Participation Requirements

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Participating sites in all Step Levels, QI, QI-S, QRIS will:

• Develop an Enhancement Plan in collaboration with their EQM Peer Mentor, as well as participate in recommended quality improvement activities to accomplish improvement goals within the 1-year program term.
  • This may include site staff meeting with the EQM Mentor on a regular basis for a minimum of 2 hours per meeting. Frequency will be determined based on individual needs and may range from monthly to every three months.

• Begin to develop an EQM Portfolio by mid-year check-in to contain the following:

  • Enhancement Plan

  • ASQ/ASQ SE

  • Health Screening tool used at entry/Physicians Report

  • Hearing and vision screening

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• Participate in EQM activities to continuously increase program-level quality  

• Agree that information may be collected on the educational level of staff

• Report to the EQM Coordinator or the Child Care Coordinating Council, within 10 calendar days any Community Care Licensing Division citations and actions

• Inform the EQM Coordinator within 10 calendar days any substantive change in program operation, including change in leadership, location, licensing category. 

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In addition, sites in Step 3, QRIS Track will:

• Engage in Annual Professional Growth Activities    Site’s teaching staff have the option to work with Mentors and/or EQM Coach to create an individual Professional Growth Plan and complete PD goals. Professional Development Stipends are available for this work.

• Use the QRIS Self-Assessment   The quality standards that participants are assessed against are determined by the California Quality Continuum Framework that includes standards in three core areas:

  • CORE I: Child Development and School Readiness

  • CORE II: Teachers and Teaching

  • CORE III: Program and Environment

• Documentation Submit supporting documentation to your EQM Mentor, and allow the EQM Mentor/Coach to make a site visit to validate information or documents needed for Tier Ratings.

• Assessments Receive formal Tier Rating Assessment (required for Quality Award Stipend) with a certified CLASS/ERS Assessor (every two years, or as requested).

• Designate an EQM Lead Designate a lead for their site to be the point of contact for EQM staff and Quality Counts California. EQM Site Leads have the following responsibilities:

  • Attend meetings set by EQM staff/mentor to support coordination and dissemination of ongoing professional development activities for their site

    • Meeting 1: EQM Initiation

    • Meeting 2: Mid-Phase Check-In

    • Meeting 3: Final-Phase Check-In

  • Ensure their site staff are aware of EQM requirements

  • Complete a Self-Assessment for their program and all participating classrooms

  • Develop an Enhancement Plan based on the Self-Assessment

  • Provide mentorship to teachers in their program and/or another participating EQM program to promote self-reflection and refinement of current practices as guided by their Enhancement Plan

  • Begin to develop an EQM Portfolio by mid-year check-in to contain the following:

    •  Program Self-Assessment

    •  Enhancement Plan

    • ASQ/ASQ SE

    • Health Screening tool used at entry/Physicians Report

    • Hearing and vision screening

    • Maintenance of accurate documentation of stipend spending (if applicable)

    • Copy of parent/teacher DRDP conferencing verification

    • Copy of class roster/ratios

    • Access to sample student DRDP portfolios/files

    • Lesson Plans