ACCELERATE QUALITY

• Increase the number of sites that are high-quality, using the AZDES (Arizona Department of Economic Security) definition of high quality (3-5 Star or accreditation).
• Increase the number of high-quality slots for children ages 3-5 years of age.
• Increase the number of children enrolled in high-quality care and education.
• Increase high-quality childcare options for families, including options closer to their own neighborhoods or place of work.

• One child care center in southern Tucson turned an unused room into a classroom, providing a four star learning environment to 17 more preschool aged children.
• One child care center in southern Tucson achieved a three-star rating, positively impacting 100 children.
• One child care center in midtown achieved a four-star rating, positively impacting 150 children.
• One newly-opened center on the east side received classroom bookshelves and ample age-appropriate books to positively impact 59 children.
• One rural child care center received outdoor equipment to support 65 children develop their gross-motor skills.

Quality Rating Preparation: Early care and education (ECE) sites can receive coaching to help attain a quality rating through First Things First Quality First system and/or achieve accreditation.

Expansion: High quality ECE sites may have the ability to add additional classrooms or convert unused spaces so they can serve more children but may lack the funding to help prepare the room to meet health and licensing standards.

Classroom materials: Existing high quality child care providers may need replenishment of classroom materials, ranging from books to cots, which can be costly and fall outside the normal operating budget.

Outdoor learning: Exposure to nature and all the benefits it provides young children is a key aspect of high quality early care and education but requires time and materials.

Staff training and compensation: High quality early learning requires consistent professional  development for all staff and may involve professional trainers, meals, substitutes and/or childcare.

Facility In-kind/Partner site match: Personnel expenses are the largest expense for a childcare site and the next highest category is rent and utilities. Do you have unused leased space that can be converted into a high quality learning center for your workforce?