible for Early Learning Challenge

Grants and other federal resources

July 27, 2010 27

CAEL QIS Webpage – CDEhttp://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/sb1629committee.asp

Questions?

July 27, 2010 28

Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) California Early Learning Quality

Improvement System (CAEL QIS): Expires at the end of 2010 Responsible for making recommendations to the

Legislature to create an early learning quality improvement system

July 27, 2010 29

Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) The work of ELAC will build on the work of

the CAEL QIS Advisory Committee and will maintain that Committee’s focus on improving quality for all children.

July 27, 2010 30

Highlights of Reauthorization The Federal Improving Head Start for School

Readiness Act of 2007 requires that states establish State Advisory Councils to be increase collaboration among early childhood education providers.

July 27, 2010 31

ELAC History

In response to the Head Start Reauthorization, Gov. Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-23-09 in November 2009 establishing the California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care.

July 27, 2010 32

ELAC History

The Advisory Committee is a new State advisory body that will develop the policy and implementation plan for an Early Learning Quality Improvement System to improve the quality of early education programs.

It is also charged with developing an early learning rating scale that includes features that most directly contribute to high quality care and a funding model aligned with the quality rating scale.

July 27, 2010 33

ELAC

Funding from Health and Human Services $10,653,948

Application for monies due to Washington, DC by August 1, 2010

Funding allocated before October 2010

July 27, 2010 34

Federal Application Requirements The Head Start Act requires the Council to

undertake the following activities: needs assessment looking at quality and availability collaboration and coordination Increasing participation of children unified data collection system professional development capacity and effectiveness of higher education systems improvement of State early learning standards

July 27, 2010 35

Council’s Objectives

Develop a comprehensive plan for an integrated system

Connecting with children and families Work with parents to navigate the early education

system Elevate the quality of Early Childhood professionals

July 27, 2010 36

ELAC Co-Chairs

Geno Flores, Co-ChairChief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education

Kris Perry, Co-ChairExecutive Director, First 5 California

Anne McKinney, Co-ChairDeputy Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Education

July 27, 2010 37

The Governor Appointed ELAC Members & Support Staff

Name Title Agency Telephone Number Email

Amanda Lopez Staff Service Analyst, Child Development Division

California Department of Education 916-319-0374 [email protected]

Anne McKinney Deputy Secretary Office of the Secretary of Education 916-323-0611 [email protected]

Camille Maben Director for Child Development Division


Celia Ayala Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles Universal Preschool 866-581-5287 [email protected]

Cliff Marcussen Executive Director Options 626-967-7848 [email protected]

Consuelo Espinosa

Infant/Toddler Specialist West Ed 408-842-8372 [email protected]

Dave W. Gordon Superintendent Sacramento County Office of Education

916-228-2410 [email protected]

David P. Lopez President National Hispanic University

Dennis Vicars Chief Executive Officer Human Services Management Corporation/PACE


Elliot Regenstein Partner Education Counsel LLC 312-212-4380 [email protected]

Gavin Payne Chief Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction


Jaime Hastings Associate Governmental Program Analyst


Jane Henderson Consultant

Jeannie Oropeza Program Budget Manager

California Department of Finance 916-445-0328 [email protected]

Joan Buchanan Assembly Member State Assembly 916-319-2015

July 27, 2010 38

The Governor Appointed ELAC Members & Support StaffKris Perry Executive Director California Children and Families

Commission916-263-1034 [email protected]

Lois Salisbury Director Children, Families and Communities Program

650-948-7658

Nancy Remley Director of the California Head Start State Collaboration Office


Paty Munoz Staff Services Analyst for California Development Division


Paul Navarro Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs

Office of Governor Schwarzenegger 916-445-4341 [email protected]

Sarah Tomlinson Office Assistant Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan’s Office


Sarah Younglove Director of the Head Start-Preschool Division

Los Angeles County Office of Education


Toby Boyd Kindergarten Teacher Elk Grove Unified School District 916-923-2477 [email protected]

Venus Garth Chief of the Welfare to Work Division

California Department of Social Services


Yolie Flores Board Member Los Angeles Unified School District 213-241-6383 [email protected]

Zulmara Cline Associate Director California State University Chancellor's Office


Documents

California’s Quality Rating and Improvement System