Early EducatorsEarly Educators
Introducing a new Quality Counts California dashboard for all educators!
Quality Counts California (QCC) provides resources for early learning and care educators to support relationship-based nurturing environments for children, support positive family engagement strategies, connect program standards to positive child outcomes, and promote their quality programs. Whether you are part of a school-based, community-based, center-based, family child care, or family, friend, and neighbor setting, you will find content here relevant to you.
Featured Content
-
Overview
Quality early learning experiences are your child’s key to the future. Quality early learning and care experiences build the foundation for skills your child needs in school, work, and life. …
-
Quality: The Key to Education
Fact: Children who attend a quality early learning and care program are more likely to do well in school and less likely to drop out or need remedial support later in their education. To help …
-
How to Choose a Quality Program
Choosing a quality early learning and care environment is critical to your child’s future. To help you choose the best program for your family, below are the different types of programs available …
Launchpad
County Program Profile and Services
Search by county or ZIP code to display your county’s Quality Improvement System (QIS) website, county contact information, and child care resource and referral agency. Local systems may be branded differently from Quality Counts California but offer the same support.
Community Care Licensing
The Child Care Licensing Program provides oversight and enforcement for licensed child care centers and family child care homes throughout California. The core mission of the Child Care Licensing Program is to ensure the health and safety of children in care. Questions regarding the program can be directed to your local regional office, the Child Care Advocate Program at (916-654-1541), or the Centralized Complaint and Information Bureau.
Universal Prekindergarten
Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) is an umbrella term that includes the California State Preschool Program and Transitional Kindergarten at the California Department of Education (CDE), as well as Head Start, district and local community-based preschool programs, early learning services for students with disabilities, private-pay preschool, and expanded learning options to support access to a full day of services.
The CDE recognizes the power of a diverse education workforce that reflects the community, including the language and cultural characteristics of the communities they serve. Investments have been made to provide an unprecedented opportunity to build and maintain a diverse pipeline of qualified and effective preschool to grade 3 educators including teachers, teacher aides, and special education teachers. Find more workforce support questions and answers in the Universal Prekindergarten FAQs – Elementary (CDE).
Learning Opportunities
-
Nutrition and Physical Activity (NPA) Forums
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is offering three Nutrition and Physical Activity (NPA) Forums in 2024. The forums highlight and demonstrate methods for integrating nutrition …
-
Family Engagement Toolkit
Quality Counts California collaborated with providers, professionals, and experts to specially design the Family Engagement Toolkit. The toolkit can help you build strong relationships with …
Resources
-
Key Learnings From First 5 California’s Shared Services Alliance Pilot
This brief summarizes the key highlights from the Shared Services Alliance Pilot as it approaches the end of the 2-year implementation period. Data from the contractors, partner agencies, and …
-
ChildCare Aware
Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, …
-
California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations
The California Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations describe competencies infants and toddlers typically attain during the birth-to-three-year period
-
California Preschool Learning Foundations
The California Preschool Learning Foundations describe competencies—knowledge and skills—that most children can be expected to exhibit in a high-quality program as they complete their first or …
FAQs
- What is Quality Counts California (QCC)?
- What are Quality Improvement Systems (QIS) and Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS)?
- What is the California State Preschool Program Quality Rating and Improvement System Block Grant (CSPP QRIS BG) and how does it relate to QCC?
- What is the IMPACT Legacy grant and how does it relate to QCC?
Help! Where to find support
If you have questions related to Quality Counts California, please complete the website contact form or email [email protected]. Recommend a resource or learning opportunity for this audience.