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.

Santa Clara County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System also known as Quality Matters…a Strong Start for Kids, is implemented by First 5 Santa Clara County.

Licensed family child care homes and center-based programs are assessed based on quality elements in the following areas:

• Child Observation: Teachers understand each child’s development and design daily learning activities based on children’s needs.
• Developmental and Health Screening: A close monitoring of child’s overall well-being supports a child’s healthy development.
• Effective Teacher-Child Interactions: Teachers’ positive relationships with children promote a love of learning.
• Ratios and Group Size: More teachers and smaller group sizes help spend more quality time with individual children.
• Environment: A child-focused environment allows children to learn and develop to their fullest potential.
• Staff Training and Education: A high-quality program includes well-trained directors and teachers in child development and early learning.

Based on quality elements, QUALITY MATTERS providers and programs demonstrate their achievement in quality through an assigned rating in one of four categories:

• Committed to Quality Improvement (Bronze)
• Achieving Quality Standards (Silver)
• Exceeding Quality Standards (Gold)
• Excellence in Quality Standards (Platinum)

• First 5 IMPACT
• CSPP QRIS Block Grant
• Infant/Toddler QRIS Block Grant
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation
• Packard Foundation
• FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
• Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

• Santa Clara County Office of Education
• Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
• WestEd E3 Institute
• San Jose State University & Pacific Oaks College: Local Planning Council

QUALITY MATTERS recruits family child care home providers by utilizing SEEDS and myTeachstone Quality Improvement programs as entry points into the rating pathway.

We provide communities of practice for administrators, family child care home educators, and early educators, as well as coaching support through SEEDS and myTeachstone.

QUALITY MATTERS partners with the County Office of Education and WestEd E3 Institute to distribute the QUALITY MATTERS stipend. Chromebooks were also distributed to family child care home educators in our quality improvement programs.

Learn more from the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tisx8VebyOs