QUALITY RATING IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems for a Multi-Ethnic Society 
QRIS are designed to be powerful tools that shape provider practices and the professional development and quality improvement supports available based on what are considered important aspects of quality measured in the rating. With the increasing cultural and linguistic diversity of children in early learning programs, it is critical to understand the value that QRIS place on how well these programs provide culturally and linguistically responsive programming. In this issue brief we discuss:
- Why it is important to include cultural and linguistic responsiveness and anti-bias programming as aspects of early learning quality;
- A content-analysis of common QRIS components with respect to how they include issues of diversity and support for English-language learners;
- How states have included these issues in QRIS planning and development; and
- Recommendations for how states can strengthen their QRIS rating components to be more culturally and linguistically competent and relevant.
Written by Anne Mitchell and Louise Stoney, Alliance for Early Childhood Finance. The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the “Stimulus Package,” includes a number of appropriations that have relevance for early childhood policy and systems change. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are increasingly seen as a foundational piece of systems-building strategies, since they enable states to leverage resources and bring other components such as standards and professional development into alignment with one another. This memo discusses potential resources for early childhood under the Stimulus Package, and identifies ways that these funds could be used to support QRIS.
Quality Rating & Improvement Systems as the Framework for Early Care and Education System Reform
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems are rapidly spreading, state-designed policy innovations that systematically address the need for quality improvement and accountability in early care and education. Anne Mitchell's brief focuses on the potential of QRIS to be a framework to reform and unify the early care and education sections into a coherent early care and education system.
Developing Culturally Appropriate Quality Rating and Improvement Systems 
Prepared for the Build Initiative by Charlie Bruner, this two-page overview provides measures that could be incorporated into QRIS that would begin to recognize how to address cultural appropriateness.
Quality Rating Systems and The Impact on Quality in Early and School Age Care Settings
This NCCIC publication provides a sample of resources with research about the impact of QRS on early and school-age care. Also included is a summary of results from evaluation research conducted on QRS in Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Additional sections include information about research on pilot QRS and an evaluation of tiered reimbursement policies, which may be a component of financing incentives for QRS.
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems that are Culturally and Linguistic Appropriate for Latinos 
and English Language Learners
Antonia Lopez, director of Early Care and Education with the National Council of La Raza, presented this PowerPoint on Quality Rating & Improvement Systems that are culturally and linguistic appropriate for Latinos and English Language Learners at the June 2008 QRIS conference co-sponsored by the Build Imitative and Smart Start National Technical Assistance Technical Center. It includes suggested guiding principles as well as recommendations for knowledge, skills and abilities for bilingual teachers & QRIS rating specialists.
On Buckets, Banks, and Hearts: Aligning Early Childhood Standards and Systems
Dr. Sharon Lynn Kagan presented this PowerPoint at the June 2008 QRIS conference co-sponsored by the Build Initiative and Smart Start National Technical Assistance Center. In her keynote address, Dr. Kagan defined systems and standards and argued for the centrality of standards in advancing an early learning and development system.
Florida’s Quality Rating System: A Conceptual Model for Estimating Cost Assumptions, Explanations and Supporting Data 
Anne Mitchell and Alisa Ghazvini prepared this paper in July 2007 for The Policy Group for Florida's Children and Families. It explains the programmatic and cost related assumptions that guide the estimation of costs for Florida's Quality Rating System.
QRIS Delivery System Infrastructure
Peggy Ball prepared this cross-state chart for the June 2008 Build Initiative/Smart Start National Technical Assistance Center QRIS conference. It compares the QRIS delivery system infrastructure in Colorado, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
Quality Improvement Rating Systems in OK, NC and PA
The following three charts lay out the approach to technical assistance and continuous quality improvement in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
NCCIC On Library 
Additional resources are available via NCCIC’s Online Library
