Current Early Care
and Education Initiatives
Periodically in this e-newsletter, we will provide updates on key early care and
education initiatives. Additional information and updates about the following
initiative are available on the INCCRRA website.
Illinois Quality Counts:
Quality Rating System (QRS)
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) began implementation of the new
Illinois Quality Counts: Quality Rating System (QRS) on July 1, 2007. The
overall goal of QRS is to assist child care providers with program quality
improvement. QRS is a voluntary system available to License-Exempt Family Child
Care Providers, Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care Providers, and Licensed
Centers. To participate in QRS, programs must serve a specific number or
percentage of children eligible for the
IDHS Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
To be eligible for QRS, a program must meet specific eligibility requirements
based on the type of care it offers. License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers
need to complete specific training requirements to become eligible for one of
three progressive QRS Training Tiers. Licensed Family/Group Home Child Care
Providers and Licensed Child Care Centers need to meet specific indicators of
quality related to the following areas: learning environment, program
administration, and provider qualifications and training. Eligible licensed
programs are awarded with a Star rating at one of four progressive levels.
Providers eligible for QRS will be awarded a Training Tier or Star Level
certificate. These programs will also receive a quality add-on rate to the
current standard daily rate for CCAP children in care. For License-Exempt
Family Child Care Providers, the quality add-on rate will be 10%, 15% or 20%
depending on the Training Tier achieved. For Licensed programs, it will be 5%,
10%, 15%, or 20% depending on the Star Level awarded.
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies are offering free, 2-hour
QRS Orientation sessions to help providers understand QRS eligibility
requirements, the application process, and the supports available to those
interested in applying for QRS. Attendance at a QRS orientation is required for
any program that plans to submit an application to QRS. To find a local
CCR&R or for more information on QRS Orientations, visit the INCCRRA
website at www.inccrra.org
More than 30 states have some type of quality rating or tiered reimbursement
system in place. Illinois’s own Quality Rating System is, however, more
inclusive and comprehensive than most. No other state, for example, includes
license-exempt family child care providers in their QRS process. IDHS and its
partners look forward to assisting providers on improving the quality of child
care in Illinois through the new QRS and tiered reimbursement structure.
For more information about QRS, contact:
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
qrsinfo@inccrra.org
www.inccrra.org
Core Credential and Infant Toddler Credential
A key component to any professional development network is the identification of
what professionals should know and be able to do at various levels of
education, training, and role responsibilities—the core body of knowledge in
the discipline. Within the Illinois early care and education field, the focus
for professional growth and development centers around Core Content areas.
These Core Content areas identify
knowledge, skills, and dispositions that provide the foundation for ensuring
that all children have access to programs staffed by highly qualified
professionals in Illinois.
Credential awards are based on achievement of skills, experience, and knowledge
in early care and education. The Core Credential aligns with the Gateways to
Opportunity Career Lattice and will be
available at six levels when completed.
Level 1 is currently available as a 45-hour training module taught
through the Illinois Trainers Network (ITN). Levels 2-5 will be available in
early 2008. Level 6 will be available at a later date.
Specialized credentials build on, and go beyond, the Core Credential to ensure
knowledge, skills, and experience in a specialization area. The
Illinois Director Credential (IDC) has been available since 2001, and
the Infant Toddler Credential (ITC) is
expected to be available by early 2008. Both of these credentials are earned
through validation of accomplishments in six required categories. The IDC and
ITC have the same requirements for four of the six categories: (1) General
Education, (2) Education and Training in Early Care and Education, (3) Work
Experience in Early Care and Education, and (4) Professional Contributions. The
remaining two categories have requirements specific to each credential. For the
IDC, they are (1) Education in Management and (2) Experience in Management. For
the ITC, they are (1) Formal Education Working with Infants, Toddlers, and
Their Families, and (2) Experience with Infants and Toddlers.
In 2007, 14 institutions of higher education around Illinois were awarded
mini-grants to begin piloting the
entitled route process for the Core and the Infant Toddler Credentials.
Program requirements are being aligned with the requirements for the
credentials through the Career Lattice of Gateways to Opportunities.
In addition to institutions piloting the entitled route process, 50 individuals
statewide and 20 individuals from Chicago Public Schools are currently piloting
the direct route process for
the Core and the Infant Toddler Credentials. Once the pilot is completed in
spring 2008, the Core and the Infant Toddler Credentials will be available
statewide. Stay tuned for more information about the availability of these
credentials through Gateways to Opportunity!
For more information about the Core Credential and Infant Toddler Credential,
contact:
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
888-548-8080
http://www.ilgateways.com/about/contact.aspx
New Gateways Resources
The following resources and resource links have been added to the Web site since
the last issue of Inside Gateways.
New Frequently Asked Questions about Professional
Development
Research Reports
Research Centers
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