7.1 Quality Activities Needs Assessment

7.1.1 Needs assessment process and findings a. Describe the Lead Agency needs assessment process for expending CCDF funds on activities to improve the quality of child care, including the frequency of assessment, how a diverse range of parents and providers were consulted, and how their views are incorporated: The Lead Agency conducts needs assessment utilizing methodologies that include annual and periodic analyses by institutions of higher education, research studies that focus on the impact of the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS), market rate and supply and demand studies, review of contracts and services, and public focus groups and information sessions with stakeholders, including government and community partners, consumers, child care providers, and the early care and education workforce. These methods of engagement are integral to the Lead Agency’s continuous quality improvement. A statutorily mandated child care task force was convened to collect information and develop a strategic action plan for increasing the availability of high quality, affordable, and accessible child care in this state, for building partnerships between government and the business sector, and to identify resources across state government departments that could be streamlined, coordinated, and more effectively utilized to address child care challenges. The Tennessee Child Care Task Force issued its Final Report in December 2022 which may found at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human- services/documents/TN%20CCTF%20Final%20Report_12.15.22.pdf. b. Describe the findings of the assessment, including any findings related to needs of different populations and types of providers, and if any overarching goals for quality improvement were identified: The Lead Agency engaged a national policy consultant to develop high-level recommendations to redesign Tennessee’s Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) with a goal to streamline and integrate licensing and quality measurements into a system that is simple and clear, and focused on improving child outcomes, and measuring meaningful indicators of quality early childhood education. The consultant conducted an analysis of quality assessment systems used by other states and a literature review of best practices. The consultant also conducted regional focus groups to engage child care providers, community partners, and Lead Agency staff to further identify and discuss key components of a redesigned system. After receiving recommendations from the consultant group, the Lead Agency held focus groups with Lead Agency staff and community-based events across the state to collect information/comments about the current process. In January 2019, the Lead Agency convened approximately 300 stakeholders to discuss the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program and subsidy rates. In February 2019, a town hall was conducted with child care providers to discuss strengths and opportunities within the existing quality assessment and rating program, and a survey of child care providers and partners was conducting about their interest in small business training. CCDF Quality Child Care Partners were also included in focus groups to give specific feedback about big ideas for the QRIS redesign. Stakeholders generally agreed it was time for Tennessee to again be a leader in innovation. Through those conversations, the Lead Agency recognized a general desire to redesign the current QRIS. When it launched in 2001, Tennessee’s Star Quality Program was one of the first child care quality rating programs in the country. Over the years, the Star Quality Program has significantly helped to raise awareness about the importance of quality child care and assisted many agencies with improving their early care and education programs. The Lead Agency began using an interim assessment tool in combination with other report card components to conduct evaluations/measure effective practice in July 2020 in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. The interim tool was developed in partnership with the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R) and used until the new QRIS redesign was fully implemented in 2022. The Lead Agency has completed legislation necessary to transition to the new QRIS and has engaged providers and partners in committees to revise the current child care rules to support these changes to the system. The Lead Agency also reorganized staff in its Division of Child Care and Community Services to support implementation of the redesigned QRIS and improve delivery of services within the broader framework of the Tennessee’ early child care education professional development framework. The new QRIS is weighted towards teacher-child interactions and evaluates this element along with designated health and safety practices during multiple visits each year. In February 2020, Lead Agency child care staff traveled to a peer state to review their recently redesigned QRIS and compare ideas and lessons learned. The Lead Agency implemented the newly redesigned QRIS in October 2022. The new system takes a holistic approach to evaluating quality that is a more streamlined process through ongoing engagement that supports a more a picture of quality. There was a full transition year from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2023 to allow for a period of adoption, understanding, any necessary modifications. The new QRIS was fully implemented October 01, 2023, and the new scores will post immediately following the end of the annual cycle that runs through September 30, 2024.