What is a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)?

A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) serves as a structured framework to assess, improve, and communicate the quality of early childhood care and education programs. This system involves the establishment of standards that evaluate various dimensions of quality, such as staff qualifications, learning environments, family engagement, and health and safety practices. By focusing on these criteria, QRIS aims to enhance educational outcomes for children by providing benchmarks that programs strive to meet and exceed.

In addition to guiding the assessment process, QRIS often includes supports for professional development and improvement strategies, enabling programs to elevate their practices based on the evaluation results. This ultimately promotes higher standards within the field of early childhood education and ensures that children receive the best possible educational experiences.

Other options, such as teacher training, student performance evaluation, or funding mechanisms, do not encapsulate the essence of QRIS, which is centered specifically on assessing and improving the quality of early childhood education programs.