Child Care Quality Rating System Assessment

OMB 0970-0356

Appendix A: QRS to Include in the Data Collection

Implementing QRS for More Than Five Years
Colorado	Qualistar Rating System (2000)
District of Columbia	Going for the Gold (2000)
Kentucky	Stars for Kids Now (2001)
Maryland	Maryland Child Care Tiered Reimbursement Program (2001)
Montana	Star Quality Child Care Rating System (2001)
North Carolina	North Carolina Star Rated License System (1999)
Oklahoma	Reaching for the Stars (1998)
Pennsylvania	Keystone STARS (2002)
Tennessee	Star-Quality Child Care Program (2001)
Implementing QRS for 3-5 Years
Florida (Broward County)	Quality Rating System (2005)
Missouri*	Missouri Quality Rating System (2003)
New Mexico	Look for the Stars (2005)
Vermont	Step Ahead Recognition System-STARS (2003)
Implementing QRS for Two Years or Less
California (Los Angeles)	Steps to Excellence Project (STEP) (2007)
Delaware	Delaware Stars for Early Success (2007)
Florida (Miami-Dade/Monroe/Palm Beach Counties)	Quality Counts (2008)
Illinois	Quality Counts (2007)
Indiana	Paths to QUALITY (2008)
Iowa*	Iowa Quality Rating System (2006)
Louisiana	Quality Start (2007)
Maine	Quality for ME (2008)
Minnesota (5 pilot areas)*	Parent Aware (2008)
Mississippi (9 counties)*	Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System Pilot (2006)
New Hampshire	Licensed Plus (2006)
Ohio	Step Up to Quality (2006)
Oregon	Child Care Quality Indicators Project (2008)
Virginia*	Star Quality Initiative (2007)

Sources: NCCIC; evaluation reports; presentation materials; QRS website overviews. *Indicates a pilot.

OMB 0970-0356

Appendix B: Screener on QRS Data, Monitoring and Evaluation

Items on QRS data management

1. Do you have a database for managing the data collected by [QRS name]?

   • Yes/No

2. What type of database is it?

   • Request brief description

3. What year did [QRS name] begin systematically collecting and managing program data?

   • Year

4. Which of the following data elements are collected? Yes/No for each

   • Quality standards – final rating

   • Quality standards – detailed information to derive final rating

     1. Scores from observational measures

     2. Professional development records

     3. Verification of data

   • Technical assistance/quality improvement

     1. Number of contacts

     2. Type of contacts

     3. Content of contacts

   • Grants awarded or other financial incentives

     1. Amount

     2. How funds were used

   • Characteristics of the site

     1. Type

     2. Size

     3. Number of subsidized children served

     4. Address/Zip code

   • Historical data for programs

     1. Length of time in QRS

     2. Previous ratings

5. What data, if any are archived in the database? [ask for each element]

6. Which agency/organization is responsible for entering and maintaining data? Check all that apply.

   • Lead QRS agency/organization

   • Partner agency (resource and referral agency, other)

   • Other

7. Is the [QRS name] database linked to any of the following databases? Check all that apply

   • Child care subsidies

   • Child care licensing

   • State pre-kindergarten program

   • Other

8. How are the data verified?

   • Cross-check with state registry

   • Verification of transcripts or certification

   • On-site verification of QRS indicators [if yes, specify]

Use of data for QRS/system improvement

1. Do you collect data on the following aspects of [QRS name]? Check all that apply.

   • Participation data

   • Program ratings/scores/improvement over time

   • Hours of technical/on-site assistance

   • Amount of financial incentives/supports distributed

   • How financial incentives used by programs

   • Parent inquiries/contacts with QRS

   • Website analytics (tracking website traffic, new users, page views, etc.)

OMB 0970-0356

Appendix C: Notification Letter for QRS Administrators

Date <Spring 2009>

Dear Quality Rating System Administrator:

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is conducting a study called the Child Care Quality Rating System Assessment (QRS Assessment) designed to provide information, analysis and resources about QRS for states and other key stakeholders. OPRE has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research (with a subcontract to Child Trends) to conduct the QRS Assessment.

One component of the QRS Assessment is the production of a Compendium containing details on QRS components and evaluation findings. This resource will be available to the public and will allow for systematic comparison of QRS and QRS evaluation elements across a selection of 27 state and local QRS. The QRS that you administer has been selected for inclusion in the QRS Assessment.

Consistent with procedures designed by the federal government for research studies, the QRS Assessment is designed to minimize the data collection burden placed on QRS administrators and staff. The data collection procedures have been structured carefully to first maximize the availability of public information about QRS. Once these existing data have been systematically compiled, the study team will identify gaps in the information and conduct a targeted interview to complete the gaps. The information gathered in these interviews will be used to create QRS profiles that will appear in the Compendium. In addition, all QRS administrators participating in the QRS Assessment will complete a set of interview questions about QRS data, monitoring and activities to use data for system improvement. This information will not be aggregated or published publicly. Rather, the study team will use the information for internal purposes only to identify research questions that can be pursued in other activities of the QRS Assessment.

Prior to scheduling an interview with you, the study team will send you a copy of the information gathered from publicly available information about the QRS that you administer and ask you to review it for accuracy. During the interview, you can correct any misinformation and complete any missing details. In addition, we will ask you to complete a set of questions about data, monitoring and the use of data for system improvement.

To facilitate the scheduling of the interview, we ask that you reply to this [email] indicating your availability to participate in a 60 minute interview.

We know that your time is valuable and that you have many other high priority issues to attend to in your work. We want to emphasize that the information you provide during the interview will be contributing to the knowledge base on QRS and will help in the production of analysis and resources on QRS implementation and evaluation.

If you have any questions about the QRS Assessment, please feel free to contact Kathryn Tout at Child Trends (612-692-5518) or Gretchen Kirby at Mathematica Policy Research (202-484-3470).

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important project.

Sincerely,

Appendix-6