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Knowledge Center
Center on the States
Cultivating, supporting, and disseminating innovations
The NHSA Center on the States cultivates, supports, and disseminates innovations and best practices in state-based early learning systems.

State Spotlights

What are State Spotlights?

State Spotlights are one way that NHSA shares innovations and best-practices in state-based...

State Spotlights are one way that NHSA shares innovations and best-practices in state-based early-learning systems. States will be refreshed quartely, if you have suggestions for how your state should be spotlighted email Mary Sprute at msprute@nhsa.org 

Indiana

Indiana’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, Paths to QUALITY, has four levels of quality rating

Indiana’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, Paths to QUALITY, has four levels of quality rating. Programs can earn cash and noncash rewards, higher child care reimbursements, and technical assistance as they ascend the levels. Level 1 is health and safety; Level 2 adds environment supports for children’s learning; Level 3 begins to add a planned curriculum for development and school; and national accreditation occurs at Level 4.  According to the Indiana Head Start Association, 85% of Head Start and Early Head Start programs participate in the system. Of those who do participate, 31% of the programs are at Level 3 and 56% at Level 4. Learn more about Quality Rating and Improvement Systems and state-specific QRIS. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Iowa

Iowa’s early care and education advisory council, Early Childhood Iowa (ECI), includes six component

Iowa’s early care and education advisory council, Early Childhood Iowa (ECI), includes six component groups, including one for professional development. The professional development component group promotes integration of professional development systems, advises the early learning standards and QRIS, and promotes infrastructure that supports quality professional development. Through the Iowa Head Start Collaboration Office, Head Start is a major player in professional development systems in Iowa. The Iowa Head Start State Collaboration Office actively participates in this group, and has noted that early learning programs in the state prepare staff to move amongst the various programs, which results in a more qualified early childhood workforce in the state. Learn more about other state early learning systems here. 

State Resources

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By the Numbers

12

States that use state dollars to supplementally fund Head Start programs. These dollars have gone to quality improvements, extended days, and other program enhancements

17

States that use federal dollars through Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) for Early Head Start home visiting!

19

States that received Pre-Kindergarten Development and Expansion Grants in 2015. These grants can be used to develop and expand state-level early-learning systems

44

States that have state-level pre-kindergarten programs providing early childhood education to 3 and 4 year olds

Federal Preschool Development and Expansion Grants

On December 10, 2014 the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced awards to 18 states of the 36 that had applied. Thirteen states received expansion grants and five states received development grants. In virtually all of the winning states, Head Start is slated to play a significant role as the new grants get up and running.

Find out more about Preschool Development Grants