WE PARTICIPATE IN QUALITY RATED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE PARENTS AND FAMILIES SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THE PROGRAM THEY CHOOSE FOR THEIR CHILD.
We understand that families want to make the best choices for their child’s growth and development so that they have a bright start in life. That is why we became Quality Rated. As a Quality Rated program, we have taken concrete steps to provide the children we serve with a nurturing educational environment to help them learn and develop their social skills so they have a strong foundation as they grow. We want our parents and families—both those we already serve and those who are searching for child care—to have peace of mind, through our Quality Rated status, so they know we have been identified and confirmed as a high-quality program.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR FAMILY
Quality Rated gives families greater confidence in their child care choice because they know that independent early education experts assess whether programs apply research-based best practices such as:
- Employing qualified and well-trained teachers
- Providing a safe, healthy, and caring environment
- Implementing individualized instruction
- Offering a curriculum that prepares kids for a successful future
- Including focuses on both active learning and social-emotional development
- Engaging families
- Providing a low teacher-student ratio
- Because we are Quality Rated, we have gone above and beyond state health and safety requirements to provide a high-quality experience to children.
QUALITY RATED Q&A
A quality child care, preschool or pre-K program provides children with a nurturing and educational environment to help them learn and develop their social skills so they have a strong foundation as they grow. Parents and families need an independent, trustworthy resource to help them find high-quality programs. Georgia's Quality Rated is a tool that helps families find child care programs in their area that have been evaluated by credentialed early childhood experts and identified as high-quality.
2. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRIGHT FROM THE START AND QUALITY RATED?
Since Quality Rated was launched in 2012, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has been the state agency responsible for administering this voluntary tiered quality rating and improvement system for the state's child care programs. More generally, Bright from the Start is also responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia Pre-K Program; licenses child care centers and home-based child care; administers the Child Care and Development Funds, which include the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program; administers federal nutrition programs; and manages voluntary quality enhancement programs. In addition, the department houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education. Georgia is among many states across the nation driving systemic improvement of early education programs for families in their respective states.
3. WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND THROUGH THE QUALITY RATED TOOL?
When searching for a program for their child, parents and families can explore the Quality Rated tool for different programs located in their area. Through the Quality Rated tool, they will have access to specific information on each program, such as safety reports, teacher-student ratios, transportation, and teacher credentials, among many other details. Quality Rated’s one, two, and three star ratings allow families to easily identify high quality child care and early education programs that are using research-based best practices to prepare children for kindergarten, as assessed by independent early education experts.
4. HOW DO THE STAR RATINGS WORK?
Through the Quality Rated tool, parents and families can find programs that child care experts have assessed and rated based on factors that contribute to the best environment and experience for children’s development. To understand the star rating system, consider the Olympics for a moment and how athletes and teams earn score and medals. For instance, in a gymnastics beam competition, all participating gymnasts work to perform similar skills and are given varied points for their execution, depending on the level of quality demonstrated. In the end, the medalists all have showcased high quality, but just at different degrees. That’s the frame of mind to have when thinking about Quality Rated. Child care programs that want to become Quality Rated have the opportunity to score up to 45 points and earn a star rating. Child care experts assess programs’ portfolio based on a core set of standards and also visit programs to observe the practices teachers demonstrate and how they interact with children. Programs accumulate points to earn a star rating.
5. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE RATING METHODOLOGY? HOW ARE THESE RATINGS DECIDED AND HOW OFTEN ARE THESE PROGRAMS EVALUATED?
Licensed early child care providers are encouraged to apply in order to demonstrate their commitment to continuously make quality improvements to their program. The ratings are based on a combined score of a child care program’s portfolio and an onsite evaluation by an independent early education expert. The portfolio demonstrates how the program supports quality. It includes their teachers’ credentials, approach to supporting family engagements, teacher to student ratio, teaching practices and curriculum, and promotion of child health and physical activity. Then, early education experts visit the programs to conduct an unannounced observation using a nationally recognized assessment tool based on best practices for young children. Early childhood education experts observe the child care program’s environment, as well as interactions between the teacher and children in the classroom.
6. WHY WOULD A CHILD CARE PROGRAM WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN QUALITY RATED?
Any child care program participating in Georgia’s Quality Rated has agreed to meet standards that exceed the state’s licensing requirements and is committed to improving the quality of care it provides to children. By participating in Georgia’s voluntary Quality Rated, early education and school‐age care programs embark on a path of continuous quality improvement. The Quality Rated tool specifically identifies high-quality programs throughout the state of Georgia, helping Georgia families find the child care that best addresses their child’s specific needs.
7. WHAT, IF ANY, PUSH BACK DO PROGRAMS HAVE TOWARD BECOMING QUALITY RATED?
“How well do I do my job” is a tough question for anyone to ask. Child care providers who have volunteered to participate in Quality Rated are willing to work very hard to go above and beyond what is required of them because they know that children will benefit from their best efforts.
8. WHY DOES THE STATE FEEL THE NEED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PARENTS’ DECISIONS FOR THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN?
Often, parents and families are unsure what to look for in their search for quality child care program. All parents want what’s best for their children, and the information provided through the Quality Rated tools helps parents and families make the most informed choice for their child and provide them a bright start to their future.
