Quality Counts 2.0 is Miami-Dade County's updated Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) which measures and improves the quality of early childhood education programs using revised standards for staff qualifications, learning environments, curriculum, and more. Programs are rated on a 5-star scale and can improve their rating by meeting higher standards across areas like staff training and classroom environments. The document outlines the changes and timeline for transitioning to the Quality Counts 2.0 system.

1. Introduction to
Quality Counts 2.0
Miami-Dade County’s
Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS)
March 2013

2. What is a QRIS?
• QRIS is a way to measure, identify, and improve
the quality in early care and education settings
• QRIS is a nationwide movement to look at and
improve quality care for young children

3. Why do we need QRIS?
• QRIS has expanded dramatically across the
U.S. in the past decade because:
• research has found a link between
high-quality early experiences and
positive outcomes for children
• few early care and education programs
in the U.S. are high quality

4. Quality Counts is Miami-Dade’s QRIS
• measures the quality of early care and education
(ECE) programs using several evidence-based
standards of quality
• identifies a program’s current level of quality
• provides supports to programs to improve quality
• gives families an easy way of understanding quality
by using a Star rating system

5. Quality Counts programs have
improved quality!
Star 0, 2
Star 1, 79
Star 2, 167
Star 3, 151
Star 4, 47
Star 5, 12
Star 0
Star 1
Star 2
Star 3
Star 4
Star 5
Star 1, 6
Star 2, 38
Star 3, 101
Star 4, 131
Star 5, 47
Baseline Ratings Star Ratings

6. Quality Counts 2.0
• Level funding for Quality Counts
• Automated online system
– more efficient & convenient, less paper
• Driven by providers
– will be open to all interested programs who are eligible
• Focusing on children living in poverty

7. Transition to Quality Counts 2.0:
Implementation Plan

8. Revised QC 2.0 Process
Quality Counts Overview
•online in Portal Eligibility check
(automated monitoring of
licensing status)
Quality Counts
Application
•online in Portal
Staff Qualifications
•Provider submits supporting
documentation for staff
qualifications
•Registry verifies data
Self-Study in Portal
•Provider uploads supporting
documentation for all other
standards
•Navigator verifies data
Assessment
•Devereux completes
Rating
•Navigator rates based on:
•verified Staff Qualifications
•verified Self-Study
•Assessment scores
Quality Improvement Renewal

9. QC 2.0 Eligibility Criteria
1. Program must have been in operation for at
least 1 year (licensed for over 1 year).
2. Program must meet the ELC Child Safety
Licensing Policy
– May not have one (1) Class I licensing violation or
more than three (3) Class II licensing violations of
the same substandard in the past 12 months.
3. Program cannot have a probationary license.

10. Transition to Quality Counts 2.0:
Center Standards & Rating

11. Old Standards vs. New Standards
1. Staff Qualifications
2. Learning Environment
3. Ratios & Group Sizes
4. Program Administration
5. Family Engagement
6. (Curriculum)
1. Staff Qualifications
2. Learning Environment
3. Curriculum
4. Health & Safety
5. Ratio & Group Size
6. Program Administration
7. Cultural Competence &
Inclusion

12. QC 2.0 Staff Qualifications
• Education
– Quality Counts Career Pathway
• formal, informal, or hybrid path
• Training
– Credentials (Director, Staff)
– Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
• Training must be at least .4 CEUs (4 hours)
• Criteria for all levels of staff

13. QC 2.0 Learning Environment
Preschool classes:
• CLASS Pre-K
• ECERS-R Provisions for Learning
Infant & Toddler classes:
• ITERS-R
• 1/3 of classrooms
• 20% preschool classes will have a full ECERS-R
conducted

14. QC 2.0 Curriculum
• Developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Lesson planning
• Curriculum-based observation & assessment
• Use of child observation & assessment to
guide planning
• Training on curriculum, content instruction
using curriculum, and Florida Early Learning &
Developmental Standards for 4 Year Olds

15. QC 2.0 Health & Safety
Licensing:
• maximum number of licensing violations
(Class II or III) in past 12 months
Health Promotion:
• Survey of physical activity
• Survey of food served
• Incorporation of nutrition, physical
activity, and decreased screen time in the

16. QC 2.0 Ratio & Group Size
Ratio & Group Size
• Criteria align closely with 1.0 standards
• Considered NAEYC and VPK standards

17. QC 2.0 Program Administration
• Administration practices open communication
with staff
• Uses a variety of marketing strategies
• Engages in financial planning & forecasting
• Has a appropriate program structure

18. QC 2.0 Cultural Competence & Inclusion
Cultural Competence:
• Knowing, understanding, respecting the
children and their families
• Incorporating children’s backgrounds &
families in the classroom
Inclusion:
• Developmental screening & follow up
• Inclusive policies
• Training for directors and teachers

19. QC 2.0 Rating System
• Hybrid rating system
– Staff Qualifications = BLOCK
– Learning Environment = BLOCK
– all other standards = POINTS
Staff Qualifications Learning Environment All Other Standards
Star 1 all Star 1 met all Star 1 met 1+ point
Star 2 all Star 2 met all Star 2 met 6+ points
Star 3 all Star 3 met all Star 3 met 11+ points
Star 4 all Star 4 met all Star 4 met 16+ points
Star 5 all Star 5 met all Star 5 met 21+ points

20. QC 2.0 Timeline
July – August 2013
Last group of renewals using original
system will be rated
Renewals using QC 2.0 begin
May – June 2013
Welcome new providers into QC 2.0
Introduction to QC 2.0 and CLASS
training continues
March – April 2013
Introduction to QC 2.0
Information Sessions
CLASS training by United Way

21. Next Steps for QC Participants
• Follow your typical 18-month renewal timeline.
– If you renew now through July, you will be the last
providers to renew under the original system
– If you renewed recently, your next renewal will be
using the QC 2.0 process, standards and rating.
• Become familiar with the QC 2.0 standards and
rating process.
• FYI: Your first QC 2.0 Star Rating will not be
publicized (just like a baseline rating).

22. Next Steps for Those Interested in QC
• For more information, visit our Quality Counts
website www.elcmdm.org/qualitycounts or
www.thechildrenstrust.org/quality-counts
• To complete an application, visit the QC Portal
www.miamiqualitycounts.org
• FYI: Quality Counts is expected to open to all
eligible providers in May 2013.

23. QC Provider Portal
www.miamiqualitycounts.org
Shared Resources: www.sharedresourcesFL.org
Contact us:
qualitycounts@elcmdm.org
305-646-7242