Child care quality rating and improvement systems are theoretically aligned with these policy goals:
SUMMARY
Child care quality rating and improvement systems are theoretically aligned with these policy goals:
Child care quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) need further study before conclusions can be made about their impact on outcomes during the prenatal-to-3 period. Limited causal evidence suggests that low QRIS ratings may decrease enrollment in lower-quality child care programs and lead to quality improvement among child care providers. QRIS are relatively new systems, and more research is needed to causally assess the impact of these systems on the prenatal-to-3 period and to provide policy guidance to states on QRIS. Future causal research should address the link between QRIS, quality levels, quality improvement, and how QRIS ratings affect family decision making around child care, which may subsequently impact child health and development.
State efforts to increase quality in early care and education (ECE) settings are often reflected in their quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), which are methods of systematically assessing and communicating the level of quality of care in ECE settings to a variety of audiences. States have the ability to design QRIS differently to meet the goals in their state, such as through which child care providers participate, how to define the components of child care quality included in QRIS ratings, how to score and rate providers, and what incentives for meeting higher level of quality standards to include. By providing a single, easy-to-understand quality rating for ECE providers, QRIS may provide valuable information to families seeking to enroll their children in higher-quality care. QRIS may also increase the supply of higher-quality ECE providers, by incentivizing providers to increase quality through the provision of information, technical assistance, and financial incentives. If the number of high-quality ECE providers grows over time and families move children into higher-quality care environments, this may lead to improved child health and developmental outcomes as more children are served in high-quality ECE settings.
Download the Complete Evidence Review
Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems Evidence Review (PDF)
Recommended Citation:
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. (2020). Prenatal-to-3 policy clearinghouse evidence review: Child care quality rating and improvement systems (ER 0920.016A). Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University. https://pn3policy.org/policy-clearinghouse/child-care-quality-rating-and-improvement-systems
Updated September 2020
