Keys to Quality

Keys to Quality is a collaboration between the Rhode Island Department of Education, CHILDSPAN (Rhode Island's Child Development and Education Training System), and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. It provides funding and technical assistance (TA) to local school districts, as well as early childhood care and education programs, in pursuing accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This accreditation process consists of three components. A self-study, a validation by NAEYC validators through an on-site visit to verify the program's self-study findings, and the Accreditation Decision, which is made by a three-person NAEYC Commission.

The Project's recent third party evaluation revealed early childhood education programs believe the accreditation process:

• Has an impact on classroom practices that relate to the RI Department of Education's School Accountability for Learning and Teaching (SALT) system;

• Facilitates lasting changes that benefit young children;

• Furthers the goal of integrating all children - with and without disabilities.

Typical quotes from Project participants were:

"Since we achieved accreditation, we have increased the number of children served in inclusive classrooms." -- Head Start Teacher

"We now have a partnership with community programs - supporting each other. We collaborate on providing both transitional and disability services for children." - Public School Administrator

"We were always aware that SALT-related teaching and learning practices was at the hear of all our explorations and conversations. Our staff has had to integrate standards with DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practices) and have been guided by both processes." - Public School Administrator

"Keys to Quality technical assistance helped us match what we were doing to standards and criteria assessed in SALT." - Public School Teacher

"Knowing that my children's program is accredited means that I am assured of what will happen to my children. There is also some comfort in feeling like an oversight body is watching the quality of care and education." - Parent of Child in Keys to Quality site

Keys to Quality Project Goals

1. High Quality: supporting NAEYC accreditation.
2. Inclusion: increasing quality options for young children with disabilities and their families.
3. Community Partnerships and Program Continuity: involving community programs and school districts.
4. Family Involvement: creating more knowledgeable families concerning early childhood programs.
5. Developmentally Appropriate Practice: systematic change concerning developmentally appropriate practices for all young children.

Keys to Quality Project Data

Currently, the Keys to Quality project serves 4,800 children with and without disabilities in over 276 classrooms in 28 NAEYC accredited programs in 57 NAEYC accredited sites.

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