California’s Quality Rating and
Improvement System
California Head Start Association
Policy Summit
Nancy Remley
Consuelo Espinosa
Sarah Younglove
July 27, 2010
July 27, 2010
1
High Quality Early Education
Programs:
A 5-year History of California’s
Actions
July 27, 2010
2

In 2006 - Proposition 82
The Preschool for All Initiative:
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Provide a high-quality, voluntary preschool
education for every four-year-old in California.
All four-year olds as of July 2010 must be able to
access a Preschool for All Program that met the
requirements of the Act.
County Superintendents and the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction would
administer.
July 27, 2010
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Preschool for All Initiative must
include:
A minimum of 3 hours per day for 180
days
 Curriculum that is:
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Age and developmentally appropriate; and
Based on statewide preschool learning
standards and guidelines aligned with
academic standards for elementary children.
July 27, 2010
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Classes of 20 children with one teacher and
one aide meeting specific educational
requirements
Required a workforce development plan so
that by July 2016 all teachers would have a
BA plus an Early Learning Credential, with
some alternative qualifications allowed.
July 27, 2010
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Prop 82 defeated 61 to 39%
 Defeat did not indicate the rejection of
preschool; however, the requirements
of Prop 82 seemed:

Too Much Too Soon
 Prop 82 mobilized and galvanized the
Early Education field

July 27, 2010
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Next Steps:
What can be done in a Year with
no Funding?
July 27, 2010
7

Superintendent of Public
Instruction P-16 Council’s
recommendation to streamline
State Preschool:
July 27, 2010
8
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The RAND four-part Study on
Early Care and Education in
The Golden State
July 27, 2010
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
The introduction of two critical
pieces of legislation:
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Assembly Bill (AB) 2759
Senate Bill (SB) 1629
July 27, 2010
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
Assembly Bill (AB) 2759
Chapter 309, Statutes of 2008
 Created the California State Preschool
Program
 The largest state-funded preschool
program in the nation

July 27, 2010
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
AB 2759
It consolidated funding for children age
3 and 5 in all Title 5 Programs.
 It provided the flexibility for a
contractor to offer part-day or full-day
services, or both.
 It ensured that funding would follow
the child as he entered the system as
an infant, through preschool, and into
kindergarten.

July 27, 2010
12

AB 2759
It authorized utilizing the State
Preschool Reimbursement Rate for
the part-day rate for all children in part
day programs, including those served
in General Child Development
contracts.
 It allowed the shifting of funds to begin
the program into new CSPP contracts,
and opportunities to shift funds during
the contract year.

July 27, 2010
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CAEL QIS Authorized through
SB 1629 – Steinberg 2008
Purpose

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Improve outcomes for children and reduce
California’s school readiness gap by improving
the quality of our early learning and care
programs
Intended for all children including:
* dual language learners
* children with disabilities and other special
needs
July 27, 2010
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CAEL QIS Advisory Charged with:

Assessment and analysis of existing ECE
infrastructure

Development of early learning quality rating
scale for birth to 5 programs

Development of a funding model aligned with
the quality rating scale

Make recommendations on local, state, federal,
and private resources
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Members
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Camille Maben, Child Development Division, CDE
Anne McKinney, for Secretary of Education
Dave Gordon, Superintendent, Sacramento County Office
Sarah Tomlinson, for Joan Buchanan, Assembly Member
Jeannie Oropeza, Dept. of Finance
Venus Garth, Social Services
Kris Perry, First 5 California
Celia Ayala, Los Angeles Universal Preschool
Dennis Vicars, Human Management Corporation
Cliff Marcussen, Options
Consuelo Espinoza, West Ed
Toby Boyd, Elk Grove Unified School District
July 27, 2010
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16
Subcommittees

Design ideas for licensing, quality
rating, and improvement systems

Workforce and professional
development and quality
incentives

Family involvement and
stakeholder engagement and
advocacy

Finance and incentives, including
funding model

Data systems for program
improvement and research
July 27, 2010
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Purpose of Subcommittees

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Subcommittees are included in the enabling
legislation (SB 1629-2009). They are intended to be
a major strategy for public input and vetting of early
learning quality improvement system options. Broad
outreach is encouraged.
Advisory Committee will receive Subcommittee
recommendations and issues for consideration and
discussion; not as a requirement for approval.
Subcommittees are open to all interested
participants who are responsible for accessing
available information from previous meetings.
July 27, 2010
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Decisions by CAEL QIS
Advisory Committee
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Emphasize quality components in rating system that
show stronger links to child outcomes (e.g., process
components)
Aim for fewer rather than more components
Include licensing in entry tier but may require
revised licensing standards
Consider independent assessment for higher rating
levels
Pilot and further evaluate components viewed as
important but with limited research
Experiment in pilot phase with alternative cut points
for measures
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Decisions
(continued)

California’s QRS will include the following factors:
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Be based on a block system – each tier building
on the previous tier
Include up to five tiers with an entry level based on
Title 22 and moving to aspirational and attainable
criteria for Tier 5
Include licensed center-based programs and
licensed family child care homes using consistent
criteria for all programs
Include License-Exempt programs that meet 3
criteria certified through MOU with administering
agency (6-10)
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Decisions
(continued)

California’s QRS will include the following factors:

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Cultural and language competence will be integrated
into all quality elements with special emphasis on
family involvement, staff education and training, and
teaching and learning
Inclusion of children with special needs will be
integrated into all quality elements with special
emphasis on family involvement, staff education and
training, and teaching and learning
Nutrition, health and physical activity are included in
QRIS through Teaching and Learning quality element;
CACFP info provided as TA in Tier 1 (6-10)
Definition of cultural and language competence to be
based on Early Childhood Educator Competencies.
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Decisions
(continued)
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Quality Rating Structure will include the following process:
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California’s QRIS sets quality elements and tiers
Third party accreditation and validated performance
reviews will be used in conjunction with tiers but not
incorporated into tiers:
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Agencies are encouraged to map their quality criteria to
California’s QRIS
Reciprocity with part, or all, of California’s QRIS will be
considered with time-limited MOUs; related costs to be paid
by agency requesting reciprocity.
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Decisions
(continued)

California’s QRIS will include the following factors:

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TA assists with achieving and maintaining the quality
improvement plan that is prepared when a program
goes through the QRIS process
TA is comprised on both internal and external
resources, and TA resources identified locally and
regionally
Support needs to be greater for entry level programs
TA is available for all programs, and resources for
license-exempt care providers that are not in QRIS may
include preparation for licensing
TA is done by different groups than assessment and
rating to avoid conflicts of interest
July 27, 2010
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Advisory Committee Decisions

The QRIS elements include:
 Ratio and Group Size: FCCH use Title 22 Licensing Standards and
Centers have approved Tiers
 Teaching and Learning
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Alignment with Infant-Toddler and Preschool curriculum frameworks
and foundations
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ECERS for Tiers 1-5 with the use of CLASS/PARS for
Tiers 4-5 in
alternating rating periods
 Program Leadership

Use Program Director’s education and professional development as
proxy for Centers; include BAS/PAS for professional development for
all Centers and FCCH
 Family Involvement

Included via ERS family of tools, plus menu of family education at
Tier 2 and transition plans at Tier 3.
 Staff education and on-going professional development - TBD
July 27, 2010
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Work in Progress: 5 Proposed Elements
for California’s QRIS
Tier 1
Family
Involvement
Ratio-Group
Size: Infant:
Toddler:
Preschool:
FCCH: Title 22
Inform Parents
Tier 2
Educate
Parents
Tier 3
Involve
Parents
4:1 and 12
4:1 and 12
4:1 and 12
12:1 and 24
6:1 and 12
12:1 and 24
3:1 and 12
Or 4:1 and 8
4:1 and 12
8:1 and 24 or
10:1 and 20
Tier 4
Engage
Parents
3:1 and 12
Or 4:1 and 8
4:1 and 16
8:1 and 24 or
10:1 and 20
Tier 5
Partner and
Advocate with
parents
3:1 and 9
4:1 and 12
8:1 and 12 or
10:1 and 20
Staff Education
and Training
Final descriptors for Tiers to be completed by Workforce Subcommittee with
decisions at August CAEL QIS Advisory Committee meeting.
Teaching and
Learning:
1. ERS +
teacher-child
interaction
2. Alignment to
Foundations &
Frameworks
Facilitated SelfAssessment
No req. score
Program
Leadership
Awareness
Facilitated
PeerAssessment
Independent
Assessment
ERS 4.0 +
CLASS/PARS
Independent
Assessment
ERS 5.0 +
CLASS/PARS
Exploring
Integration
Developing
Competency in
Integration
Building
Competency in
Integration
Independent
Assessment
ERS 6.0 +
CLASS/PARS
Full
Integration
Program Director Education and experience for Centers
Use of PAS/BAS for professional development for Centers and FCCH
July 27, 2010
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Next Steps for CAEL QIS
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Final Report due to Governor and Legislature in
December 2010
Continuation and expansion of CAEL QIS work with
ELAC (Early Learning Advisory Council) established with
Governor’s order on 11/09
Build on CAEL QIS members and add new members
Application for federal funds for ELAC due 8/1/10
ELAC makes us eligible for Early Learning Challenge
Grants and other federal resources
July 27, 2010
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CAEL QIS Webpage – CDE
http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/sb1
629committee.asp
Questions?
July 27, 2010
27
Early Learning Advisory Council
(ELAC)
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California Early Learning Quality
Improvement System (CAEL QIS):
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Expires at the end of 2010
Responsible for making recommendations to the
Legislature to create an early learning quality
improvement system
July 27, 2010
28
Early Learning Advisory Council
(ELAC)

The work of ELAC will build on the work of
the CAEL QIS Advisory Committee and will
maintain that Committee’s focus on improving
quality for all children.
July 27, 2010
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Highlights of Reauthorization

The Federal Improving Head Start for School
Readiness Act of 2007 requires that states
establish State Advisory Councils to be
increase collaboration among early childhood
education providers.
July 27, 2010
30
ELAC History

In response to the Head Start
Reauthorization, Gov. Schwarzenegger
issued Executive Order S-23-09 in November
2009 establishing the California State
Advisory Council on Early Childhood
Education and Care.
July 27, 2010
31
ELAC History

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The Advisory Committee is a new State advisory
body that will develop the policy and implementation
plan for an Early Learning Quality Improvement
System to improve the quality of early education
programs.
It is also charged with developing an early learning
rating scale that includes features that most directly
contribute to high quality care and a funding model
aligned with the quality rating scale.
July 27, 2010
32
ELAC

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Funding from Health and Human Services
$10,653,948
Application for monies due to Washington,
DC by August 1, 2010
Funding allocated before October 2010
July 27, 2010
33
Federal Application Requirements
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The Head Start Act requires the Council to
undertake the following activities:
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needs assessment looking at quality and availability
collaboration and coordination
Increasing participation of children
unified data collection system
professional development
capacity and effectiveness of higher education systems
improvement of State early learning standards
July 27, 2010
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Council’s Objectives
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Develop a comprehensive plan for an integrated
system
Connecting with children and families
Work with parents to navigate the early education
system
Elevate the quality of Early Childhood professionals
July 27, 2010
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ELAC Co-Chairs

Geno Flores, Co-Chair
Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public
Instruction, California Department of Education

Kris Perry, Co-Chair
Executive Director, First 5 California

Anne McKinney, Co-Chair
Deputy Secretary, Office of the Secretary of
Education
July 27, 2010
36
The Governor Appointed ELAC Members
& Support Staff
Name
Title
Agency
Telephone Number
Email
Staff Service Analyst,
Child Development
Division
Deputy Secretary
California Department of Education
916-319-0374
amlopez@cde.ca.gov
Office of the Secretary of Education
916-323-0611
amckinney@ose.ca.gov
Camille Maben
Director for Child
Development Division
California Department of Education
916-324-0730
cmaben@cde.ca.gov
Celia Ayala
Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles Universal Preschool
866-581-5287
cayala@laup.net
Cliff Marcussen
Executive Director
Options
626-967-7848
CMarcussen@optinscc.org
Consuelo
Espinosa
Dave W. Gordon
Infant/Toddler Specialist
West Ed
408-842-8372
cespino@wested.org
Superintendent
916-228-2410
dgordon@scoe.net
David P. Lopez
President
Sacramento County Office of
Education
National Hispanic University
Dennis Vicars
Chief Executive Officer
Human Services Management
Corporation/PACE
916-716-3498
dv@hsmc.com
Elliot Regenstein
Partner
Education Counsel LLC
312-212-4380
Gavin Payne
Chief Deputy
916-319-0794
Elliot.Regenstein@nelsonmullins.
com
GPayne@cde.ca.gov
916-322-4159
jhastings@cde.ca.gov
California Department of Finance
916-445-0328
Jeannie.Oropeza@dof.ca.gov
State AssemblyJuly 27,
916-319-2015
Amanda Lopez
Anne McKinney
Jaime Hastings
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction
Associate Governmental California Department of Education
Program Analyst
Jane Henderson
Consultant
Jeannie Oropeza
Program Budget
Manager
Assembly Member
Joan Buchanan
2010
37
The Governor Appointed ELAC Members
& Support Staff
Kris Perry
Executive Director
California Children and Families
Commission
916-263-1034
Lois Salisbury
Director
Children, Families and Communities
Program
650-948-7658
Nancy Remley
Director of the California
Head Start State
Collaboration Office
California Department of Education
916-445-7349
nremley@cde.ca.gov
Paty Munoz
Staff Services Analyst
for California
Development Division
California Department of Education
916-322-5939
pmunoz@cde.ca.gov
Paul Navarro
Deputy Secretary for
Legal Affairs
Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
916-445-4341
Paul.Navarro@Gov.ca.gov
Sarah Tomlinson
Office Assistant
916-319-2015
Sarah.Tomlinson@asm.ca.gov
Sarah Younglove
Director of the Head
Start-Preschool Division
Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan’s
Office
Los Angeles County Office of
Education
562-940-1770
Younglove_Sarah@lacoe.edu
Toby Boyd
Kindergarten Teacher
Elk Grove Unified School District
916-923-2477
Eboyd8@sbcglobal.net
Venus Garth
Chief of the Welfare to
Work Division
California Department of Social
Services
916-657-3442
Venus.Garth@dss.ca.gov
Yolie Flores
Board Member
Los Angeles Unified School District
213-241-6383
Yolie.flores@lausd.net
Zulmara Cline
Associate Director
California State University
Chancellor's Office
562-951-4713
zcline@calstate.edu
July 27, 2010
kperry@ccfc.ca.gov
38