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.

Raising Quality Together (RQT), Sacramento County’s voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), serves programs in Sacramento County and is administered by the Sacramento County Office of Education (www.sacramentocountyearlylearning.org). Since 2012, more than 220 QRIS/Quality Improvement System (QIS) sites have been rated and/or received support to improve quality. Sacramento County’s QRIS has five point levels and measures all seven elements of program quality included in the Quality Continuum Framework. The QRIS Rating Matrix is based on three core areas: (1) Child Development and School Readiness, (2) Teachers and Teaching, and (3) Program and Environment. In 2016–2017 programs participating in the QRIS California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and earning a Tier 4 or 5 rating were eligible to receive up to $8,900 per classroom in the form of a block grant; those earning a tier rating of 1–3 received a monetary incentive of up to $3,000.

Sites rated in the QRIS Infant/Toddler Grant were eligible for a block grant of up to $7,500 after earning a Tier 4 or 5 rating, or a monetary incentive of up to $5,900 with a tier rating of 1–3; and those participating, but unrated, were eligible for up to $900 in instructional materials for their program.

In 2016–2017 sites rated in IMPACT, achieving a Tier 4 or 5 rating, were eligible for a block grant of up to $4,900; those achieving at a Tier 1–3 rating were eligible for a monetary incentive of up to $1,580.

Step 1 participants receive numerous professional learning opportunities related to the QRIS Rating Matrix and individualized technical assistance based on a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) they complete with a RQT mentor annually. Administrators and family child care owners also have access to the Early Learning Administrators Leadership Academy (ELALA), which is a cohort held over the course of several months strengthening leadership, management, and relationship-building skills. Annually, there is an event held for program staff to have their transcripts reviewed as they pursue degree completion.

Step 2 participants receive all of Step 1 supports as well as reimbursement for college coursework completed toward an early childhood degree, and instructional materials to improve their program environment and teaching practices.

Step 3 participants receive all of Step 2 supports and on-site mentoring, eligibility for block grants and monetary incentives, Environment Rating Scale (ERS) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) assessments, and a Rating Recognition and Communication kit that includes a poster and documents to facilitate the explanation of their tier rating with families and the community.

• QRIS CSPP
• QRIS I/T
• CMIG IMPACT

• Child Action, Inc.
• First 5 Sacramento
• Los Rios Community College District
• California State University, Sacramento
• Brandman University
• SETA Head Start

Raising Quality Together (RQT) provides information on our website, presents information at appropriate gatherings and meetings, and recruits individually with phone calls and in-person visits. Individual recruitment takes place from August to September, and website and outreach takes place throughout the year. Interest letters are submitted by returning and new sites, and orientations are held to provide information on what RQT is about. Currently, we accept all interested sites, with priority given to sites that are in Local Planning Council–identified zip codes and providers serving low-income, dual language learner, and special needs children. California State Preschool Program (CSPP) sites are also given priority for participation in QRIS. When we have a waitlist, the information submitted by the interested programs are evaluated by the management team, and sites are invited to participate based on where they fall in the required priority areas.

Rasing Quality Together (RQT) provides professional learning, reimbursement for college coursework and approved online professional learning, coaching/mentoring, and guidance in Quality Improvement Plan development, implementation, and monitoring. Professional learning is developed based on the Rating Matrix as well as on areas of need as indicated by ERS or CLASS assessments or validation results.

Currently, Raising Quality Together (RQT) offers Block Grants to all sites with a Tier 4 or 5 rating and cash incentives to sites that rate a Tier 3 annually. College coursework and approved online professional learning reimbursement are also available each semester for individuals who are not eligible for or participating in other state-funded reimbursement programs.

A Center Director shared: The program at the Playschool and I both very much appreciate all the mentoring, classes, and trainings RQT has provided. We can honestly say that the RQT program has helped enable us to reach the high quality that we desire at the program at the Playschool and we cannot thank the staff enough for all their hard work and dedication to this field. Thank you!