Provider Services: Quality Rating Scale |
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Iowa's Quality Rating System for Child Care
The Quality Rating System (QRS) is a voluntary program that offers providers a guided way to improve the quality of child care they provide. The QRS includes registered child development homes, licensed child care centers, including preschools, Head Start, Early Head Start, afterschool programs and child care programs that are operated by school districts. By participating in the QRS, a provider shows parents and the community that they are committed to providing quality child care and are working towards improving the quality of care.
Quality Rating System was developed to:
- raise the quality of child care in Iowa
- increase the number of children in high-quality child care settings
- educate parents about quality in child care
Programs that have been working on improving their quality of child care and have chosen to participate in Iowa's Quality Rating System (QRS) will have a certificate with 1-5 stars posted in their child care facility.
One Star: The program is registered or licensed, meaning the state did a background check on employees and the provider has promised that certain standards are in place. This does not guarantee a home has been inspected, although licensed centers will have been inspected at least once.
Two Stars: The program participates in a federal food program that requires nutritious meals and snacks and a food program inspector visits three times a year. The program also has a written professional development plan with goals for future training and education. In-home providers are ChildNet Certified. All programs have agreed to work with a child care nurse consultant regarding health and safety.
Three to Five Stars: For these levels, points are given, Each level requires a certain level of points. At these levels, programs:
- Have taken training to ensure the physical setting is child friendly, safe, and promotes learning
- Provide new parents an orientation with written information on fees, hours of service, attendance & illness policies, education and discipline policies, and a written description of activities
- Hold annual parent conferences with a portfolio of work samples, reports on the child's strengths & weaknesses, and goals for the child
- Have college credit for education specific to the age group of children in care
- Have been visited by a Child Care Nurse Consultant who did an injury prevention check, a health and safety assessment, and ensure children have proper medical documentation
- Are members of a professional organization specific to the age group of children in care, such as the National Association of Family Child Care, National Association for the Education of Young Children or National Afterschool Association
All the QRS programs, regardless of their level, have made a commitment to providing quality care to children. By participating in the QRS, programs at all levels are continually working to improve their quality and the QRS provides them with guidelines for how to do that best.
There are five levels in the QRS. For a program to be rated at:- Level 1: all the Level 1 criteria must be met
- Level 2: all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met
- Levels 3-5: all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met, and then the program must earn a minimum of one point in each of the Level 3-5 categories. For levels 3-5, the level is determined by the total number of points earned.
General QRS Forms
Frequently Asked Questions
Environment Rating Scales
QRS Providers
Press Release Launching Child Care Quality Rating System
Initial Letter to Providers on the Quality Rating System & Contact Information
To apply for the QRS, obtain technical assistance with applications, or to obtain resources for consultations, contact the QRS Specialist in Region 1, (position currently vacant).
Accreditation
Accreditation is a voluntary process designed specifically for child care programs, family child care homes and school-age programs. The accreditation process is an opportunity for a program to conduct a thorough examination of every aspect of the program based on recognized quality standards. Accreditation involves staff, parents, administrators and children. The process consists of a comprehensive self-study, a validation visit by an objective, qualified, trained individual, and a review of the self-study and parent and staff surveys by a council of peer professionals and educators. Receiving the award of program accreditation is highly prized and exemplifies a program that excels in the care and education of young children. Contact CCR&R provider services or NAEYC Center Accreditation or National Afterschool Association Accreditaton or NAFCC Accreditation for child development homes.
Credential
Credentials are awarded to individuals who have successfully demonstrated their ability in areas identified as critical to their profession. Through a series of indicators including experience and education, credentials are awarded to directors, teachers and family child care providers who are competent in management and administration, as well as nurturing and educating young children. The credentialing process recognizes an individual's achievements as a professional. It also advances the professional development of individuals wishing to move up the career ladder within their respective program and/or to pursue a career in early care and education. The Child Development Associate Credential is for entry level staff in homes or centers. It is offered by the National council for early childhood Professional recognition. Contact www.cdacouncil.org. Information on financial assistance for obtaining a CDA Credential is available through the TEACH Counseling Specialist. Center directors may take the National Administrator Credential (NAC). Contact your CCR&R training coordinator for more information.
Professional Organizations
NAFCC-National Association for Family Child Care
NAEYC-National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Afterschool Association