At Nevada's Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS), we are committed to promoting and recognizing high-quality early childhood programs. Our rating cycles provide a comprehensive framework for continuous improvement, allowing providers to enhance their program's quality over time. Starting with the Steps to Stars cycle, followed by the Initial Coaching cycle and subsequent Maintenance cycles, our structured approach ensures ongoing support, assessment, and coaching to drive continuous quality enhancement. Join us on this journey as we strive to provide exceptional care and education to the children of Nevada.

Welcome to the Steps to Stars Cycle, the first phase of your participation in the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). Once you are assigned a dedicated QRIS coach from The Children's Cabinet, this cycle begins, marking the start of your quality journey.

What to expect during the Steps to Stars cycle?

Meet and Greet: You will have a meet and greet session with your QRIS coach, where you will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and receive essential resources to kickstart your quality improvement efforts.

Training Opportunities: Training sessions will be scheduled during this time, including the QRIS intro training, the Environment Rating Scales (ERS), and Nevada Pyramid Model Training. These training programs will provide you with valuable insights and tools to enhance the quality of your program.

Resource and Material Support: Your coach will assist you in gathering resources and materials required for your quality improvement journey. This may include Environment Rating Scale (ERS) guides and the All About ERS books, as well as resources to aid you in documenting the required criteria.

Please note that on-site coaching will not commence until after the first rating, which occurs at the end of the Steps to Stars cycle.

After completing the six-month Steps to Stars cycle, your program will receive an initial rating and transition into the Initial Coaching cycle. Once the assessment reports are finalized, your coach will share them with you, highlighting the quality indicators that scored well and areas that need improvement. Together, you will develop a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to address the specific areas that scored low on the ERS reports. The QIP will serve as a guide for your coaches, teachers, and directors, allowing progress to be tracked and adjustments to be made as needed.

Every 24 months, your program will undergo re-rating and coaching based on the ERS reports, and other QRIS criteria. The maintenance cycles ensure continuous quality improvement and enable you to provide exceptional care for the children enrolled in your program. Through these structured cycles, we aim to support your journey towards continuous quality enhancement, ensuring positive outcomes for the children and families you serve.