QRIS AND INCLUSION Karen Berman Jennie Couture Inclusion

QRIS AND INCLUSION Karen Berman Jennie Couture, Inclusion , Assistant Director, Ounce of Prevention Fund Jeanette Mc. Collum , Professor Emerita, University of Illinois Manager, Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Pam Stevens, Quality Rated Manager, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and learning Ø Pam Winton, Senior Scientist and Director of Outreach, FPG Child Development Institute

AGENDA National Context and Overview Issues Related to an Inclusive Approach to QRIS § Structures & incentives § Measurement § Professional development Perspectives, Strategies and Challenges: Two State Examples (IL and GA)

NATIONAL CONTEXT Focus on High Needs Children

NATIONAL CONTEXT Focus on Cross Sector Systems Building

NATIONAL CONTEXT Accountability & Quality

Quality Movement = Multiple Quality Initiatives ELG Head Start Performance Framework OSEP Monitoring and Accountability (SSIP) RTT-ELC Personnel Standards EHS/CC Partnerships

Two Different Quality Initiatives Quality Inclusion QRIS US DOE OSEP Annual Performance Report (APR), including State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Early Childhood Special Education/ Early Intervention

What Is QRIS ? A method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care settings Varies from state to state with all states participating at some level Common elements include § Quality standards § Process for assessing standards § Outreach and support to programs to raise quality § Financial incentives § Consumer awareness 8

What Does QRIS Look Like? Offers supports/incentives for reaching higher levels of quality Provides easily recognized symbols for higher levels 9

What Is OSEP Annual Performance Report? State data on children with disabilities and their families collected and reported to Congress Includes a comprehensive, multi-year State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP), focused on improving outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Needs to link to other state and federal quality initiatives (e. g. , QRIS, RTT, EHS/CC) 10

Three Issues Related to an Inclusive Approach to Quality Within QRIS Structures & incentives Measurement Professional development

STATE CONTEXT QRIS Development Illinois Georgia

QRIS Development in IL QRIS – Excele. Rate Illinois § Effort began in 2011 § Governor’s Office – Office of Early Childhood Development: Early Learning Council Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge - funded in 2012 § Excele. Rate Illinois finalized in 2014 § Circles of Quality – Licensing, Bronze, Silver, Gold

IL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Five Awards of Excellence developed in 2013 -2014 § § § Infant/toddler Family/community engagement Culturally/linguistically appropriate practices Preschool instruction Inclusion of children with special needs 2014 – Approved, implementation just beginning Optional – an opportunity for programs in the Gold Circle to demonstrate and improve practices in one or more areas Gold Circle as foundation - provides solid foundation for Awards of Excellence

QRIS DEVELOPMENT IN GA FPG Child Care Quality Study § Conducted 2008 -2010 § Pervasive low quality child care across state Quality Rated Launched 2011 § Systematic approach to increasing quality § Strong support from Governor § Designed with input from diverse stakeholders § Validation study launched 2014

QRIS DEVELOPMENT IN GA Quality Rated Structure § Structural Quality u Portfolio assessment against five standards § Process Quality u ERS assessment of 1/3 classrooms § Portfolio and ERS scores combined to determine rating § Highest level: Three Stars

Structures & Incentives Issues What is a structure for bringing sectors together around program quality within a QRIS framework? What are incentives for ensuring buy-in across sectors and ensuring a fair and equitable QRIS for all? How do you address the “What’s In it For Me? ” question?

SOME STRUCTURES FOR INCLUSION ALREADY IN PLACE IN EXCELERATE ILLINOIS - CHILD SCREENING To move from licensing to Bronze • Program administrator must complete a Gateways Registry-approved training on screening tools To move from Bronze to Silver • Program must have policies and procedures ensuring children ages 0 -5 are screened at least annually To move from Silver to Gold • Program must have policies and procedures to ensure children ages 0 -5 are screened no later than 60 days after entry into the program, parents are provided information on results, and children are referred to a CFC or school district for further evaluation.

SPECIFIC LANGUAGE RELATED TO INCLUSION ALSO BUILT INTO EXCELERATE ILLINOIS To move from licensing to Bronze • Program administrator and one teacher must have completed Gateways Registry-approved training on inclusion of children with special needs To move from Bronze to Silver • Program must have policies and procedures to support inclusion To move from Silver to Gold • All classroom teaching staff must complete Gateways Registry-approved training on inclusion and must submit annual data on # of children with special needs being served. • Program also has MOU with a CFC and implements policies and procedures detailing how program supports IEPs or IFSPs. By 2016, the program must have an MOU with at least one LEA regarding services for children with special needs. To receive an Award of Excellence • Additional inclusion standards must be met in areas of teaching and learning, leadership and management, and qualifications and continuing education

DEVELOPING THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN INCLUSION Each new Award assigned to an ELC committee (Special Education Subcommittee of Systems’ Integration and Alignment Committee of the Early Learning Council) § Broad representation of interests assured – agencies, providers, parents Consultant § Recommendations for structure and process based on evidence-based practice and policy recommendations across broad array of early childhood entities and interests Intensive, iterative process to ensure cross-agency collaboration and buy-in § Committee as a whole and top agency staff – values & practices; understandable; feasible in different programs

STRUCTURE – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN INCLUSION Standard 1 – commitment to principles of full inclusion Standard 2 – achieve 85% of items on Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist Standard 3 – training on checklist, Portfolio development and on Inclusive Classroom Profile Standard 4 – recent administrator training on early childhood systems and on inclusion Standard 5 – recent staff training on inclusion and on Inclusive Classroom Profile

SUPPORT FOR INCLUSION EMBEDDED IN QUALITY RATED Standard 1: Director/Teacher Qualifications and PD § Introductory training in inclusion for director and teachers Standard 2: Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity § Annual developmental screening Standard 3: Family Engagement § Policies and procedures § Resources for families § All staff: minimum two hours introductory training in inclusion Standard 4: Intentional Teaching Practices § Ongoing formative assessment § Evidence of adaptations/accommodations for individual needs and peer interactions

GEORGIA – QRI INCLUSION DESIGNATION Inclusion Designation: Qr. I (Quality Rated with an I) Designation for programs with high quality inclusive practices § Purpose: u Promote High Quality Inclusion u Reward Programs u Inform Families Development § Georgia Quest for Quality Inclusion § Based on evidence-based indicators of high quality inclusion Eligibility § Programs at highest quality designation

GEORGIA – QRI INCLUSION DESIGNATION Built on foundation of quality Intensive training and technical assistance § Trained inclusion specialists § Individualized TA Mini grants to support TA plan § Items or experiences Assistance with program marketing Opportunities for leadership § Mentorship or model sites

Vexing Questions Related to Structures & Incentives How do you consider ways of including the variety of programs for children with disabilities (e. g. , Part C services provided in a variety of settings, or programs that are part-time … 2. 5 hrs per day… or segregated programs that are licensed but may have very different goals)?

Measurement Issues How do you measure high quality inclusive practices? How do you ensure that the measurement system in place assesses whether early education teachers/practitioners are demonstrating that they are meeting the needs of young children with disabilities?

Illinois – Measurement Issues Some inclusion measures already in place (built into Excelerate Illinois and compliance monitoring), but. . § no measures consistent across all types of programs § no measures captured the full range of characteristics of high quality inclusion Existing measures in literature not comprehensive across both program and classroom elements Response § created own program-level measure (“Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist”), integrating information from literature and policy recommendations (DEC, NAEYC) § selected ICP (Inclusive Classroom Profile) to describe practices at classroom level

IL MEASUREMENT - BUILT INTO STRUCTURE OF THE AWARD What the process looks like § Criteria for applying – must be at Gold Level, must include children with special needs § Meet specific standards demonstrating commitment to inclusion (e. g. , full participation, previous training) § Meet standards related to previous training on inclusion § Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist (85% of 21 items) u u u Program-level self-assessment, demonstrate in Program Portfolio, program improvement plan based on results Flexible “evidence, ” depending on type of program, documented in Portfolio Classroom-level self-assessment using ICP (Inclusive Classroom Profile), with classroom development plan based on results

IL APPROVAL PROCESS Program Portfolio – address each standard, each item on checklist Portfolio Review § Committee of peers – review evidence Follow-up visit to clarify any remaining questions Maintain annually based on update program plan 3 -year review - more formal update, documentation of continued training on inclusion

GEORGIA - MEASUREMENT Evidence of inclusive practices required for Quality Rated § Standards § ERS items Process to achieve QII § Baseline with Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) § Targeted professional development: training and technical assistance § Unannounced ICP assessment § Score of 5 or higher § Re-assessed yearly

Vexing Question Related to Measurement How can QRIS measurement system be kept as simple, practical, feasible and affordable as possible to ensure “buy-in” from practitioners and administrators, at the same time that indicators are meaningful within the context of inclusion?

Professional Development Issues How do you ensure that PD is available to support improvements within an inclusive QRIS system? How do you ensure that teachers/practitioners have access to ongoing support that will lead to changes in their practice that will lead to more intentional teaching, and learning opportunities for young children with special needs.

Illinois – Professional Development Built into structure § § Initial training specified in standards Ongoing training required to renew; part of individual classroom and program development plans Approaches § Identify and make use of what is already available – across agencies, entities, for whom, in what formats (face-to-face, on-line; on-site assistance, training) § Bring additional professional development opportunities into the system Pilot study § Identify, recommend and/or develop additional professional development needed to accomplish self assessment and portfolio development Current – new grants to support implementation of each of Awards of Excellence § To begin summer, 2014

GEORGIA – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Georgia’s Professional Development System § Professional Development Registry § System to ensure high quality professional development Inclusion PD required as part of Quality Rated § Beginner level for all § Intermediate and advanced increased structural quality points QRI requires additional targeted training followed by onsite coaching Will work with Technical College System and private trainers to embed inclusive practices in pre-service and in-service instruction

Vexing Question Related to Professional Development How do you keep the costs of PD in line with funding available?

Discussion

References & Resources Illinois QRIS – http: //www. excelerateillinois. com/overview Awards of Excellence http: //www 2. illinois. gov/OECD/Pages/default. aspx Georgia Quality. Rated information and resources—qualityrated. org Quality. Rated application portal---qualityrated. decal. ga. gov

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