Program quality measures the degree of program excellence. It considers key factors that support the healthy development of young children and a supportive program culture.
The Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a state-funded system that defines quality in early childhood settings and supports early child care providers who opt in through training, mentorship, and technical assistance. The State system is implemented by regional QRIS programs; Quality Start Los Angeles (QSLA) is Los Angeles County’s QRIS. Child care providers can learn more and apply to enroll in QSLA’s quality improvement model by visiting Quality Start Los Angeles website.
Read on to learn more about key program quality factors including interpersonal interactions, the physical environment, family engagement, program leadership and design.
Interpersonal Interactions
Interpersonal interactions are how adults and children interact in the early learning environment. These interactions are considered high quality when the adult is responsive and sensitive to the child’s needs and interests. High-quality educators are consistently supporting a child’s development by building language and skills.
Click below to learn about 4 common types of interpersonal interactions↓
- Open-ended questions and extension
Explore this Open-Ended Conversational Prompts resource for examples.
- Acknowledging, labeling, and accepting children’s emotions
An example of this interaction is to say, “I understand that you feel sad because you tripped and fell.” Take a look at this Fostering Healthy Social & Emotional Development in Young Children resource to learn more about how to implement this practice.
- Communicating clear expectations, paying attention to the positive, and being specific with guidance
Communicating clear expectations will help you guide children’s behavior during interactions. Look into this Stating Behavioral Expectations resource for guidance on how to implement this practice.
- Positive Behavior Support
The Head Start Early Learning & Knowledge Center has developed videos to help providers better understand and implement Positive Behavior Support for young children. Visit their website to explore Positive Behavior Support for infants/toddlers and Positive Behavior Support for preschool children.
For more resources on interpersonal interactions, explore the Quality Teaching Webinar and other materials from Teachstone.
Need support? Join one of the Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network (IECMHC) monthly Virtual Open-Door Sessions facilitated by an experienced mental health consultant. This free and confidential space offers caregivers an opportunity to reflect, seek supportive input, and share ideas and resources.
Physical Environment
A high-quality physical learning environment is inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and incorporates engaging materials that promote exploration and independence.
To ensure a high-quality physical environment, providers should check that they are in alignment with California’s Title 22 Regulations, Article 7. Additionally, educators can get support creating learning environments that are inclusive and age-appropriate by exploring inclusion and belonging resources for infants and toddlers and preschoolers from the Learning Environments section of HeadStart.gov.
Reach out to your local Resource and Referral (R&R) Agency to identify funding opportunities to help you develop a high-quality physical environment in your program.
Program Leadership and Design
Quality child care programs have effective leaders, stable and sufficient funding streams, and a program design that encourages ongoing educator learning and safe child development.
Click below to learn more about each of these program leadership and design elements that help make a high-quality program.
Family Engagement
Meaningful family engagement practices are efforts to build true collaboration between families and a child’s caregiver. Examples of family engagement include regular communication, inviting ideas from parents, and sharing resources with families that meet their interests and needs. Research shows that strong parent-provider relationships support the healthy development and school readiness of children.
To better understand and implement effective family engagement practices, providers can explore the following resources:
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) developed six Principles of Effective Family Engagement for how providers can effectively engage families in their child’s early learning and development.
Quality Counts California developed a Family Engagement Toolkit, available in English and Spanish, that includes 5 modules on effective family engagement strategies. Providers can access the modules on their website or through the California ECE Workforce Registry and earn professional development clock hours.
The U.S. Office of Early Childhood Development includes a list of resources with evidence-informed approaches to family engagement.
Do You Care for Children in Your Home?
Check out the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles (CCALA) Home-Based Child Care Resource Portal for information on child development, creating inclusive environments, keeping children healthy and safe, and strategies for managing challenging behaviors - all important aspects of high-quality learning environments.
How is Program Quality Measured?
Program quality is important for children, families, and program staff. High-quality programs support the healthy brain development of children and increase school readiness. Moreover, because of the high standard of staff, family engagement, and curriculum in high-quality programs, these programs are often more attractive to families and help child care providers maintain good enrollment.
To ensure child care programs are meeting a high standard of care, providers can regularly measure quality using the tools below. While there are many tools used to measure program quality across the United States, we have highlighted three of the most common tools here along with related trainings and resources.
Environment Rating Scales (ERS) | The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) | National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assesses for 
| The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are an observational assessment that looks at what children are experiencing in their program and how it affects their development. The ERS assessment has different scales for different settings and ages. ERS are conducted by assessors who have been trained and certified by the Environment Rating Scales Institute (ERSI). | The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observation tool that assesses the quality of interactions between educators and children. CLASS is conducted by trained and certified CLASS observers. | The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation is a voluntary process for child care programs, which assesses for research-based indicators of program quality such as safety, professional growth opportunities, and child development activities. As part of the accreditation process, trained NAEYC assessors conduct site visits to assess programs for key quality indicators. |
Trainings / Process 
| The ESRI offers an online introductory webinar that explores how the ERS tools measure quality and how scores relate to child outcomes. ESRI also offers in-person and virtual trainings to become a certified assessor. Visit ESRI’s website to learn more about their trainings. | CLASS trainings are provided by Teachstone, offering trainings for teachers, administrators, and coaches as well as for those interested in being certified as an observer. Trainings are offered virtually and in person. Teachstone also offers online courses for educators who want to learn on their own time. To learn about all of their training opportunities, visit Teachstone's website. | Programs may choose to apply for accreditation to improve their quality and demonstrate to families their commitment to high-quality learning experiences. Learn more about NAEYC's redesigned accreditation system and its benefits by visiting NAEYC’s Accreditation website. Their website includes helpful resources to walk you through the new tiered system, timeline, and fees. |
Additional Resources 
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