Boosting family child care success in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems

Publication date: 2nd Quarter 2019Source: Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Volume 47Author(s): Rena A. Hallam, Alison Hooper, Martha Buell, Melissa Ziegler, Myae HanAbstractAs states develop and revise Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), more research attention is needed on the implementation of quality improvement strategies that effectively support family child care programs. The aims of the current study were to compare family child care providers who participated in a model of supplemental quality improvement supports (Stars Plus) with family child care providers who participated in QRIS but did not receive the supplemental services. Specifically, we examined the movement trajectories of family child care programs across all five rated levels over a two-year period as well as examined whether Stars Plus participation predicted the attainment of the highest quality levels in Delaware’s QRIS. Results gathered from the application of survival analysis to statewide QRIS administrative data suggested that Stars Plus family child care providers were 1.8 times more likely to move up a star level than family child care providers who participated in the QRIS but did not receive Stars Plus. Further, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Stars Plus family child care providers were 5.2 times more likely to achieve Star Level 4 or 5 than family child care providers who participated in the QRIS without this intensive support. Findings suggested family child car...

Source: Early Childhood Research Quarterly - February 21, 2019 Category: Child Development Source Type: research