Many quality improvement efforts use environmental rating scales to evaluate the quality of interactions between staff, children, parents, and the environment in a child care setting. Trained observers conduct the assessments, which are specific to the age group in a center (infant/toddler, early childhood, school age) or to family child care. Higher scores on environmental rating scales are linked to better outcomes for children in care.

Through Qualistar, trained quality rating specialists spend several hours with a child care program to collect information and evaluate five different quality components:

• Learning Environment - Points are awarded based on average scores obtained through ECERS-R, ITERS or FDCRS classroom environment tools.
  
  
• Family Partnerships - Points are awarded for information on communication, collaboration, and family involvement opportunities collected through family questionnaires and program documentation.
  
  
• Training and Education - Points are awarded to individual child care providers based on formal training and experience with separate requirements for center administrators and child care providers/home providers.
  
  
• Adult-to-Child Ratios and Group Size - Points are awarded on adult-child ratio and overall classroom group size.
  
  
• Accreditation - Points are awarded for receiving and maintaining program accreditation through an approved organization. Following the evaluation, programs receive a baseline rating on a scale of “provisional” (lowest) to 4 stars (highest). An individualized Quality Performance Profile outlines the program’s strengths and areas for improvement and includes a detailed action plan and timeline.