What are some elements of quality in early learning and care settings?
- The program and staff involves families to enrich children’s learning experiences.
- Teachers have individual time with children.
- The program is licensed and in good standing.
- Teachers have professional development opportunities.
- Program evaluations are conducted for making data-driven decisions for ongoing improvement.
- Developmental monitoring/screenings are conducted inclusive of families and includes follow-up referrals.
- Activities are driven by children's needs and interests.
Participating in Quality Counts can help early learning and care settings in many ways, from demonstrating a commitment to quality and increasing positive child outcomes, to increasing enrollment, scholarships, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
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Quality Counts welcomes all!Quality Counts provides resources and support for early learning and care providers to connect program standards to positive child outcomes and promote their quality programs. Potential benefits include increased resources, such as grants, awards, and other financial supports, and priority in professional development and scholarship opportunities to support continued growth.
Quality Counts encourages non-participating programs to join, receive resources and support on the Quality Counts growth path, and get rated as you become ready. A rating for your program provides individualized feedback for potential areas of growth for your program. Ratings may also include incentives and recognition for the level of quality based on your program’s rating. Quality Counts offers professional development to help enhance your work with, and on behalf of, children and their families. These opportunities can help you continue to improve your skills and knowledge as an early learning and care professional. |
Resources on quality
California’s Early Learning Foundations, provided by the California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division, serves as a guide to various aspects of child development from birth thru age 5. The Foundations provide statewide frameworks on what quality is, what it looks like, and ways to enhance it.
The California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations provide a framework on how most infants and toddlers progress in the major domains of social-emotional, language, cognitive, and perceptual and motor development.
The California Preschool Learning Foundations provide an outline of key knowledge and skills that most preschool children can achieve in quality early learning and care programs. This resource clarifies the range of knowledge and skills that children can attain in these quality programs.
The Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework provides strategies, professional development, and tools for providers to strengthen engagement with parents, families, and communities.
Find out about the approach of the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s Strengthening Families in a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) to “increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce child abuse and neglect.”
Learn more about child care licensing, health and social services, financial assistance, and resources for children with special needs in California from Child Care Aware’s national website.
The California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations provide a framework on how most infants and toddlers progress in the major domains of social-emotional, language, cognitive, and perceptual and motor development.
The California Preschool Learning Foundations provide an outline of key knowledge and skills that most preschool children can achieve in quality early learning and care programs. This resource clarifies the range of knowledge and skills that children can attain in these quality programs.
The Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework provides strategies, professional development, and tools for providers to strengthen engagement with parents, families, and communities.
Find out about the approach of the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s Strengthening Families in a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) to “increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce child abuse and neglect.”
Learn more about child care licensing, health and social services, financial assistance, and resources for children with special needs in California from Child Care Aware’s national website.