A QRIS is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. Similar to rating systems for restaurants and hotels, QRIS award quality ratings to early and school-age care and education programs that meet a set of defined program standards (Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care, n.d.).
Published in Chapter:
Gatekeepers to Education and Care: How Various Stakeholders Can Provide and Maintain Quality Experiences for Children and Families
Tiffany Ferrette (Independent Researcher, USA)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 15
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8649-5.ch003
Abstract
This chapter discusses the ecosystems that support children and families in early care and education, that lead to the transition into K-12 schools. Since America's inception, child rearing and development have been considerations for families, but as the nation industrialized and racially and socially integrated the need for public systems of care and education emerged. In recent times, state governments have established various accountability systems to create more “cohesive, equitable, and effective early childhood systems.” These systems gatekeep the conditions for early care and education. However, government is not the sole early childhood stakeholder. Parents, providers, teachers, community members, and researchers are all stakeholders in the research, policy, practice, and governance of early care and education. This chapter delves into the why behind policy and governance—who supports children's earliest years and what are the considerations to do so equitably and efficiently to provide a smooth transition to elementary education?