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Exploring the Relationship Between Quality Rating and Improvement System Supports and Global Quality in Family Child Care

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Abstract

Background

A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is one widespread method to provide a framework for quality improvement in early care and education. However, there is little research examining the relationship between QRIS supports and quality changes in family child care programs.

Objective

This study aims to examine the associations between supports offered through Delaware’s QRIS and global quality changes in family child care programs. Delaware’s QRIS supports included financial incentives and on-site technical assistance.

Method

Data were extracted from the administrative database on 139 family child care programs participating in the QRIS. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the effects of time and Delaware’s QRIS supports.

Results

Results showed significant relationships between QRIS supports and the improvement of global quality in family child care programs as measured by the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised. Specifically, the amount of on-site technical assistance was significantly associated with changes in the Interaction and Program Structure subscale scores. Additionally, grants received through the QRIS were significantly associated with quality improvements in the home environment.

Conclusion

Considering that the amount of technical assistance alone was effective in improving the global quality of family child care programs, professional development strategies that aim to articulate and enhance the technical assistance that is provided to programs would be useful. Further, various types of financial incentives are encouraged to assist family child care programs in improving the structural quality of their environments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, 111 Alison Hall West, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Jing Tang & Rena A. Hallam

  2. Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Jessica Francis & Kristy Sheffler

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  1. Jing Tang
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  2. Rena A. Hallam
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Correspondence to Jing Tang.

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Tang, J., Hallam, R.A., Francis, J. et al. Exploring the Relationship Between Quality Rating and Improvement System Supports and Global Quality in Family Child Care. Child Youth Care Forum 49, 893–914 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-020-09565-2

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