Documents posted at QRIS 2011 Program Quality Improvement Grant RFP Bidder’s Conferences February & March 2011 Wendy Valentine Director,

Documents posted at www.wheelock.edu/t4q

QRIS 2011 Program Quality Improvement Grant RFP

Bidder’s Conferences

February & March 2011

Wendy Valentine Director, Community Impact United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley


Background Information

EEC formally began developing its Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) during the spring of 2008

QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education and after-school settings

Massachusetts has developed a QRIS that was piloted in 2009-2010 and supported by a first round of Program Quality Improvement Grants

Revised QRIS Standards issued on 12/14/2010

Together for Quality Initiative (T4Q)

Goal is to advance the state’s new QRIS by supporting programs to engage in focused activities that enhance the quality of education for children across the Commonwealth

QRIS 2011 Program Quality Improvement Grant Training, Grant Administration, and Coaching

T4Q Partners– Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care

(EEC)– Wheelock College– United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley– Community Advocates for Young Learners (CAYL) Institute


Goals

QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant is intended to offer funding to support programs to advance towards a higher level on the QRIS system

Support programs/educators to engage in a process of continuous quality improvement

Enhance outcomes for all children in Massachusetts, especially those populations most at risk


Eligible Bidders

All programs in EEC’s mixed delivery system Priority will be given to

– any EEC licensed educator/program that was serving at least one child receiving financial assistance on December 1, 2010

– any non-licensable or EEC license-exempt educator/program that attests to meeting EEC licensing requirements and that was serving at least one child receiving financial assistance on December 1, 2010

Programs must be at a self-assessed QRIS level 1, 2 or 3 to be eligible to apply

QRIS level 4 programs are not eligible to apply for funding Programs that received funding in the last round of QRIS

Quality Improvement Grants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity

Programs must be in good fiscal standing with the state


QRIS Participation

Programs applying for grant funding are required to participate in the Massachusetts QRIS

Required to submit a printed copy of their Program Improvement Plan and copy of the Summary Page from the online QRIS showing self-assessed level, QRIS number, and status as “Final-Submitted to EEC” with this grant application.

Programs that do not complete a self-assessment and assign a rating under the Revised QRIS Standards prior to March 21, 2011 will not be eligible for grant funding under this RFP

QRIS ratings assessed under previous versions of the QRIS Standards, including ratings given as part of the 2010 QRIS Pilot, may not be utilized to create Program Improvement Plans for purposes of this RFP, because the standards have been updated


PQR Participation

Programs applying for grant funding are required to participate in the Massachusetts Professional Qualifications Registry (PQR) per EEC Licensing Regulations

All educators in the program will need to be listed on the registry

Access the PQR at https://www.eec.state.ma.us/PQRegistry


Required Training

Will offer insight and best practices for advancing a

program’s quality on the QRIS system Programs applying for grant funding are required to

participate in 16 hours of training over two days Provided in a series of two free trainings offered by

the Community Advocates for Young Learners (CAYL) Institute

Programs that do not participate in these trainings prior to April 1, 2011 will not be eligible for grant funding under this RFP


Training Content

Day One – overview of the QRIS Grant Process – vision and goals and their connection to program quality– a review of QRIS Standards– planning and implementing a program self-assessment

process leading to a program improvement plan Day Two

– required measurement and observation tools– choosing developmentally appropriate equipment and

materials– planning and choosing comprehensive professional

development opportunities for staff Anticipated Outcome

– Work completed over two days of training will result in long and short-term goals for QRIS advancement


Funding

$2,820,000 of Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) quality funds received by the Commonwealth, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Fund use for this initiative must be aligned directly with the purchase resources that will allow an educator/program to advance on the QRIS system

All funds from this grant must be expended, and products/services received by grantees, by July 31, 2011


Funding Allocation

Geographic diversity (EEC Regions) Program/educator type representation (Family Child

Care, After School and Out-of-School Time, and Center/School Based)

Prioritizing programs where 50% or more of the children are receiving EEC financial assistance

Grants will be site specific (not classroom specific) Scored based on identified criteria (RFP pg.8-9)


T4Q Field Coaching Opportunity

Programs that apply for and receive grant funding will be eligible to participate in a T4Q Field Coach Program that has been developed by Wheelock College

Programs that are selected will receive four months of high quality coaching to help advance a level on the QRIS at no cost to the program

Interested programs will be asked to provide additional information as part of the online grant application process

Selection of sites to receive coaching will be part of the grant proposal review process

A limited number of programs, approximately 130, will be selected for participation

Additional information about this coaching opportunity is available at: www.wheelock.edu/t4q


Online Grant Application

The online grant application will open on February 25, 2011

Programs will be asked to:

1. Provide program and financial information

2. Identify program needs linked to QRIS self assessment and standards

3. Propose purchases or expenditures

4. Identify plan for implementation

5. Request funds for purchases or expenditures


Timeline

February 17, 2011 First Q&A document posted

February 25, 2011 Online Grant Application Opens

March 15, 2011 Questions submitted in writing by this date will be answered in the final Q&A document

March 21, 2011 QRIS Online Self Assessment Completion Deadline for Grant Applicants

March 28, 2011 Final Q&A document posted (Estimated)

April 1, 2011 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant Proposal Deadline

April 1-21, 2011 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant Applications Reviewed

April 22, 2011Grantees Selected and Notified (estimated)

July 31, 2011 All goods and services purchased by grantees with grant funds must be received and accepted on or before July 31, 2011

July 31, 2011 Final Financial & Outcomes and Measures Form completed online


Submission Instructions

April 1, 2011 at 4:00 pm is the deadline for submission of documents and completion of online grant application

Grant application must be completed online Submit signed copies of required documents

as directed in the online application Applicants who do not complete the online

grant application will not be considered for funding


Required Forms

QRIS Program Improvement Plan & Summary Page Professional Qualifications Registry Summary Page A signed Commonwealth Terms & Conditions Form W-9 with DUNS # Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Executive Order 504 Certification


Contact Information

RFP - questions may be directed to [email protected] for Q&A

Online Grant Application – technical questions may be directed to [email protected]

Required Training – technical questions on registration may be directed to [email protected]

EEC QRIS Program Manager - technical questions about the on-line QRIS application and self-assessment may be directed to [email protected]


Reminders

RFP and related documents posted at: www.wheelock.edu/t4q

Final Q&A document posted on or around March 28, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. on www.wheelock.edu/t4q

Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated


Questions?

Thank you for participating

in the Bidder’s Conference