What happened to the Quality Rating (QRIS) Bill?

by Janet Frieling, Network Director and Karen Tvedt

 

What was the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Bill?

HB 2569, one of the Early Learning Action Alliance's  and School’s Out Washington’s legislative priorities, would have created statutory framework for Washington's research-based approach to improving child care quality.  Sponsors of the bill included Representatives Orwall, Goodman and Kagi.  In addition to outlining the purposes of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and the supports that need to be available to providers, the bill would have required the Department of Early Learning to, in consultation with constituents, develop a plan for full inclusion of licensed and certified school-age programs serving children ages five through twelve years in the QRIS.

The House Early Learning and Human Services Committee passed the bill as did House Ways and Means (the budget committee).  However, the bill did not make it to a vote on the House floor prior to the February 14th bill cutoff.  This means that HB 2569 is unlikely to receive further consideration this session.

 

We remain committed...

QRIS will still be implemented using Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grant funds according to the plan laid out in our application.  In addition, ELAA believes HB 2569 brought our coalition together around QRIS and raised awareness in the legislature about the importance of high-quality early learning in achieving outcomes for kids.  Both ELAA and SOWA remain committed to supporting QRIS as a mechanism for increasing access to high-quality early learning and licensed certified school-age programs.

...but recommend a few changes.

School’s Out will be making recommendations to the Department of Early Learning in the next year on how the QRIS might be shaped to be more inclusive of school-age only programs. At the same, SOWA is convening stakeholders in multiple sectors of afterschool AND youth development programs to establish an agreed upon set of program quality standards. With intentional consideration and planning, these standards will align with the QRIS system to ensure that school-age programs can access the system upon its full implementation.  

Get involved

Please contact Jackie Jainga Hyllseth at School’s Out is you would like more information or would like to be involved with this important work.

 

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