Strengthening Strengthening Quality Quality
Improvement Improvement SystemsSystems
The North Carolina The North Carolina ApproachApproach
AgendaAgenda
HistoryHistory
Early Childhood Systems in NCEarly Childhood Systems in NC
Standards & Strategy Standards & Strategy IntegrationIntegration
Outputs and OutcomesOutputs and Outcomes
DataData
Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
Snapshot: 1990Snapshot: 1990
Lowest standards in the nationLowest standards in the nation
Poorly educated, underpaid, high turnover Poorly educated, underpaid, high turnover workforceworkforce
Low income children in worse qualityLow income children in worse quality
No real investment of state fundsNo real investment of state funds
Fledgling QRIS, with two-tiered licensing and Fledgling QRIS, with two-tiered licensing and reimbursement systemreimbursement system
Disparate governmental bodies managing Disparate governmental bodies managing child care regulation and child care subsidychild care regulation and child care subsidy
HistoryHistory
19861986 A and AA license created with higher ratesA and AA license created with higher rates
19901990 T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® pilotedT.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® piloted
19931993 Early childhood administration consolidated Early childhood administration consolidated (DCD)(DCD)
19941994 First Smart Start Partnerships fundedFirst Smart Start Partnerships funded
19971997 Five-star license createdFive-star license created
20022002 More at Four implementedMore at Four implemented
20032003 CCR&R system regionalizedCCR&R system regionalized
20072007 Five-star license revised and upgradedFive-star license revised and upgraded
20102010 Early Educator Certification requiredEarly Educator Certification required
NC Early Care NC Early Care and Education and Education
SystemSystem
Major ComponentsMajor Components
Division of Child Division of Child DevelopmentDevelopment
Vision: Quality for Children, Success for Life!Vision: Quality for Children, Success for Life!
Mission: The social and economic future of Mission: The social and economic future of NC depends upon the success of our NC depends upon the success of our children. To that end, we implement quality children. To that end, we implement quality standards, increase access for families, and standards, increase access for families, and collaborate to promote enhanced service collaborate to promote enhanced service delivery of care and education across the delivery of care and education across the state.state.
Budget: $590 million that includes 61% Budget: $590 million that includes 61% federal dollars. Thirty-two percent of the federal dollars. Thirty-two percent of the Division’s budget Division’s budget funds Smart Start activities.funds Smart Start activities.
Division of Child Division of Child DevelopmentDevelopment
Location within Department of Location within Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth and Human Services
Major responsibilitiesMajor responsibilities Regulation of child care facilitiesRegulation of child care facilities Oversight of subsidized child care Oversight of subsidized child care
programprogram State administrator for CCDF and quality State administrator for CCDF and quality
initiativesinitiatives
Division of Child Division of Child DevelopmentDevelopment
Areas of FocusAreas of Focus Ensure basic health and safety of all Ensure basic health and safety of all
children in child carechildren in child care Increase access to affordable high quality Increase access to affordable high quality
carecare Increase the availability of high quality careIncrease the availability of high quality care Strengthen professional developmentStrengthen professional development Support needs of special populations for Support needs of special populations for
high quality child carehigh quality child care
www.ncchildcare.net
Smart StartSmart Start
Mission:Mission:Advance a high quality, comprehensive, Advance a high quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and education accountable system of care and education for every child beginning with a healthy for every child beginning with a healthy birth. birth.
Vision:Vision:Every child reaches his or her potential and Every child reaches his or her potential and is prepared for success in a global is prepared for success in a global community.community.
Budget: $188.1 million (all state dollars)Budget: $188.1 million (all state dollars)
Smart StartSmart Start
Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure State Level/Not-for Profit -- NC Partnership State Level/Not-for Profit -- NC Partnership
for Childrenfor Children
Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors
PresidentPresident
Local Level -- 78 Separate 501(c) non-Local Level -- 78 Separate 501(c) non-
profitsprofits
Boards of DirectorsBoards of Directors
Executive DirectorsExecutive Directors
Smart StartSmart Start
Areas of FocusAreas of Focus
ECE Program QualityECE Program Quality
Education of Teachers/AdministratorsEducation of Teachers/Administrators
Teacher Compensation and StabilityTeacher Compensation and Stability
ECE Program AvailabilityECE Program Availability
ECE Program AffordabilityECE Program Affordability
www.smartstart-nc.org/
More at FourMore at Four
Mission: To provide high-quality academic Mission: To provide high-quality academic pre-kindergarten experience for at-risk four-pre-kindergarten experience for at-risk four-year-olds.year-olds.
Define and promote standards for pre-Define and promote standards for pre-kindergarten that align with and support K-12 kindergarten that align with and support K-12 standardsstandards
Coordinate and leverage state and federal Coordinate and leverage state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten services (More at funding for pre-kindergarten services (More at Four, Head Start, Title I, Exceptional Children Four, Head Start, Title I, Exceptional Children Preschool, Even Start)Preschool, Even Start)
Budget: $162.4 million ($30.56 million Budget: $162.4 million ($30.56 million TANF; balance lottery and state funds)TANF; balance lottery and state funds)
More at FourMore at Four
Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure State Level – OEL/Department of Public State Level – OEL/Department of Public
InstructionInstruction State Board of EducationState Board of Education Office of Deputy SuperintendentOffice of Deputy Superintendent
Local Level Local Level Local MAF CommitteesLocal MAF Committees Local ContractorsLocal Contractors
Local Education AgencyLocal Education Agency Local Partnership for ChildrenLocal Partnership for Children
More at FourMore at Four
Areas of FocusAreas of Focus Set eligibility standards for children at risk for Set eligibility standards for children at risk for
poor school outcomespoor school outcomes Ensure use of a curriculum that supports Early Ensure use of a curriculum that supports Early
Learning Standards that are aligned with K-12 Learning Standards that are aligned with K-12 standardsstandards
Require and facilitate the development and Require and facilitate the development and support of teachers with Birth-Kindergarten support of teachers with Birth-Kindergarten licenseslicenses
www.ncprek.nc.gov/MoreFour/index.asp
Key Collateral Key Collateral NonprofitsNonprofits
NC Institute for Child Development Professionals NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (www.ncicdp.org)(www.ncicdp.org) Created in 1992; incorporated as non-profit 2008Created in 1992; incorporated as non-profit 2008 Works on building effective professional development Works on building effective professional development
systemsystem
Child Care Resource & Referral SystemChild Care Resource & Referral System Reorganized in 2004 with Regional Lead AgenciesReorganized in 2004 with Regional Lead Agencies Managed by CCR&R CouncilManaged by CCR&R Council
Child Care Services Association Child Care Services Association (www.childcareservices.org)(www.childcareservices.org) Created in 1974; operates locally, statewide and Created in 1974; operates locally, statewide and
nationallynationally Focuses on workforce issues including workforce studies, Focuses on workforce issues including workforce studies,
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® & Child Care WAGE$T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® & Child Care WAGE$
Building Building QualityQuality
The Heart of the The Heart of the SystemSystem
Driving QualityDriving Quality
System Population Standards Target for Improvements
More at Four At-Risk 4 yr. olds
Teacher/Classroom
Teacher, Classroom
Smart Start Birth to Five Community Workforce, Classroom, ECE Programs, Systems
Division of Child Development
Birth to Twelve
ECE Program Workforce, Classroom, ECE Programs, Systems
Smart Start ECE Smart Start ECE Community Community
AccountabilityAccountabilityECE Program QualityECE Program Quality
Education of Education of Teachers/AdministratorsTeachers/Administrators
Teacher Compensation and StabilityTeacher Compensation and Stability
ECE Program AvailabilityECE Program Availability
ECE Program AffordabilityECE Program Affordability
Commonly Used Commonly Used Supply-side StrategiesSupply-side Strategies
Workforce DevelopmentWorkforce Development T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarships and T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarships and
health insurancehealth insurance Child Care WAGE$® salary supplementsChild Care WAGE$® salary supplements Early Learning GuidelinesEarly Learning Guidelines Strengthened higher education systemStrengthened higher education system Early Educator CertificationEarly Educator Certification
ECE EnvironmentsECE Environments Technical assistance and trainingTechnical assistance and training Grants for classrooms/programsGrants for classrooms/programs Specialized training/support for outdoor learningSpecialized training/support for outdoor learning
Uniquely Used Uniquely Used Supply-side StrategiesSupply-side Strategies
Division of Child DevelopmentDivision of Child Development Highly trained Infant-Toddler (25), Behavior Highly trained Infant-Toddler (25), Behavior
(25) and School-age (18) specialists(25) and School-age (18) specialists Output/outcome driven regional CCR&R systemOutput/outcome driven regional CCR&R system
Smart StartSmart Start Professional development coaches/specialistsProfessional development coaches/specialists Substitutes/AmeriCorpsSubstitutes/AmeriCorps
More at FourMore at Four Mentor teachersMentor teachers Preschool Demonstration SitesPreschool Demonstration Sites Teacher Licensure UnitTeacher Licensure Unit
Demand-side Demand-side StrategiesStrategies
InformationInformation Basic and enhanced consumer education and Basic and enhanced consumer education and
referralreferral Focus on quality and regulated care Focus on quality and regulated care
AffordabilityAffordability Higher rates for better qualityHigher rates for better quality Limited access to lower quality Limited access to lower quality Increased access for special populationsIncreased access for special populations
AvailabilityAvailability Sanctions for low-performing programsSanctions for low-performing programs Low interest loansLow interest loans TA and training for start-upsTA and training for start-ups
Integrated SystemIntegrated System
Shared vision for young children Shared vision for young children
Larger engagement across systems Larger engagement across systems at local, regional and state levelsat local, regional and state levels
Public-private synergy Public-private synergy
Local and state leadershipLocal and state leadership
More children, families, programs and teachers are served better
NC ECE NC ECE Outputs and Outputs and
OutcomesOutcomes
Children from Birth to 12 in 4 or 5 Star Programs
Average Star Rating
Workforce EducationWorkforce Education
MAF Adjusted Group MAF Adjusted Group MeansMeans
Significance levels: *p<.5, ***p<.001, All measures use standard scores (mean=100, SD=15) except Counting (range=0-40) © 2011 by Ellen Peisner-Feinberg, FPG Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~mafeval/pdfs/year_9_key_findings.pdf
DataData
Types of Data Types of Data CollectedCollected
Community, educator and program Needs AssessmentsCommunity, educator and program Needs Assessments
Child AssessmentsChild Assessments
Data on users/usage of servicesData on users/usage of services
Classroom and/or Program Assessments (ERS)Classroom and/or Program Assessments (ERS)
Evaluation data on child, teacher and/or program Evaluation data on child, teacher and/or program improvementimprovement
Effectiveness evaluations on intervention strategiesEffectiveness evaluations on intervention strategies
Satisfaction data on consumers of services Satisfaction data on consumers of services
Key Child/Family Data Key Child/Family Data SystemsSystems
SystemsSystems More at FourMore at Four DCD SubsidyDCD Subsidy CCR&RCCR&R
Not IntegratedNot Integrated
Key Workforce Data Key Workforce Data SystemsSystems
SystemsSystems DCD RegulatoryDCD Regulatory Early Educator CertificationEarly Educator Certification Teacher LicensureTeacher Licensure
Partially IntegratedPartially Integrated DCD and Certification electronically share DCD and Certification electronically share
data on workforcedata on workforce
Key Program Data Key Program Data SystemsSystems
SystemsSystems DCD RegulatoryDCD Regulatory CCR&RCCR&R Local Smart Start agenciesLocal Smart Start agencies
Not integratedNot integrated
Lessons Lessons LearnedLearned
Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles
Leadership mattersLeadership matters
Local control is a blessingLocal control is a blessing
Community data helps drive changeCommunity data helps drive change
Community engagement is criticalCommunity engagement is critical
Quality can be leveragedQuality can be leveraged
Flexibility is necessaryFlexibility is necessary
Systemic linkages are mandatorySystemic linkages are mandatory
Change begins with the workforceChange begins with the workforce
ChallengesChallenges
Local control is a curseLocal control is a curse
Data on child outcomes should be collectedData on child outcomes should be collected
Innovation has to lead to state-widenessInnovation has to lead to state-wideness
Data can be deceivingData can be deceiving
Workforce supports are expensiveWorkforce supports are expensive
The quality of technical assistance can be The quality of technical assistance can be measuredmeasured
QuestionsQuestions
Contact: Sue Russell, Child Care Contact: Sue Russell, Child Care Services Association, PO Box Services Association, PO Box 901, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919-901, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919-967-3272, [email protected], [email protected]