What does quality mean to you? Why and how is quality important to you? Find statewide and national resources here with facts and compelling statistics on the impact of Quality Counts California on children, families, and early educators.
How can Quality Counts California meet the state’s diverse needs?
Quality Counts California recognizes that, given the size of California and the diversity of its communities, a one-size-fits-all approach to improving program quality is not appropriate. So, while there are common elements across local quality rating and improvement systems (QRISs), such as the basic program standards used in assessing program quality, those developing and managing a QRIS have the flexibility to tailor quality improvement supports to their local needs.
How has Quality Counts California made an impact on quality early learning and care programs?
Since 1999, more and more states have been implementing statewide quality improvement initiatives. As of fall 2017, 42 states and districts had at least one quality improvement initiative, including QRISs (see Quality Compendium).
Since fall 2017, 43 out of 44 quality initiatives across the nation included information on quality improvement and recognition of the mission and goals of a QRIS. See an overview of QRIS mission and goals.
To help state and territory policymakers understand the costs associated with high-quality early care and education, the Office of Child Care’s National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement developed the Provider Cost of Quality Calculator.
What is the impact of Quality Counts California on the early learning system?
The statistics shown in the below infographics were drawn from the Quality Counts California data file, annual performance report for consortia, annual performance report for Regional Hubs, and partner survey.
A bar graph shows the number of QRIS participants each year from 2011 through 2017.
Text at the top of the graphic states, “QRIS participation from 2011 to 2017 increased by 11,808%.”
A text description in the middle of the graph says, “The most significant increase was a 51% jump from 2016 to 2017!”
The bar graph shows the number of QRIS participants each year.
In 2011, there were 49 participants.
In 2012, there were 475 participants.
In 2013, there were 1,042 participants.
In 2014, there were 2,232 participants.
In 2015, there were 3,542 participants.
In 2016, there were 3,862 participants.
In 2017, there were 5,835 participants.
A graphic shows a large circle, a medium-sized circle, and a small circle. Text at the top says, “A total of 266,399 children were being served by participating sites in fiscal year (FY) 2016-17.” A large circle on the left shows the number 191,144 and is labeled “Centers.” A medium-sized circle in the center shows the number 59,151 and is labeled “Alternative settings.” A small circle on the right shows the number 16,104 and is labeled “Family Child Care.”
A bar graph shows the distribution of sites across five different tiers. Text at the top says, “Distribution of the 3,664 sites that participated in FY 2016-17.”
The bar graph shows the number of participating sites in each of five tiers.
There were 42 sites at Tier 1.
There were 634 sites at Tier 2.
There were 683 sites at Tier 3.
There were 1,783 sites at Tier 4.
There were 522 sites at Tier 5.
A table with two rows shows the numbers of different types of facilities in FY 2016-17. Text at the top says, “Sites by facility type in FY 2016-17.”
The top row of the table shows, “3,291 centers, 1,914 family child care, 65 other, and 23 libraries.”
The bottom row of the table shows, “53 home visiting programs; 56 family, friends, & neighbors; 13 playgroups; and 41 family resource centers.”
A graphic shows characteristics of sites in FY 2016-17. Text at the top says, “Selected site characteristics in FY 2016-17.”
854 sites are Head Start.
2,277 sites are California State Preschools.
79 sites are state migrant.
439 sites are Early Head Start.
789 sites are general child care.
2,251 sites are operated with private funding.
147 sites are Title 1.
1,019 sites are serving children with subsidies.
2,466 sites are where Spanish is used for instruction.