KQRS (Kansas Quality Rating System)

Simply put, KQRS is a star system for child care providers and centers.  But KQRS is much more than that.  KQRS uses financial support, quality improvement coaches, and quality improvement profiles to ensure success in the program.

Financial Support

A KQRS participant is provided a stipend per classroom in center programs and for family child care programs to be used for classroom and educational support.

KQRS participants work closely with a Quality Improvement Coach to develop a prioritized list of materials, equipment, resources, and training hours that can be purchased.

Quality Improvement Coach

A Quality Improvement Coach is a specialist from Child Start who uses the Quality Performance Profile to help enhance a program through mentoring and modeling.

The Quality Improvement Coach is specially trained in center and family child care development and will help to support quality goals. 

Quality Performance Profile

A Quality Performance Profile is developed after KQRS assesses the program on five components:

• Learning environment
• Family partnerships
• Training and Education
• Adult to child ratios
• Accreditation

From this profile, a star rating is given to the program.  With the help of the financial support, the Quality Improvement Coach, and the Quality Performance Profile, the goal of KQRS is to increase the quality of a program.

KQRS is currently being piloted in Butler, Reno, Saline, and Sedgwick Counties.  It will soon be a state-wide system.

KQRS is a rating system developed by Qualistar Early Learning of Colorado that indicates a program’s level of quality through the use of stars.

If you would like more information about the KQRS program contact Jackie Tanner at Child Start.