Child care quality rating system passes Assembly

PROVIDENCE – The General Assembly has approved legislation to establish a quality rating system for child care programs in Rhode Island, using quality “benchmarks” that facilities can attain, and providing simple symbols, such as stars, to help parents choose.
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia use such systems, and another 30 states are piloting or designing them, according to a legislative news release. Several states have found that quality rating systems help improve child care quality for families at all income levels.
“There is ample evidence that quality early care and school-age child care programs promote healthy social and educational development of children,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, D-Newport, in a news release. “Studies show a savings of $3 on special education, counseling, detention, and similar costs for every $1 spent on quality child care. In addition, the availability of high-quality child care and education helps parents be more productive workers, reducing stress and absenteeism.”
Rhode Island has a QRS Partnership, led by a 30-member steering committee, including private and public agency representatives, that is funded by a two-year, $344,000 grant from the United Way of Rhode Island to implement the quality program. The pilot is to begin in September, with full implementation next year.