Program quality standards play a key role in defining, measuring, and holding providers accountable for the quality of experiences offered in Rhode Island's early care and education settings. Learn more about the program quality continuum and program resources below.
Rhode Island's Program Quality Continuum
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Rhode Island’s Program Quality Continuum
DCYF, BrightStars and RIDE revised and aligned regulations and standards to create a logical pathway for continuous program improvement. The Quality Continuum for early childhood education programs begins with the foundational requirements of DCYF licensing/BEP regulations. As programs make quality improvements they move up through the 1-5 Star BrightStars rating process. The highest bar in the quality continuum for preschool and kindergarten programs is approval under RIDE’s 2013 CECE Standards for Approval
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Learn more about DCYF Licensing
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The Department of Children, Youth, and Families
DCYF licensing is the foundation for the program quality continuum in child care centers and family child care homes. The purpose of licensing is to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children while in care outside of their home.
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Learn more about BrightStars
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BrightStars
BrightStars is Rhode Island’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). QRIS' are designed to rate the quality of an early care and education program; work with programs to identify goals for improvement and inform consumers about levels of quality.
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Learn more about RIDE CECE Approval
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Applications to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education represent the program's desire to seek voluntary approval at the highest level of quality. |
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Resources to help programs move up the program quality continuum
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Technical Assistance
Center for Early Learning Professionals Technical assistance (TA) is a customized process that helps programs to improve quality and outcomes for children. At the Center for Early Learning Professionals, our TA specialists work with early childhood program leaders individually and in small groups. Our TA builds on programs’ strengths and responds to their unique needs. Programs participating in TA services will also learn how they can link their accomplishments in the above areas to the Quality Improvement Grant application process.
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The Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund (RICCELFF) is a public – private partnership designed to help child care and early learning programs develop safe, high quality learning environments – indoors and outdoors. We support organizations with the development of new facilities as well as improvements to existing spaces.
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About Rhode Island’s Early Learning Data System (ECEDS)
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The Rhode Island Early Care and Education Data System is a place to centralize data about the early care and education system in Rhode Island. Help is available to support providers in data entry.
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Learn more about SUCCESS
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SUCCESS
SUCCESS is a free service that pairs early learning programs with Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants to support the social, emotional, and behavioral health needs of identified children.
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