Back in May of 2006, the Nevada Journal reported on a Nevada child care provider who had earned the highest level of rating in the state's Quality Rating System (QRS) of any local provider. At that time, Cindy Sloan had reached Level 3, out of the five possible levels of achievement.
Now, three years later, there is more great news about Sloan. She is now a Level 5 QRS provider -- the first in-home provider in Story County to reach that level.
Sloan said she was officially certified as a Level 5 by Jan. 1 of this year. She had attained her Level 4 rating in June of 2007.
What does it all mean?
"This achievement to my child development home and the children that I serve means that I exceed the Department of Human Service's minimum standards for registration," Sloan said. "The children have an opportunity to come to a child development home that is dedicated to improving the level of their care and providing their parents with the assurances that their most important assets are being well taken care of."
The Iowa Quality Rating System was implemented by the Department of Human Services as a way to improve the quality of care that children receive in early care and education settings. According to Sloan, Iowa is ranked at the bottom for quality of care of children 0-5 years old, and the QRS system is an avenue to raise the state's rating.
"There really isn't anyone who keeps track of it, but DHS is the entity that decides whether a child care provider meets all the requirements for each level," Sloan said. Participation in QRS is voluntary, just like having a registered child development home, she added.
"As everyone is aware, Iowa is well-known for its great school systems. However, as my instructor from a class that I just finished said, 'Iowa gets an F for the quality of care for our infants through preschool age.'"
Sloan said she has learned a lot from participating in the QRS. "One thing I have learned from the last two levels is that there is always room for improvement and there always will be a change in standards. Even at Level 5, I still have the capability to improve, whether it is in education, health and safety practices (or some other area)." The areas of study addressed in the QRS program are: professional development, health and safety, environment, and family and community partnerships.
Looking back, Sloan said she could have stayed at the Level 3 rating for two more years and then reapplied for that level again, but she chose to move to the next two levels for her families. "I wanted the families to know that they have a dedicated provider who is willing to work hard to provide them with a high-quality environment that goes above and beyond DHS's minimum requirements for a child development house," she said.
Sloan is a Category B Child Development House, which means she can have up to 12 children at one time. She currently cares for 11 children: three who are age 1, three who are age 3, two who are age 4, two who are age 6 and one who is age 8.
Having a house full of kids is something Sloan loves. "I think that what I love most about being a childcare provider is being able to teach children new concepts and seeing the excitement in them when they accomplish it."
Having more providers take advantage of the QRS is something Sloan would also love. "The process can be a little daunting for those just starting out, but it can be done with a little bit of diligence. I believe that QRS is a great concept, and if we can get more providers on board, we (in Iowa) can also be known for providing great child care programs."
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