QRIS 2014 Program Quality
Improvement Grant
Applicant Technical
Assistance and
Support Meetings
April 2014
Wendy Valentine, M.Ed.
Senior Director, CI and Early Education Partnerships
Project Manager, QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants
United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley
Pam Roux
Educator and Provider Support
Department of Early Education and
Care
Documents posted at:
http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants
Background Information
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QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and
communicate the level of quality in early care
and education and after-school settings
EEC formally began developing its Quality
Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) during
the spring of 2008
EEC fully implemented the Massachusetts
QRIS in January 2011
Brain Building in Progress
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The work of the EEC is steeped in the notion that brain
building is in progress for young children in enriching
environments with caring adults and meaningful and
engaging interactions.
The latest science shows that these early experiences
actually build the architecture of the developing brain;
much like a house is built from the bottom up.
We know that children's earliest experiences are especially
important because building the human brain begins even
before birth; a strong foundation in early years greatly
increases the chance of positive outcomes.
BBIP Website: http://brainbuildinginprogress.org
National QRIS Implementation
EEC and United Way
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The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and
Merrimack Valley and have partnered together to
support and strengthen the capacity of early
education and out of school time program leaders to
identify, prioritize, and implement improvements that
move them forward in the state’s Quality Rating
Improvement System
This grant application’s purpose is to provide QRIS
Program Quality Improvement Grants to all eligible
programs/educators in the mixed delivery system to
make program improvements, in pursuit of upward
progress on the levels defined in the QRIS system
Goals
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QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant is
intended to offer funding to support programs
to advance towards a higher level on the
QRIS system
Support programs/educators to engage in a
process of continuous quality improvement
Enhance outcomes for all children in
Massachusetts, especially those populations
most at risk
Funding
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Funds Type: Race to the Top – Early
Learning Challenge Grant (RTTT-ELCG)
Funds Source: Federal
Fund use for this initiative must be aligned
directly with the purchase resources that will
allow an educator/program to advance on the
QRIS system
All funds from this grant must be expended,
and products/services received by grantees,
by December 1, 2014
Changes in 2014 Grant Cycle
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Changes based on emerging research, past data,
and feedback from the field
Single round of grants in 2014
Two grant phases - Program Planning and Durable
Goods
Up to two grant awards per grantee
Development of Program Improvement Plan
Addition of Technical Assistance Providers
Durable Goods are prepaid – no reimbursement
Administrative Overhead available for all grantees
Phase One
Program Improvement Planning
1
Grantee Technical Assistance and
Resource Conference
2
Program Improvement Plan Developed
with Ongoing Technical Assistance
Support
3
Program Improvement Plan Submitted
and Approved
4
Request for Reimbursement Submitted
and Outcomes Reporting on Phase One
Phase Two
Program Improvement Plan
Implementation
5
Durable Goods Selected by Grantee
6
Durable Goods Shipped by Vendor and
Received by Program/Provider
7
Program Improvement Plan
Implemented
8
Outcomes Reporting on Phase Two
Eligible Grant Applicants
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Be part of EEC’s mixed delivery system
Currently be serving at least one child receiving financial
assistance as of April 15, 2014
Submit a final self-assessed QRIS level 1, 2, 3, or 4
application
For EEC-licensed programs: License must be in good
standing with EEC
Be in good fiscal standing with the Commonwealth
Programs must complete all grant submission
requirements including:
– Complete online grant application by 5-2-2014
– Submit required documents by mail by 5-2-2014
Eligible Grant Applicants (cont.)
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Programs/providers must demonstrate
current use of Environment Rating Scale
(ERS) Tools
Participation in the Grantee Technical
Assistance and Resource Conference
Submit a final self-assessed QRIS level 1, 2,
3, or 4 application
Programs must complete all grant
submission requirements including:
– Complete online grant application and
submit required documents by 5-2-2014
QRIS Participation
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Programs applying for grant funding are required to
participate in the Massachusetts QRIS
Required to submit a printed copy of their Program
Improvement Plan and copy of the program’s QRIS
Summary of Application Profile from the online QRIS
showing self-assessed level, QRIS number, and
status as “Final-Submitted to EEC” with this grant
application.
Programs that do not complete a self-assessment
and assign a rating under the QRIS Standards prior
to April 15, 2014 will not be eligible for grant funding
under this grant opportunity
Environment Rating Scale (ERS)
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Programs must demonstrate current use
of ERS Tools
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Submit a copy of a recent ERS Tool Scoring
Sheet documenting use of the ECERS-R, ITERSR, FCCERS-R, or SACERS in the program for
each classroom.
The ERS observation may be done for selfassessment purposes; a Scoring Sheet
completed by a Reliable Rater is not required to
be eligible for this grant opportunity.
Grantee Technical Assistance and Resource
Conference
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Will take place on June 13, 2014 and again on
June 14, 2014 in Fitchburg, MA
Participation in one day of the Conference is
mandatory for all grant recipients
For each grant awarded, one program/educator
who works directly in the program must attend
the conference
One representative from each Family Child Care
System may participate, but is not required
Programs/educators who do not participate in the
mandatory conference will not receive grant
funding
Grantee Technical Assistance and Resource
Conference (cont.)
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Detailed information regarding the Program
Improvement Plan requirements, reimbursement
for Program Planning grants, and technical
assistance support will be provided to grantees at
this event
Grantees will be asked to provide their choice of
day preference to those requiring accommodation
or with a documented hardship
Family Child Care providers may request
participation in the Saturday conference
Translation services will be available for
conference participants
Program Planning Funding
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A program/educator that serves 20 children or less
will be eligible for up to $1,500
A program that serves 21 children or more will be
eligible for up to $2,500
A program that serves 100 children or more will be
eligible for up to $3,500
The number used to determine eligibility is the
number of currently enrolled children as of April 15,
2014, not the licensed capacity
Program Planning Reimbursement
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All Program Planning funds awarded to a
program/educator will be paid on a
reimbursement basis
If an applicant is approved for funding, the
program/educator must purchase the services and,
after receiving the services or goods, submit
evidence of their out-of-pocket expenses for
reimbursement
Educators/programs are encouraged to request
reimbursement in a timely manner as soon as funds
are fully expended
Only one request for reimbursement may be
submitted
Durable Goods Funding
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A program/educator that serves 20 children or less
will be eligible for goods valued at up to $3,000
A program that serves 21-99 children will be eligible
for goods valued at up to $5,000
A program that serves 100 children or more will be
eligible for goods valued at up to $7,000
The number used to determine eligibility is the
number of currently enrolled children as of April 15,
2014, not the licensed capacity
Funding Allocation
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Submission of an application does not guarantee
that your program will be awarded a grant
Proposals will be accepted for consideration
beginning 4-16-2014 and reviewed on an ongoing
basis; no proposal for this round of funding will be
accepted after 4:00 p.m. on 5-2-2014
Proposals for funding that meet all the grant eligibility
requirements will be evaluated
United Way, in collaboration with EEC, will ensure
funding is allocated in a manner which ensures
diversity in terms of geographic and
program/educator type representation to the extent
possible based on the applications received
Online Grant Application
The online grant application will open on or about 4-16-2014
Programs are asked to:
1. Provide program and
financial information
2. Propose Program
Planning expenditures
3. Identify how funding will
be used to support
development of a
Program Improvement
Plan
4. Request funds for
Program Planning
expenditures and
Administrative Overhead
Access online grant application:
http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants
Timeline
4-10 to 4-17-2014
Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Meetings
4-16-2014
Online Grant Application Opens
4-28-2014
All Questions must be submitted in writing by this date
5-2-2014
Grant Application Closes
5-30-2014
List of Grant Recipients Posted
6-13 to 6-14-2014
Grantee Technical Assistance and Resource Conference
6-12 to 8-8-2014
Program Improvement Plans Developed and Submitted
8-15-2014
Phase One - Final Outcomes and Measures Form Due
8-8 to 8-29-2014
Program Improvement Plans Verified by TA Specialists
12-1-2014
All goods and services purchased by grantees with these
grant funds must be received and accepted by this date
12-15-2014
Phase Two - Final Outcomes and Measures Form Due
Submission Instructions
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5-2-2014 at is the deadline for submission of
documents
5-2-2014 at 4:00 pm is the deadline for completion of
online grant application
Grant application must be completed online
Submit signed copies of required documents by mail
as directed in the Grant Solicitation
Applicants who do not complete the online grant
application and submit documentation will not be
considered for funding
Required Application Forms
Must be mailed and postmarked by 5-2-2014:
– Grant Application Document Cover Page
– Commonwealth Terms & Conditions
– W-9 with DUNS #
– Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing
– Executive Order 504 Certification
– Grant Disbursement Authorization
– Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
– RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying
– Copy of ERS Tool Scoring Sheet(s)
– Copy of Scoring Sheet(s) from Additional QRIS
Measurement Tools(s) (only if applicable)
– QRIS Summary of Application Profile
Documents posted at:
– Detailed Schedule Form
http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants
Required Forms for Family Child Care Systems
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Must be mailed and postmarked by 5-2-2014:
– Family Child Care System Document Cover Page
– Provider Consent Form (one per each affiliated grant
application)
– Commonwealth Terms & Conditions
– W-9 with DUNS #
– Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing
– Executive Order 504 Certification
– Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
– RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying
Documents posted at:
http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants
Resources
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Key Contacts
Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants
Grant Application - questions may be directed to
QRIS@supportunitedway.org for inclusion in the Question and
Answer Documents
Online Grant Application – for technical questions use the
help function within the application; additional questions may be
directed to QRIS@supportunitedway.org
EEC QRIS Program Manager – access the Program Manager
at https://www.eec.state.ma.us/qrisstatewide; technical
questions about the on-line QRIS application and selfassessment may be directed to your EEC Regional QRIS
Contact (listed below)
Regional QRIS contacts
Regional QRIS contacts
Questions?
Thank you for participating
in this Applicant Technical
Assistance and Support Meeting
Documents posted at:
http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants