DEL News

October 6, 2008
DEL kicks off Seeds to Success quality rating and improvement system

OLYMPIA – More than 100 child care providers around the state will be part of the “field test” of Washington’s new voluntary quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), called Seeds to Success.

The Department of Early Learning’s (DEL) Seeds to Success system is designed to offer child care providers coaching and funding to improve the quality of care they offer families and children. The system also holds the potential to provide families with “consumer report” information about child care programs in their communities.

During the field test for Seeds to Success that begins this week and runs through June 2009, 125 providers in five communities will be chosen to participate. Depending on funding, Seeds to Success may be rolled out statewide as a voluntary QRIS after the field test. A status report on Seeds to Success is due to the Legislature this December.

“Washington families need high-quality child care choices in their communities that help plant the seeds to success early in life,” said DEL Director Jone Bosworth. “Over the next nine months, we will learn together with our field test communities about the kinds of support and resources needed to raise the level of child care quality around the state.”

The 2007 Legislature earmarked $4.75 million for DEL to design and field test a QRIS. During the system’s design phase, thousands of Washington parents, caregivers and others in the five field test communities offered input into what Washington’s QRIS should look like.

The communities participating in field testing through a contract with DEL are:

  • Clark County
  • East Yakima
  • Kitsap County
  • Spokane County
  • White Center

Two of the communities, White Center and east Yakima, are early learning demonstration communities supported by Thrive by Five Washington, a nonprofit partner of DEL. Those two communities will use the same QRIS model as the others, but will get additional financial and coaching resources through Thrive to see how much difference this extra support makes.

Child care providers in the five communities can apply to participate in the field test year. Participants will be chosen randomly from the applicant pool and include both child care centers and family home child care providers. Those eligible to apply include child care providers licensed by the state or with Tribal Nation certification.

Seeds to Success will rate participating providers on a scale of one to five apple seeds. DEL selected the apple as the visual for the system because it symbolizes health and is one of Washington’s most well-known commodities.

An independent review team will assess participating providers’ programs and submit a report and recommended rating to DEL. A DEL rating team will assign a rating, and share it with the provider. Programs will be assessed in four areas: curriculum and learning environment; family relationships and community partnerships; professional development and training; and management practices. Seeds to Success is separate from the state’s licensing requirements for child care facilities.

Ratings will not be made public during the field test year, so that DEL and the five communities can test and adjust the system.

At least 14 states around the nation have quality rating and improvement systems in place, and several more are designing or testing systems, according to the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center. At least two states, North Carolina and Tennessee, require all licensed providers to participate.

DEL has created a Seeds to Success Web site to answer common questions about QRIS and the field test: www.del.wa.gov/seeds.

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The Washington State Department of Early Learning is a Governor’s Cabinet-level state agency created in 2006 to bring heightened visibility and focus to early learning and help all Washington children reach their full potential. DEL oversees the state-funded comprehensive preschool program, child care licensing, and other initiatives and programs to support parents as children’s first and most important teachers. For more information, visit the DEL Web site at http://www.del.wa.gov.

For more information:

DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov