ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

I enjoyed the comments by your directors regarding the process. In Michigan a QRS is being planned but with our current budget crisis I do not envision it will happen soon on a statewide level. The implementation will depend on licensing consultants doing the ECERS and they are already over burdened with their workload.

However, in our local county, Saginaw, we have started our own local QRS with a small grant from the local intermediate school district through our 4C office. With this money we have worked with 12 centers and trained at least 100 staff in the past three years. We have been able to provide on site consultation and some free training. As the program grows, we have made changes. It started as an accreditation facilitation project and evolved into a quality child care project when fees for accreditation went so high. Basically, when centers complete the quality program they are close to being ready to apply for accreditation if they want to pursue it. This has made it more user friendly. The most important part of the program has been the on site consultation and support. Centers receive a quality designation from the 4C and the ISD based on an ECERS and/or ITERS evaluation, meeting certain training requirements and providing documentation of parent and staff policies.

Out of this program we are now growing leaders in the child care community who are taking the reins for ongoing change in the community as well as acting as mentors for the new programs that enter the project.

Of course this year we are waiting to see if the program can go on due to funding cuts everywhere. However, the directors who are the leaders hope to be able to keep it going even if we have to change the format to fit the funding strains.

Dana and all--
Thanks for the interesting data on QRS. Would have liked to see the Directors randomly selected rather than chosen by their state staff. As one of the participants in our initial write up of the system, I would not have been chosen as an interviewee because I have asked questions about the new system that is perceived as being critical. Over 43% of centers who apply for our system are not eligible. Those who are highly motivated are saying wait a minute--this system is punitive when mistakes are made. This mirrors the comment from the Tennessee Director who said one bad day in a classroom being observed using the ECERRS and they can't participate for a year. Our system is designed for parental choice, but those interviewed said that the attainment of stars did not influence parental choice. Also found it interesting that this new "voluntary" system is not being considered "voluntary" any more.
Thanks for your work and for sharing.

I found the article very interesting especially the Director comments. In SD, we are in the final stages of planning for our "STAR" program. It will also be a ladder process to accreditation. As it stands now, those with accrediation would receive the most "stars" and there are 5 "stars" available.

We hope that parents will take into consideration the time, effort and money that will be necessary to reach these "stars" when it comes to deciding where they enroll their child.

To all having trouble downloading full QRS article-click on blue "home" tab at the top of the page, on this page, see "exchange ideas for you-free" the QRS article is last in the list-enjoy!