Who Participates in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems?

Area of Science:

• Early Childhood Education Research
• Public Policy Analysis
• Social Equity Studies

Background:

• Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are expanding nationwide to assess and enhance early childhood education (ECE) quality.
• Participation in QRIS is voluntary, leading to a lack of data on which ECE providers engage with these systems.
• Understanding participation patterns is crucial for evaluating QRIS policy implementation and equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the characteristics of ECE centers and their communities that predict participation in QRIS.
• To assess the extent to which QRIS may promote equity in ECE.
• To provide population-level data on QRIS participation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a nationally representative survey of ECE centers.
• Employed selection models to analyze predictors of QRIS participation.
• Examined center-level factors (funding, accreditation) and community-level factors (poverty, race).

Main Results:

• Approximately 33% of ECE centers nationwide participated in QRIS in 2012.
• Centers blending multiple funding sources and those with NAEYC accreditation were more likely to participate.
• Participation was higher in high-poverty communities but lower in communities with a higher proportion of Black residents.

Conclusions:

• QRIS participation is influenced by a combination of center characteristics and community demographics.
• The findings raise concerns about the equitable engagement of all ECE programs within QRIS.
• Further research is needed to understand how QRIS can be more inclusive and equitable across diverse communities.