QRS and Staff Development

09/29/2006

When you get, give. When you learn, teach.
Maya Angelou

Over the past several years a number of states have explored ways to bring a new look to the issue of quality. Pennsylvania, Vermont, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Montana, Maryland, Kentucky, Colorado, District of Columbia, and Tennessee are among the states that have developed Quality Rating Systems (QRS). These systems are designed to support the Early Care and Education community to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality of their programs. Rhode Island is finalizing two years' work in the development of the Quality Rating System and will begin piloting their efforts in 2007.

It was interesting to note that one of the Common Quality Criteria was staff qualifications and professional development. All of the various state QRS approaches looked at the importance of staff qualifications.

One of the Guiding Principles stated in the Rhode Island Model is, “The Rhode Island QRS will support and value practitioners in Early Care and Education and After School Programs, recognizing that staff is a cornerstone of quality and that compensation, benefits, and working conditions affect the quality of programs.” (Leanne Barrett, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, January 2006).

Take a look at the QRS in your state and see how it relates to supporting staff development. Go to the National Child Care Information Center and click on Popular Topics, Quality Rating Systems. http://www.nccic.org

Contributed by William H. Strader, Institute for Early Childhood Leadership & Professional Development, Johnson & Wales University

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