QRIS Quality Improvement Grants
Board of Early Education and Care
March 9, 2010
Overview of Proposal
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
Massachusetts is developing a Quality Rating and Improvement
System (QRIS), which is a method to assess, improve, and
communicate the level of quality in early care & education and afterschool settings.

As part of this pilot, EEC hopes to provide program quality
improvement grants to eligible programs as an incentive to participate
in the pilot and to help them make targeted progress on the QRIS,
directly linked to the QRIS Standards.
Grant Model
Self Assessment
 Each program would use the QRIS Provisional Standards to complete a
program self-assessment and identify which standards they currently
meet and which standards they would need to meet to move to the
next level(s) of the QRIS.
 Programs would not be expected to hire outside reliable raters to
perform the ERS, or other areas where an outside reliable rater is
required, in advance of applying for this grant.
Program Improvement Plan
 Using the information from the program’s self-assessment, the
program will develop and submit a program improvement plan to
address how they would create, train, or otherwise implement the
standards they need to meet in order to move to the next level of the
QRIS.
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Grant Model, Continued
Program Improvement Plan – Continued

Programs would select specific aspects of their program improvement
plan for which they are seeking additional resources from EEC to
implement between May 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010 that move them at
least one level on the QRIS.
 Due to this timeline applicants will be required to demonstrate the
ability to accomplish planned purchases / activities.
Other Required Services
 Programs must complete an Outcomes and Measures Form,
documenting the improvements they made with this grant.

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Programs must commit to participating, to the extent possible, in
opportunities to share their best practices and pilot experience with
other providers/programs.
Example of QRIS Self Assessment and
Improvement Plan (Template to be Further Developed)
Self Assessment = Level 2 / Goal = Level 3
Center and School Based QRIS Standards: Environment: Outdoor
Level Standard
Measurement
Meet
Standard
1
2
License in good standing
Yes
Use of the Materials checklist
in the Early Childhood
Program Standards or Infant
Toddler checklist (when
developed)
Yes
Meets Licensing Regulations
Meets Requirements of Level 1
PLUS
Access to an outdoor space that
provides for a variety of gross and fine
motor activities such as swings, slides,
tricycles, balls and other games that
are developmentally appropriate and,
within reason, adaptations that ensure
accessibility for children with
disabilities.
3
Meets Requirements of Level 2
PLUS
Curriculum is extended to the outdoor
areas through the use of materials and
equipment
5
Access to an outdoor space that is
designed to include areas that protect
children from wind and direct sunlight
and utilizes a variety of surface
materials that support different types
of play
Use of the ITERS (if
appropriate) and ECERS
as a self assessment tool with
a written program
improvement plan
Use HS
Standards or
Accreditation
to Meet
Standard
n/a
Resource needed to meet
standard
Yes
An outside reliable rater
administers the ITERS (if
appropriate) and the ECERS
with a total score of 4.0 or
better with a sub-score of at
least 3.0 in all areas
Yes
Program uses a certified
playground inspector to
assess outdoor areas
No –
Will use $400 of grant
funds to complete this
inspection(documentation
attached)
Funding Proposal
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
EEC is proposing to making up to $4,000,000 of CCDF quality funds
available for this grant program. Providers / Programs within the
mixed delivery system would be eligible for individual grants up to
$10,000 each.

Grants would be site specific (not classroom specific) based on the
program types provided in QRIS Standards, which include:
1. Center/School Based Programs;
2. Family Child Care Programs; and
3. After School and Out of School Time Programs)

Programs may apply individually for grants, or lead agencies and
family child care systems may apply for grants on behalf of multiple
sites/providers within their agency/system for distribution to their
affiliated providers/programs (cap of $100,000 per agency/system).
Potential Use of Funds
Eligible fund use will be directly tied to QRIS Standards and allowable
expenses for CCDF Quality Funds and may include:
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Professional development for educators and/or parents/families linked to QRIS.
Staff/Educators planning time to build collaborative agreements, engage more deeply
with health consultants, to develop policies named in the QRIS standards etc.
Costs associated with Certified Playground Inspection
Accreditation facilitation support or accreditation fees
Appropriate materials that support QRIS progress (for staff or parent resource centers,
portable sink with running water for hand washing etc.)
Purchase of screening or assessment tools
Annual financial review conducted by a CPA
Translation of materials and resources into parents primary or preferred languages
Consultant regarding environmental design of space to meet requirements in the
“Environment” section of the QRIS
Application/renewal costs for Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
Annual consultations by a Health Consultant to monitor records, update health care
policies and practices, identify program issues, assist programs in complying with health
and safety requirements and provides a written report to the program
Administrative costs (not to exceed 5% of total grant award or any subcontract)
Grant funds shall not be used to pay for the following: duplicative services paid for
through other EEC grants/sources, consumables, hardware and/or any items
that exceed the contractor's/grantee's capital asset threshold etc.
Priority for Awarding Funds
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
EEC will ensure funding is allocated in a manner which
ensures diversity in terms of geographic and
program/provider type representation to the extent possible
based on applications received.

Once geographic and mixed system representation are
ensured, if EEC receives applications for funding beyond
$4M, EEC will next prioritize programs where 50% or more of
the children are receiving financial assistance (definition
used ensures public schools would also be eligible).
Timeline
March 10-15
March 15
March 22
March 29
April 5
April 5- 12
April 12
April 12 -29
May 1
June 30
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EEC to develop RFP and Self Assessment and Program
Improvement Templates
Post RFP
Grantees submit questions
EEC responds to question
Proposals due to EEC (EEC reserves the right to extend
this deadline based is available resources are not
allocated by applications received by this date)
EEC reviews applications
EEC selects/posts grantees
EEC: processing work for payments
Grantees receive payment
All goods and services purchased by grantees with these
grant funds must be received and accepted on or before
June 30th.