The Department of Human Services in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) will begin the process of implementing an Early Childcare Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). This effort will position the Virgin Islands as the first U.S. territory to join over 20 states that administers a QRIS. A kick off meeting is scheduled to be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 14, at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa.
A QRIS is a tool designed to assess and improve the level of quality in early and school age care and education programs. Implementing a QRIS in the territory will work simultaneously to improve professional development for childcare providers and empower parents to select quality early care
and education for their children. It is fiscally supported by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Friday’s meeting will introduce participants to consultants from Oldham Innovative Research and Anne Mitchell, a QRIS national expert, who will help implement the system in the territory. As the facilitator of the Office of Childcare and Regulatory Services and the Head Start Program, Human Services has worked in an ongoing partnership with ECAC to improve the quality of care for young children.
Governor and Ms. deJongh are expected to make comments. Policy makers, early childhood practitioners, educators, healthcare professionals, government representatives, members of the 29th Legislature and parents are expected to attend.