Early childhood quality rating and improvement systems
Last Revised: December 5, 2025
- Issue Areas
- Early childhood
- Outcomes
- Kindergarten readiness
Program overview
Assessing and improving early childhood education: Quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) are systematic approaches to assess and enhance early childhood care and education facilities. QRIS ratings aim to provide quality information to parents and increase child safety, development and school readiness.
Rating facilities: QRIS generally outline program standards and then rate care facilities and educational institutions based on how well they meet them. These scores are public and participation is typically voluntary (though mandatory in some states). Quality rating and improvement systems may be implemented at local, regional, or state levels.
Encouraging improvement: Programs typically include quality standards (i.e. teacher or care giver certification requirements), accountability measures to ensure compliance with state and local regulations, quality improvement supports (i.e. care giver training), and financial assistance to fund improvements or rating participation. Requirements and supports vary significantly by jurisdiction.
- Cost
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Not available
Multiple studies provide some evidence for QRIS as a strategy to improve early childhood education quality
- A 2018 research synthesis found some evidence that quality rating and improvement systems improve preschool and child care quality.
Incentivize participation: In locations where QRIS assessments are optional, implementing agencies should encourage widespread participation. This can be done by providing incentives, in the form of financial assistance and subsidies to fund improvements, or by promoting the rating system to potential clients of early childhood facilities. If parents are aware of quality rankings when choosing services, locations which perform better will likely become more popular, encouraging other early education and childcare facilities to seek ratings.
Provide guidance for reform: After ranking assessments are done and issues are identified, local officials should work with care providers and schools to establish a plan and timeline for implementing improvements. QRIS administering organizations should create materials based on common issues and outline suggested paths to reform. This will help ensure that facilities take steps to improve after initial rankings and seek reassessment and maximize the effectiveness of QRIS.
Collect and use data: QRIS assessment organizations should collect data on facility issues and improvements to identify and respond to common issues among providers. Data should guide the professional development and other improvement supports offered through QRIS programs.