Newsletter
Early childhood is the most critical time in a person’s growth. Because of this, parents and families need resources to make informed decisions about child care and their early learning options. Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) provides these resources and is a shining example of how Oregon is working to improve child care so that it serves a dynamic role in preparing children for school.
More specifically, Oregon’s QRIS raises the quality and consistency of child care and learning programs, and improves the professional development of early childhood educators through training and incentives. It is a key component of Oregon’s early learning plan, and designed to align and build upon other key early learning initiatives.
Oregon’s QRIS is a voluntary system using a set of progressively higher program standards to evaluate the quality of an Early Learning and Development program, and supporting program improvement.
QRIS is designed to:
- Support early learning and development programs through providing high-quality care and education by offering free tools, incentives, and professional advice.
- Help parents and caregivers find and measure early learning and development programs that fit their needs with the help of an easy-to-understand rating system.
- Ensure that children have high-quality early learning experiences that help them develop the skills they need to be ready for Kindergarten and life.
The QRIS envisions all children in Oregon having access to high quality child care and education, promoting optimal child development, school readiness, and continued success throughout life.
Also check out Portland State University’s Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education (OCCD).
For more detailed information on Oregon child care, please visit the Office of Child Care website.
Child Care & QRIS Updates
QRIS Brief: January-February 2014
This edition includes another field test update as well as stories from the field.
Quality at Work Newsletter
This edition includes an update on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
QRIS Brief: November – December 2013
This edition includes a Field Test Update and congratulations to the Star Rates programs.
QRIS Brief: September-October 2013 Newsletter
A special edition of the Quality At Work Newsletter for partners in Oregon’s childhood care and education system.
TS Gold
TS GOLD was adopted by Oregon as the state’s formative assessment to be used in programs receiving Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten funding. For 2014-15, the Oregon Department of Education is conducting a pilot that will provide the option for licensed child care and early learning programs, such as licensed family child care or licensed centers, to use TS GOLD under the state’s TS GOLD umbrella agreement.
This offer is not an endorsement or recommendation that licensed child care and early learning programs use TS GOLD in their programs. Programs must choose an assessment that is appropriate for their setting.
Additional Information:
New proposed Federal Child Care Regulations
The Child Care and Early Education Workgroup is working to define affordable quality child care and developing a vision for how children, families, and child care providers can best work together. Workgroup members are developing recommendations and will present a definition of affordable quality care for the Early Learning Council on April 11.
Be a part of Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System
Programs who pilot the QRIS can receive additional funding along with professional tools, advice, and support to improve their programs. Field tests are currently underway in Benton, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Jefferson, Lane, Linn and Multnomah counties. Interested child care and preschool programs in those counties should contact their local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to find out more.
For child care and preschool programs not in one of the field test counties, you can still contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to find out how you can prepare for the 2014 statewide roll out. Call 1-800-342-6712 to get started.