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. 

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.