Design Ideas for Licensing, Quality Rating and Improvement System Subcommittee
Work Plan: Charge and Meeting Schedule with Key Questions
Charge: The Design Subcommittee is charged with developing options for California’s ‘rating structure and process,’ with support systems to improve quality over time.
Timeframe: September 2009 – September 2010
Workplan Implementation Process:
The workplan with initial topics and key questions is a plan that will change over time as the work of the various Subcommittees progresses and informs the work of other Subcommittees and the Advisory Committee as a whole.
The topics and key questions will be analyzed and developed into issues with possible alternatives that will be discussed by the Subcommittee members. For each alternative, the following areas will be discussed: 1) pros and cons with data, research, and evidence-based projects to support the pros/cons of each alternative, 2) timeline for implementation, 3) current funding, redesign ideas, and new funding needed, and 4) likely results over time. The results will be reported by each Subcommittee to the Advisory Committee.
The Key Questions are based on input received from Design Subcommittee members. All input was considered during the process of developing the Design Subcommittee Workplan.
Meeting Schedule
Meetings 1-2
Elements of the Rating Structure
- How will structural and process characteristics of quality be included?
- What are the needed elements for licensing and rating programs in health, safety, and early learning?
- How will global measures of quality (ERS, CLASS, PAS) be included?
- What is the role of accreditation in the QRIS?
- How will the Early Childhood Educator competencies be used with QRIS?
- Will an ECE Credential be part of the QRIS?
- How will educational level and training be included in the QRIS?
- How will parent and family involvement be included in the QRIS?
- How will group size and teacher/child ratio be included in the QRIS?
- Will developmental screening and referrals be part of the QRIS?
- Will business systems and practices be included in the QRIS?
- How will research-based curriculum be addressed?
Meetings 3-4
Rating Structure and Supports
- Will the QRIS use a block system or a point system?
- Will the QRIS system use multi-point ratings that are simple to interpret?
- Will there be explicit direction on how to get to the next level?
- What is the life span of a rating?
- How often should a rating be “renewed” or “recertified”?
- Will there be a regional financial analysis for each element?
- What incentives and supports, such as tiered-reimbursement, are needed at each level?
- What are the supports to help programs move to the next level?
- What attributes are needed in the quality improvement system?
Meetings 5-6
Build on and Redesign Existing Infrastructure
- If licensing is the floor for the QRIS, will there be an overhaul of Title 22 prior to implementation of the system?
- How will problematic ratios (24-36 month-olds in a 1:12 ratio) be resolved?
- How will QRIS include both Title 22 and Title 5 regulations?
- What parts of the current system would cease in the interest of systemic improvement?
- What is the process for statutory changes required to overhaul licensing?
- How could the state better establish and communicate program standards and supports, including those for children with special needs and dual language learner children?
- How could local and state systems and agencies be aligned to effectively connect the information and resources for each purpose?
- How could technology be maximized?
Meetings 7-8
Define Who Participates in the QRIS
- Will the system begin as a voluntary or mandatory system for all licensed providers (public, private and FCC)?
- What is the entry point for providers?
- Will licensing be used as a baseline or entry point for the QRIS?
- Will an entry point specific to licensed-exempt providers be created?
- What is the timeframe for implementation?
- Will there be an opportunity to create a phase-in or pilot process, including technical assistance?
- What will the public awareness campaign include to encourage participation?
Meeting 9
Oversight and Accountability
- What are the attributes for a system that licenses and/or rates programs in early learning as well as health and safety?
- How will the QRIS elements be assessed?
- How will sampling of classrooms be part of the assessment system?
- Who are the assessors or evaluators? Will multiple global measures be assessed by independent observers?
- What functions could be effectively accomplished at the county or regional level? Will the assessors or evaluators be organized regionally?
- What is the role of self-assessment, external observers, and peer reviews?
- How will assessments of providers translate into transparent summary ratings?
- What interagency processes and technology could be employed to reduce redundancy and improve transparency of results?
- Will a registry be created?
- Will there be an appeals process and what steps would that process include?
- What type of periodic rigorous evaluations will be included?
- How and when will the QRIS be revised to reflect evaluation and research for effective practice?
- What costs are estimated?
