Great Start to Quality
Core Advisory Team Purpose
September 2012
Purpose: The Great Start to Quality Core Advisory Team convenes monthly to monitor implementation; analyze data and results;
develop communications; engage stakeholders; provide advice and recommendations related to validation, evaluation, and
ongoing systemic changes; and make process decisions for effectiveness and efficiency. The Core Advisory Team brings
transparency to Great Start to Quality implementation and prioritizes implementation based on the above.
Sponsored by :
Office of Great Start at the
Michigan Department of
Education
The Great Start to Quality Core Advisory Team will convene constituency work groups comprised of stakeholders to understand
implementation impacts, success stories, and lessons learned. The workgroups provide an opportunity for stakeholders to
participate in peer learning and provide feedback on implementation strategies.
Accountable:
Early Childhood
Investment Corporation
and Office of Great Start
Scope of Authority:
The Core Advisory Team has some decision making authority related to Great Start to Quality implementation as listed in the key
activities below. The Advisory Team makes recommendations to the Office of Great Start and the Investment Corporation on the
larger policy decisions. The Office of Great Start has final decision making authority for policy decisions.
Co-leaders:
Lisa Brewer-Walraven and
Karen Roback
Inputs and Constraints:
Input:
 National TQRIS Community
 Build Initiative grant providing TA for
the program especially regarding
Cultural and Linguistic Competencies
 Federal government guidance
regarding TQRIS
 Key local stakeholder impact
Team Members:
Lisa Brewer-Walraven OGS
Karen Roback -ECIC
Jim Sinnamon – DHS/BCAL
Lindy Buch - OGS
Keith Myers - MiAEYC
Jeremy Reuter - OGS
Alissa Pianin - ECIC
Deb Vandermolen – CACFP
Sponsor
Ella Fabel-Ryder – Great
Start Regional Resource
Center
Nancy Peeler - DCH
Mary Tomczyk – Madonna
Robin Bozek - MHSA
Becky Brinks – Grand
Constraints (the “Musts”):
 Year one begins with full
implementation to include all
programs
 Validation Study components
outlined
 Consumer Campaign to begin late
Key Activities by Workgroup:
Core Advisory Team
- Provide recommendations to the Office of Great
Start and the Early Childhood Investment
Corporation on needed changes and
enhancements during implementation
-Coordinate QI Support Community to include
specialists from GSRP, Head Start, QRIS pilots and
Great Start to Quality support staff
- Provide advice on administrative procedures
-Make decisions based on Scope of Authority
related to implementation and provide
recommendations on decisions outside of the
scope
Outputs and Desired Results:
-Successful implementation of
Great Start to Quality
-A set of standards that
improves quality and a
process for regular review
-A completed validation study
to inform work and plans for
growth
-Completed guidance
documents
- A set of administrative
procedures, including an
appeals process
-Active and coordinated QI
support community across

summer of 2012
Public display of programs quality
levels in December 2012
Data
-Review and analyze Great Start to Quality data
- Determine protocols necessary to ensure validity
of data
- Provide advice on incorporation of data results in
implementation
Communication
-Provide input on communications materials
- Provide input on public will materials
- Provide advice on development of Guidance
Document specific to Standards, clarification of and
evidence for same.
Validation and Assessment
-Provide advice for development of Great Start to
Quality validation study
-Provide advice for assessment
Evaluation
-Review evaluation methodologies, and provide
advice for evaluation plan
Constituency Stakeholders
-Provide information about implementation
- Identify constituency groups and regular meetings
where Great Start to Quality might be a standing
agenda item – develop protocols for standing
reports
- Engage in peer learning community
early learning and
development sectors
-Implementation based on
data
- Transparency through
communication and
stakeholder involvement,
including a process for
consideration of items
surfaced like:
 PQA duplication
 CLASS impacts to
Great Start to Quality
level
 Accreditation
impacts to Great
Start to Quality level
- An evaluation plan that is
feasible and will inform
continuous improvement
- An evaluation plan linked to
child outcomes
-An engaged constituency
Timeline and Key Dates:
 Core Advisory Team will meet monthly
 Some workgroups will meet quarterly and other will meet more often depending on the priority
 Quality Level Ratings are published in December 2012
Rapids Community College
Alan Oman - MAISA
Stakeholders:
Parents
Educators – both center
based and family homes
Unlicensed, subsidized
providers