Documents posted at: QRIS 2015 Program Quality Improvement Grant Applicant.

Documents posted at:

http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

QRIS 2015 Program Quality Improvement Grant

Applicant Technical Assistance and

Support MeetingsFebruary 2015

Wendy Valentine, M.Ed.

Senior Director, CI and Early Education Partnerships Project Manager, QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley


Background Information

QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education and after-school settings

EEC formally began developing its Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) during the spring of 2008

EEC fully implemented the Massachusetts QRIS in January 2011

Brain Building in Progress

The work of the EEC is steeped in the notion that brain building is in progress for young children in enriching environments with caring adults and meaningful and engaging interactions

The latest science shows that these early experiences actually build the architecture of the developing brain; much like a house is built from the bottom up

We know that children's earliest experiences are especially important because building the human brain begins even before birth; a strong foundation in early years greatly increases the chance of positive outcomes

BBIP Website: http://brainbuildinginprogress.org

http://brainbuildinginprogress.org/

National QRIS Implementation

EEC and United Way

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and have partnered together to support and strengthen the capacity of early education and out of school time program leaders to identify, prioritize, and implement improvements that move them forward in the state’s Quality Rating Improvement System

This grant application’s purpose is to provide QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grants to all eligible programs/educators in the mixed delivery system to make program improvements, in pursuit of upward progress on the levels defined in the QRIS system

Goals

QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant is intended to offer funding to support programs to advance towards a higher level on the QRIS system

Support programs/educators to engage in a process of continuous quality improvement

Enhance outcomes for all children in Massachusetts, especially those populations most at risk

Funding

Funds Type: Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant (RTTT-ELCG)

Funds Source: Federal Fund use for this initiative must be aligned

directly with the purchase resources that will allow an educator/program to advance on the QRIS system

All funds from this grant must be expended, and products/services received by grantees, by October 30, 2015

Eligible Grant Applicants

Be part of EEC’s mixed delivery system Currently be serving at least one child

receiving financial assistance as of February 15, 2015

Submit a final self-assessed QRIS level 1, 2, 3, or 4 application or documentation of a granted QRIS Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 in EEC’s online QRIS Program Manager (QPM) by February 15, 2015

Program must demonstrate current use of Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Tools including submission of a signed Verification of Use of QRIS Measurement Tool(s)

Eligible Grant Applicants (cont.)

Programs must complete all grant submission requirements including:– Complete online grant application by

March 2, 2015– Submit required documents by mail by

March 2, 2015 For EEC-licensed programs: License must

be in good standing with EEC Must be in good fiscal standing with the

Commonwealth

QRIS Participation

Programs applying for grant funding are required to participate in the Massachusetts QRIS

Required to submit a printed copy of their program’s QRIS Summary of Application Profile from the online QRIS Program Manager showing self-assessed or granted level, QRIS number, and status with this grant application

Programs that do not provide proof of a submitted final self-assessed QRIS Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 application or documentation of a granted QRIS Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 prior to February 15, 2015 will not be eligible for funding under this grant opportunity

13

How Do I Know What My QRIS Rating Is?

Environment Rating Scale (ERS)

Programs must demonstrate current use of ERS Tools – Submit a signed Verification of Use of QRIS

Measurement Tool(s) documenting use of the ECERS-R, ITERS-R, FCCERS-R, or SACERS in the program for each classroom completed in the past twelve months.

– The ERS observation may be done for self-assessment purposes; a observation completed by a Reliable Rater is not required to be eligible for this grant opportunity.

Optional Regional Support Meetings

– A series of Regional Technical Assistance and Resources meetings will be held during the grant period to provide additional support and access to resources to 2015 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant grantees

– Participation in these meeting is optional and not a requirement of the grant

– Meetings will be held in all five EEC regions– Dates and locations of these meetings will be

posted at http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants

Optional Regional Support Meetings (cont.)

– Detailed information regarding the Program Improvement Plan requirements, reimbursement for Program Planning grants, and technical assistance support will be provided to grantees at this event

– Translation services will be available for participants on request

– Additional information to support grantees will also be posted in the QRIS Learning Community at http://www.qriscommunity.org

Program Planning Funding

A program/educator that serves 20 children or less will be eligible for up to $1,500

A program that serves 21 children or more will be eligible for up to $2,500

A program that serves 100 children or more will be eligible for up to $3,500

The number used to determine eligibility is the number of currently enrolled children as of February 15, 2015, not the licensed capacity

Program Planning Reimbursement

All Program Planning funds awarded to a program/educator will be paid on a reimbursement basis

If an applicant is approved for funding, the program/educator must purchase the services and, after receiving the services or goods, submit evidence of their out-of-pocket expenses for reimbursement

Educators/programs are encouraged to request reimbursement in a timely manner as soon as funds are fully expended

Only one request for reimbursement may be submitted

Durable Goods Funding

A program/educator that serves 20 children or less will be eligible for goods valued at up to $3,000

A program that serves 21-99 children will be eligible for goods valued at up to $5,000

A program that serves 100 children or more will be eligible for goods valued at up to $7,000

The number used to determine eligibility is the number of currently enrolled children as of February 15, 2015, not the licensed capacity

Funding Allocation

Submission of an application does not guarantee that your program will be awarded a grant

Proposals will be accepted for consideration beginning February 2, 2015 and reviewed on an ongoing basis; no proposal for this round of funding will be accepted after 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2015

Proposals for funding that meet all the grant eligibility requirements will be evaluated

United Way, in collaboration with EEC, will ensure funding is allocated in a manner which ensures diversity in terms of geographic and program/educator type representation to the extent possible based on the applications received

Online Grant Application

The online grant application will open on or about February 2, 2015.

Programs are asked to:

1. Provide program and financial information

2. Propose Program Planning expenditures

3. Identify how funding will be used to support development of a Program Improvement Plan

4. Request funds for Program Planning expenditures and Administrative Overhead

Access online grant application:


Timeline

1-27-2015 Grant Solicitation Released

2-2-2015 Online Grant Application Opens

February 2015 Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Meetings

2-23-2015 All Questions must be submitted in writing by this date

3-2-2015 QRIS Program Quality Improvement Grant Application Closes

All required documents must be mailed and postmarked by this dateOnline grant application must be submitted by 4:00 pm on this date

4-15-2015 List of Grant Recipients Posted

May-June 2015 Continuous Quality Improvement Plans Developed and Submitted by Programs

7-1 to 7-15-2015 Continuous Quality Improvement Plans Reviewed by TAP

7-15-2015 Phase One - Final Outcomes and Measures Form due (must be completed online)

July-October 2015 Phase Two – Continuous Quality Improvement Plan Implementation

10-30-2015 All goods and services purchased by grantees with these grant funds must be received and accepted by this date.

11-15-2015 Phase Two - Final Outcomes and Measures Form due (must be completed online)

Submission Instructions

March 2, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. is the deadline for submission of documents; they must be mailed and postmarked by this date

March 2, 2015 at 4:00 pm is the deadline for completion of online grant application

Grant application must be completed online Submit signed copies of required documents by mail

as directed in the Grant Solicitation Applicants who do not complete the online grant

application and submit documentation will not be considered for funding

Required Application Forms

Must be mailed and postmarked by March 2, 2015:– Grant Application Document Cover Page – Commonwealth Terms & Conditions – W-9 with DUNS # – Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing– Executive Order 504 Certification – Grant Disbursement Authorization – Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act– RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying– Verification of Use of QRIS Measurement Tool(s)– Consent for a Pre and Post Quality Assessment– Grant Contact Information– QRIS Summary of Application Profile– Detailed Schedule Form



Required Forms for Family Child Care Systems

Must be mailed and postmarked by March 2, 2015:– Family Child Care System Document Cover Page – Provider Consent Form (one per each affiliated grant

application)– Commonwealth Terms & Conditions – W-9 with DUNS # – Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing– Executive Order 504 Certification– Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act– RTTT Certification Regarding Lobbying



Resources

Key Contacts Documents posted at: http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants Grant Application - questions may be directed to

[email protected] for inclusion in the Question and Answer Documents

Online Grant Application – for technical questions use the help function within the application; additional questions may be directed to [email protected]

EEC QRIS Program Manager – access the Program Manager at https://www.eec.state.ma.us/qrisstatewide; technical questions about the on-line QRIS application and self-assessment may be directed to your EEC Regional QRIS Contact (listed below)

Regional QRIS contacts – Part 1

REGION STAFF PHONE/EMAILREGIONAL OFFICE LOCATION

& PHONE NUMBER

Region 1 Western

QRIS Program Quality SpecialistAmanda Thayer

(413) [email protected]

Department of Early Education and Care1441 Main Street Suite 230Springfield, MA 01103Phone (413) 788-8401

Education & Provider Support LiaisonKimm QuinlanPreschool Enrichment Team, Inc.

(413) 763-3900 [email protected]

QRIS Health AdvisorEdwin Moralez


Region 2Central

QRIS Program Quality SpecialistAmy Whitehead-Pleaux


Department of Early Education and Care10 Austin StreetWorcester, MA 01609Phone (508) 798-5180

Education & Provider Support LiaisonJoanne GravellFamily Services of Central Massachusetts


QRIS Health AdvisorLila Coverstone




& PHONE NUMBER

Region 3 Northeast

QRIS Program Quality SpecialistJody Dominquez


Department of Early Education and Care360 Merrimack Street Building 9, 3rd FloorLawrence, MA 01843(978) 681-9684

Education & Provider Support LiaisonKathy GalloNorth Shore Community College.


QRIS Health AdvisorMaureen Waitt


Region 5Southeast

QRIS Program Quality SpecialistAnne Hemmer


Department of Early Education and Care1 Washington Street Suite 20Taunton, MA 02780

Education & Provider Support LiaisonElizabeth A. ReddyChild Development and Education, Inc.


QRIS Health AdvisorBetty Blackham




& PHONE NUMBERRegion 6Metro Boston

QRIS Program Quality SpecialistCheryl McLellan


Department of Early Education and Care1250 Hancock Street Suite 120-SQuincy, MA 02169Phone (617) 472-2881

Education & Provider Support LiaisonDonna JasakABCD


QRIS Health AdvisorsBetty Blackham Maureen Waitt Lila Coverstone

(508) [email protected](978) [email protected](508) [email protected]

Coordinate Family & Community Engagement To find your grantee, please access:http://www.eec.state.ma.us/childcaresearch/cfce.aspx

Childcare Resource & Referral To find your CCR&R agency, please see:http://www.eec.state.ma.us/childcaresearch/ccrr.aspx

Quality Improvement Grant Technical Assistance Providers

See http://www.cybergrants.com/qrisgrants or email [email protected]

Questions?

Thank you for participating

in this Applicant Technical

Assistance and Support Meeting



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