The QCC County Program Profile provides county data from the Common Data File (CDF) and the Annual Progress Report (APR). For counties that are a part of a consortium, the QCC County Program Profile provides a combined view of the CDF and APR. Both qualitative and quantitative data are presented to provide a local view of early learning and care climate.

The Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a voluntary program focused on providing information, resources, and support to early care and education programs—including family child care homes—serving children from birth through age 5. The goal is to enhance the quality of early learning programs and recognize the wonderful work that is being done in our region.

The goal is to enhance the quality of early learning programs and recognize the wonderful work that is being done in our region.

The QRIS program in Placer, Nevada, and Sierra Counties is called Early Quality Matters (EQM) and provides support in the following areas:

• Child Development and School Readiness
• Social–Emotional Development
• Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity
• Effective Teacher-Child Interactions
• Professional Development
• Environment
• Program Administration
• Family Engagement

Eligible participants include:

• Private center-based programs
• Family child care
• Early Head Start/Head Start
• State-funded preschool and child care programs
• First 5 early learning programs
• Title 1 preschool programs
• Eligible alternative sites serving young children: Informal caregivers such as family members, friends, and neighbors who care for children other than their own

Benefits of participation include:

• No-cost materials and supplies
• Ongoing support and resources
• No-cost workshops and training
• New ideas to enhance learning experiences for young children
• Being part of a supportive network; sharing ideas
• Receiving information to help with program marketing
• Recognition from families, peers, and the community
• Financial incentives for participation
• Financial recognition for high program quality

• First 5 CA
• ELCD
• First 5 Placer
• First 5 Nevada
• Packard Foundation
• Placer/Nevada County Head Start
• Title 1
• Placer County Office of Education

• Placer County Office of Education – overall consortium leadership, fiscal management, liaison to region and state
• First 5 Placer – funding, advocacy, convening system partners, leadership on data and evaluation
• First 5 Sierra – leadership, coordination, and communication in Sierra County
• First 5 Nevada – advocacy, leadership on data and evaluation
• Placer Resource and Referral Agency & LPC – implement day to day QRIS with participants
• Nevada/Sierra Resource and Referral Agency & LPC – partner to implement QRIS
• Sierra Joint Community College – higher education resources
• Placer/Nevada Head Start/Early Head Start – advises based on direct services to children and families, partners in training
• Grass Valley Unified School District – advises based on direct QRIS services to children & families, models high quality
• Nevada County Office of Education – Nevada county leadership and coordination

Program outreach is conducted through various methods that include the following: personal phone calls, emails, staff presentations, site visits, website, and newsletters. Outreach is an ongoing process, and we strive to serve all sites who want to participate and engage in quality improvement efforts.

Support strategies are relationship based through coaching, professional development offerings, site visits, and ongoing staff support and individual follow-up.

Stipends and materials are provided upon completion of specific elements within the Rating Matrix and upon tier rating.