Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Coming Soon to a County Near You...
Minnesota Parent Aware... Have you seen this site yet? Currently a pilot program in just a few areas, this is the evolution of the QRS (Quality Rating System) that was initially proposed. I encourage you to take some time looking over the website and getting familiar with what is happening, even if you are not in one of the pilot areas. I believe it will soon be across the state.
What is Minnesota’s Parent Aware Rating Tool?
Designed by child care providers, early learning professionals and parents, Minnesota’s voluntary Parent Aware Rating Tool is intended to support our state’s children by creating a rating system which identifies, recognizes and celebrates quality in early education. The rating tool will recognize early educators for the quality of care they deliver and build on this quality by supporting their efforts at program improvements.
The Parent Aware Rating Tool is built upon the understanding that providing high-quality child care and early learning are not easy tasks and the pressures placed on our providers are many. The rating tool is designed to recognize early educators for the quality of care they deliver and build on this quality by supporting their efforts at program improvement.
Bringing together the latest research on children’s learning and the current needs of our community, the Parent Aware Rating Tool will build upon the good work completed by earlier quality rating system planning efforts.
Where will the pilot program take place?
The three-year pilot of the Parent Aware Rating Tool will include licensed child care providers/early educators in five locations: Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties, the City of St. Paul, neighborhoods of North Minneapolis and the Wayzata School District.
How will the pilot program work?
Programs will receive ratings using a point system. Program features in the following areas will be recognized:
Learning environment and curriculum
Adult/child interaction
Staff/provider education
Tracking child progress
Children’s health and safety
Family partnerships
For more information, download the Complete Quality Indicators for child care centers or for family child care documents. These documents outline the rating criteria for the Parent Aware Rating Tool.
Will there be a cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in the Parent Aware Rating Tool.
When will the pilot program begin?
Applications will be available in pilot areas beginning July of 2007. Be sure to visit the enrollment page to request an application or more information.
Why is a quality rating system needed?
A kindergarten readiness study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Education found that only 50 percent of Minnesota children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn. The good news is that mounting research demonstrates that quality child care can reverse this trend and offer our youngest citizens lifelong benefits. The Parent Aware Rating Tool is designed to raise the number of Minnesota children fully prepared for learning success by empowering child care providers/early educators.
I'm sure that there will be much more information and discussion about this as time goes on. I beleive that it is in your best interest as an early care professional in Minnesota to stay informed about this topic.
Minnesota Parent Aware... Have you seen this site yet? Currently a pilot program in just a few areas, this is the evolution of the QRS (Quality Rating System) that was initially proposed. I encourage you to take some time looking over the website and getting familiar with what is happening, even if you are not in one of the pilot areas. I believe it will soon be across the state.
What is Minnesota’s Parent Aware Rating Tool?
Designed by child care providers, early learning professionals and parents, Minnesota’s voluntary Parent Aware Rating Tool is intended to support our state’s children by creating a rating system which identifies, recognizes and celebrates quality in early education. The rating tool will recognize early educators for the quality of care they deliver and build on this quality by supporting their efforts at program improvements.
The Parent Aware Rating Tool is built upon the understanding that providing high-quality child care and early learning are not easy tasks and the pressures placed on our providers are many. The rating tool is designed to recognize early educators for the quality of care they deliver and build on this quality by supporting their efforts at program improvement.
Bringing together the latest research on children’s learning and the current needs of our community, the Parent Aware Rating Tool will build upon the good work completed by earlier quality rating system planning efforts.
Where will the pilot program take place?
The three-year pilot of the Parent Aware Rating Tool will include licensed child care providers/early educators in five locations: Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties, the City of St. Paul, neighborhoods of North Minneapolis and the Wayzata School District.
How will the pilot program work?
Programs will receive ratings using a point system. Program features in the following areas will be recognized:
Learning environment and curriculum
Adult/child interaction
Staff/provider education
Tracking child progress
Children’s health and safety
Family partnerships
For more information, download the Complete Quality Indicators for child care centers or for family child care documents. These documents outline the rating criteria for the Parent Aware Rating Tool.
Will there be a cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in the Parent Aware Rating Tool.
When will the pilot program begin?
Applications will be available in pilot areas beginning July of 2007. Be sure to visit the enrollment page to request an application or more information.
Why is a quality rating system needed?
A kindergarten readiness study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Education found that only 50 percent of Minnesota children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn. The good news is that mounting research demonstrates that quality child care can reverse this trend and offer our youngest citizens lifelong benefits. The Parent Aware Rating Tool is designed to raise the number of Minnesota children fully prepared for learning success by empowering child care providers/early educators.
I'm sure that there will be much more information and discussion about this as time goes on. I beleive that it is in your best interest as an early care professional in Minnesota to stay informed about this topic.
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 2:13 PM 
