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 "There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
~Aldous Huxley
We shared last week that a committee of early childhood leaders has been working together since 2008 to learn about QRIS programs in the more than 18 other states that currently have a QRIS system in place. Why is QRIS important to Maryland?
One reason is that families benefit from a having a way to choose a child care program that meets their needs. You can think of a QRIS as AAA for child care. While some people choose a hotel based on the number of stars it has, many others read the guidebook a little more carefully and learn more about what the stars represent, and which of the services and amenities they really want. QRIS will help families learn more about the services and offerings that are possible in a child care program, and decide which ones are most important for them.
Another reason that QRIS is important to Maryland was shared by Liz Kelley, Director of MSDE's Office of Child Care, in her Spring/Summer edition of Partners's Newsletter: "Implementation of a QRIS system will better position our state to compete for federal funds that support quality improvements for all children." We can certainly agree that our child care programs could benefit from financial supports in these difficult economic times.
Next week we will share more information about QRIS plans for the coming year. What do you want to know? Let us know at help@applesforchildren.org.
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