TRI's Gary Glasenapp presented information about Oregon's QRIS at the OAESD Spring Conference. Oregon's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a program that raises the quality and consistency of child care and early learning programs across the state.

The Quality Rating System recognizes, rewards and builds on what early learning and development programs are already doing well. It helps ensure children in QRIS programs are ready for kindergarten by connecting programs and providers with free tools, financial incentives and professional advice that they can put into practice with confidence.

Representatives from 6 (out of 19) ESDs attended the session.

Gary Glasenapp's reflections of the presentation

The information was well received by the participants. They were all actively involved in the session and came with different levels of understanding of Oregon's QRIS (a few were very familiar, some had some level of understanding, others had not heard about it)."

The intersection of Oregon's QRIS and the OAESD

Click here to download the slide presentation

During this session attendees participated in a discussion on Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and how it may impact Education Service Districts. Oregon’s QRIS is funded as part of the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge federal grant and includes systems building money for early childhood in Oregon. QRIS is designed to raise the quality of child care and early learning programs by providing resources and supports as well as recognize program quality through a rating system.

QRIS is important in that it not only assists with program improvement but it helps programs serve and support the needs of all children, including children with disabilities and children from diverse populations. In addition to an overview of QRIS, participants took part in an interactive discussion on how QRIS may support and impact the work of local Education Service Districts.

There were many questions and conversation topics including:

1. How was Oregon's QRIS developed;
   
2. why was it developed;
   
3. how is it funded and how will it be sustained once Race to the Top funds end;
   
4. do other states have QRIS and if so, how is Oregon's QRIS different;
   
5. what types of programs can be involved in QRIS;  
6. what resources and supports are available to participating programs;
   
7. why should programs be involved;
   
8. how/where does the Preschool Promise initiative fit with Oregon's QRIS;
   
9. how can Oregon's QRIS support and impact the work of ESDs;
   
10. how can Oregon's QRIS and ESDs work together to support child care programs, school districts, and the children they serve?

Click here to download the slide presentation

Click here for more information about the OAESD.