Quality Rating and Improvement System Participation
The Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Participation information field indicates the type of quality child care available to children and families (if any).
The QRIS is a method for rating the quality of child care for a child receiving subsidized child care services through an agency’s contract with the Early Education Division (EED).
Although the California Code of Regulations, Title 5 mandates that all state funded child development programs implement certain elements of quality, including assessments such as the Environment Rating Scales and the Desired Results Developmental Profile, there is no requirement for participation in a local QRIS. A QRIS is a set of ratings, graduated by level of quality, used to assess early learning and care programs. It may provide workforce development, financial incentives to participants, and other supports to improve quality. The Quality Counts California (QCC) Consortium is the body that supports ongoing QRIS efforts and builds on the tiered rating matrix, continuous quality improvement pathways, and implementation guide. All 58 California counties have a QRIS.
Where to Find It
Contact the program director of the agency to determine whether the agency is participating in a QRIS. This information is required, even if an agency operates in a local QRIS but does not participate or is not eligible for the QRIS. If an agency does participate in a QRIS, the QRIS certification will reflect their rating. To view participating organizations and their contact information, visit the
County Program Profile and Services web page 
on the QCC website.
Rules and Guidelines
- This information field is required.
- Please select one answer from the list of choices below. The number preceding each answer (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) is the code that should be inputted in the electronic file.
- 0 – No. Provider is eligible but does not participate in a QRIS.
- 1 – Yes. Provider does participate in a QRIS and tier rank is 1.
- 2 – Yes, Provider does participate in a QRIS and tier rank is 2.
- 3 – Yes, Provider does participate in a QRIS and tier rank is 3.
- 4 – Yes, Provider does participate in a QRIS and tier rank is 4.
- 5 – Yes, Provider does participate in a QRIS and tier rank is 5.
- 6 – Yes, Provider does participate in a QRIS but is not rated yet.
- 7 – The State has an operating QRIS in the Provider's area, but the Provider is not eligible to participate.
- 8 – The State does not have an operating QRIS in the Provider's area.
- 9 – The State has an operating QRIS in the Provider's area but information is currently unavailable at the Provider level.
Error Messages and Solutions
- The QRIS Participation is required. [801A Electronic File Transfer], [801A Input/Edit]
Problem: The QRIS Participation information is missing.
Solution: Review the electronic file or review CDD-801A Web Input/Edit screen to ensure this information is provided.
- “QRIS Participation” must be a valid one digit participation code: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. [801A Electronic File Transfer]
Problem: The QRIS Participation information provided is not one of the valid choices.
Solution: Confirm the electronic file contains one of the choices listed above.
- When the child’s services are provided in a license-exempt home setting, the answer to QRIS Participation can only be “7”, "8" or “9”. [801A Electronic File Transfer], [801A Input/Edit], [801B]
Problem: The setting for the provider indicates the services were provided in a license-exempt home; the answer selected for this question does not apply. License-exempt home providers are not eligible to participate in a QRIS.
Solution: For license-exempt providers, the only acceptable answer is “7”, "8" or “9.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if our agency participates in a QRIS?
Each local QRIS will provide a participating agency with documentation of its rating.
- How do I know if we are eligible to participate in a QRIS?
An eligible provider is a licensed center or licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH). Exceptions to the licensing requirement are tribal-approved child care programs and military installation child care programs, who have volunteered to participate in the local QRIS. For more information on QRIS eligibility, visit the County Program Profile and Services web page
to view contact information for the QRIS operating in a specific area.
- Many of our providers are licensed-exempt in-home/outside-of-home providers. How would we answer this question for these providers?
Depending on whether there is an operating QRIS in the provider’s area, select one of the following options:
- If there is a QRIS operating in the provider's area, select answer "7 - The State has an operating QRIS in the provider's area, but the provider is not eligible to participate."
- If there is no QRIS operating in the provider's area, select answer "8 - The State does not have an operating QRIS in the provider's area."
- If there is an operating QRIS in the provider's area but information is unknown or unavailable at the provider level, select answer "9 - The State has an operating QRIS in the provider's area but information is currently unavailable at the provider level."
Return to Appendix A: Data Definitions