QRIS Under Review: Cross-State Lessons for a More Effective System

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

This symposium brings together three complementary studies examining how state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) are evolving to better support early childhood education (ECE) quality, provider engagement, and family access. Collectively, the papers focus on the next generation of QRIS design and implementation as systems that move beyond compliance toward continuous improvement – creating meaningful impacts for providers, children, and families. Drawing on evidence from three states, the symposium explores how variation in QRIS structures and supports influences participation, quality improvement, and stakeholder perceptions across distinct policy and practice contexts.The first paper presents qualitative findings from a mixed-methods study of Capital Quality, the District of Columbia’s QRIS. Through interviews and focus groups with system leaders, providers, and families, the study surfaces tensions between quality assurance and support, standardization and flexibility, and accountability and trust. Stakeholders called for clearer communication, more accessible information, and decoupling financial incentives from quality ratings. These findings offer critical insights for maturing QRIS systems seeking to strengthen transparency, equity, and family engagement.The second paper examines how quality improvement (QI) supports are designed and delivered within the decentralized Texas QRIS. Using a framework drawn from implementation science, the study highlights how variability in QI delivery relates to participation, engagement, and satisfaction across centers and homes. Findings reveal mixed levels of engagement and highlight the need for more structured fidelity monitoring, stronger mentoring support, and consistent support for lower-rated and home-based programs. This work contributes a systems-level perspective on QI design and measurement, offering transferable lessons for states refining their QRIS implementation strategies.The third paper focuses on Michigan’s reimagined QRIS, one of the nation’s first “next generation” QRIS emphasizing continuous improvement and self-reflection over point-based compliance. Combining longitudinal administrative data with qualitative insights, the study documents early gains in participation and quality ratings, particularly among home-based providers. Findings underscore the importance of differentiated supports, streamlined administrative processes, and alignment between provider and state conceptions of quality.Taken together, these studies provide a multifaceted view of QRIS evolution in policy and practice, offering state-specific examples of how systems are being evaluated and adapted in response to changing contexts. Collectively, the papers reveal what providers gain from participating in QRIS (such as professional growth, mentorship, and visibility) while also highlighting persistent gaps and barriers to both entry and sustained participation. These barriers often differ for home-based and center-based providers, underscoring the need for differentiated supports. Across the three state examples, the studies highlight how quality is being measured and redefined, from traditional compliance indicators to more dynamic, relational, and improvement-oriented metrics. Importantly, stakeholder-informed recommendations emerging from two of the state’s studies point to concrete strategies for refining communication, aligning supports with provider needs, and strengthening implementation fidelity. Together, the symposium highlights several perspectives - from system administrators and researchers to providers and families - offering a dynamic conversation about how to build equitable, coherent, and sustainable quality systems that truly reflect the realities of those they serve.

Policy Area

• Family and Child Policy

Chair

• Laura Jimenez Parra, Urban Institute

Discussant

• Bentley D Ponder, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

Organizer

• Catherine Emily Kuhns, Urban Institute

Individual Presentations

• Building Better Systems: Barriers, Engagement, and Perceived Impact of QRIS Quality Improvement Services in Texas - Presenting Author: Cheryl Varghese, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

• Michigan’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Participation, Quality Attainment, and Advancement - Presenting Author: Neda Senehi, Public Policy Associates

• Capitalizing on Quality: A Comprehensive Review of D.C.'s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System - Presenting Author: Catherine Emily Kuhns, Urban Institute