Time: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern

Location: Troop 2 - 100 Lagrange Ave., Newark, DE 19702

Description: Delaware, like many states, wants to refine its quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for early childhood care and education (ECE) settings (known as Delaware Stars for Early Success, or Delaware Stars) to ensure consistency in quality within each level, distinguish quality between levels, and ensure the validity of the ratings (specifically, that programs that earn higher ratings lead to better outcomes for children). The goal of this workshop is to support a redesign effort through review of research, facilitated discussion, and lessons from other states. The Office of Early Learning (OEL) in the Delaware Department of Education has requested information on two topics: (1) restructuring its tiered reimbursement system, and (2) redesigning its QRIS to distinguish levels of quality in ECE settings that are aligned with improved outcomes for children.

Partnership or Research Alliance: Strengthening the early education continuum

Audience: The workshop participants will be the Delaware Stars redesign team. This team consists of approximately 12 representatives from several agencies in Delaware, including the Department of Education’s OEL, the Department of Health and Social Services, and the University of Delaware, who meet regularly to discuss and design Delaware Stars.

Speakers: Gretchen Kirby – Mathematica Policy Research
Kimberly Boller – Mathematica Policy Research
Becky Mercatoris – Bureau Director, Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning
Anna Carter – Director, Division of Child Development and Early Education, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services