Quality Assessment Services: About Our Department
The Quality Assessment Services (QAS) Department at Clayton Early Learning partners with organizations across the state to deliver valid and reliable assessments to help early childhood education programs and providers with continuous quality improvement efforts. We are the contracted vendor to administer Colorado Shines Level 3-5 rating. Our experienced and diverse staff have a passion for high-quality early education and are honored to help make a difference in the lives of young children across the state of Colorado.
Our highly qualified, diverse staff bring a variety of experiences and a wealth of knowledge to our department and to the work in which they are so passionately invested. The majority of our staff have experience as classroom teachers, family home providers, and/or program directors in early childhood before joining our team. Our staff also have experience with research, customer service, and record-keeping.
Our staff represents a variety of cultures and backgrounds, many of which are reflective of the populations we serve throughout Colorado. We have several team members who are fluent in Spanish.
Click the links below to learn more about the different roles in the QAS Department.
Colorado Shines
We conduct observations using the Environment Rating Scales for programs and providers across the state, seeking a Level 3-5 for our state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), Colorado Shines. We review all documentation programs and providers submit as part of their rating and assign scores for each of the rating components: Workforce Qualifications, Family Partnerships, Leadership, Management and Administration, Learning Environment, and Child Health. We also coordinate scheduling and orientations for programs that have applied for the Level 3-5 rating. Visit the Colorado Shines website for more information.
Q&A Sessions
The Colorado Shines Question and Answer Sessions are scheduled every month. Programs and family home providers going through or coming up on a rating and coaches and council staff that are supporting those programs are sent session attendance information. Sessions occur on the third Friday of each month from 1:00-2:30 p.m. The one-and-a-half-hour session allows programs to ask members of the Quality Assessment Services Department clarifying questions related to the indicators, evidence documentation, and the Environmental Rating Scales. Participants can learn from questions other participants ask and are expected to submit specific questions in advance to help guide the content of the meeting. This is provided as additional support for programs participating in the Level 3-5 rating.
Recorded Q&A Sessions
Click on the date listed below to view the most recent recorded Q&A sessions.
**PLEASE NOTE**
A passcode is required to access the video. When prompted, copy and paste this passcode to access the video: Ak#Lk6^7
