Learn & Grow Framework

The 5 Levels of Quality

There are five levels of quality that early childhood education programs can work to achieve.

Quality Domains

Within each level of quality, there are up to four quality domains to achieve. Click below for descriptions of each:

Administration & Leadership: Active engagement in continuous quality improvement takes specific dedication, leadership, support, and knowledge of program administrators. Some of the ways program administrators demonstrate their commitment to quality are: providing resources for staff to complete a related professional development certification or degree, supporting onsite mentoring, and implementing employee/staff retention practices such as paying staff a higher wage compensatory to professional development and educational attainment and providing comprehensive employee benefits.
Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development: ECE education is a profession. While experience is valuable to any profession, formalized education and training plays a key role. The ECE sector works to shape the minds of children for Alaska’s future. EC educator training, professional development, and related supports are pivotal to improving ECE program quality.
Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions & Child Outcomes: Young children learn in the context of relationships. Adult and child relationships are critical to a child’s readiness for school and success in life. One of the identified “few and the powerful” quality indicators is the use of whole child evidence based curriculum and child assessment tools to fidelity. Learn & Grow introduces basic foundational training for teachers at Level 2 and then moves in Levels 3, 4 and 5 to training and supports focused on the fidelity use of curriculum and child assessment to meet the individual needs of all children in a classroom and to monitor their progress toward meeting highly held expectations and being prepared for kindergarten and later school.
Family & Community Engagement: Positive and nurturing relationships are critical between children and caregivers. ECE programs provide a place for families to connect with other families and to a network of supports, and for children to make friends.


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  <dt>Administration & Leadership</dt>
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  <dt>Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development</dt>
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  <dt>Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions & Child Outcomes</dt>
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Quality Standards & Activities

Click on the tabs below to find out more about the Quality Standard and Activity associated with each domain:

Level 1
Level 2

LEVEL 1: LEARNING ABOUT HIGHER QUALITY

Click on the below domains to learn more about the Quality Standards & Quality Activities associated with Level 1.

Please note: New staff hired, or new to position, within two (2) months of program submitting Level 1 verification, are exempt from completing Level 1 trainings, and Alaska SEED Registry, until renewal.

Administration & Leadership

PROGRAM
QUALITY STANDARD: Program utilizes a continuous improvement process, focused on supporting teachers to create positive outcomes for children; create individualized and culturally responsive learning environments; engage and partner with families; and cultivate leaders.

QUALITY ACTIVITY: Program has a written continuous quality improvement plan (CQIP).

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Early childhood and school-age educators are actively engaged in ongoing professional development to advance Alaska SEED career ladder placement.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: All early childhood educators who work directly with children or supervisor individuals who work with children are in the Alaska System for Early Education Development (SEED) Registry.

QUALITY STANDARD #2: Early childhood educators continue to advance their knowledge and understanding of best practices and developmentally appropriate practices of children in care; social-emotional development; impacts of adversity; use of environment to support learning; inclusion and diversity practices; how to support children and families in being resilient; and how to use child observation & assessment and curriculum to guide interactions.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #2: Leadership team and lead teachers have completed the Learn & Grow Level 1 training.

LEVEL 2: MOVING INTO HIGHER QUALITY

Click on the below domains to learn more about the Quality Standards & Quality Activities associated with Level 2.

Please note: New staff hired, or new to position, within six (6) months of program submitting Level 2 verification, are exempt from completing Level 2 trainings until renewal.

Administration & Leadership

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Program is guided by an early childhood philosophy statement.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: Program has a written philosophy statement.

QUALITY STANDARD #2: Program utilizes a continuous process focused on supporting teachers to: create positive outcomes for children; create individualized and culturally responsive learning environments; engage and partner with families; and cultivate leaders.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #2: Program has a current continuous quality improvement plan (CQIP). Also provide a signed Learn & Grow annual letter of commitment.

QUALITY STANDARD #3: Program demonstrates time and tools to assure early childhood and school-age educators and administration have access to ongoing professional development and coaching supports to advance their skills and knowledge.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #3: (Center Only) Center Program Administrator completes the Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential (or equivalent based on personnel of program). See the Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential for additional information and application.

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Early childhood and school-age educators are actively engaged in ongoing professional development to advance Alaska SEED career ladder placement

QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: Center Administrator and Leadership team are Alaska SEED Level 7. Group Home and Home Administrator are Alaska SEED Level 5.

QUALITY STANDARD #2: Early childhood educators continue to advance knowledge and understanding of best practices and developmentally appropriate practices of children in care; social emotional development; impacts of adversity; use of environment to support learning; inclusion and diversity practices; how to support children and families to be resilient; and how to use child observation and assessment and curriculum to guide interactions.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #2: Leadership team and lead early childhood educators have completed all five (5) Level 2 trainings.

Alaska Early Childhood Core Knowledge & Competencies
Introduction to ERS or Introduction to CLASS
Introduction to the Pyramid Model
Strengthening Families
Alaska Early Learning Guidelines

Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions, and Child Outcomes

QUALITY STANDARD: Program uses a program assessment (environment and adult-child interaction) to advance the quality of the learning environment and relationships designed to support children’s growth and development (ERS, CLASS, or SA equivalent tool).

QUALITY ACTIVITY: Self-reflection of ERS or CLASS in each classroom and a classroom action plan to be completed in conjunction with *Relationship Based Professional Development (RPBD)/thread specialist. Programs can also request an outside ERS or CLASS assessment from thread.

*Relationships Based Professional Development is a term several states use to categorize a growing group of cross disciplinary professionals to support early childhood educators, programs, and children. RBPD professionals require specific skills, knowledge, and training above and beyond early childhood education or special education degrees, or content training. Several titles fall under the category of RBPD, including: Consultant, Mentor, Coach, Reflective Supervisor, Infant or Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Behavior Consultation, Technical Assistance Provider, or Professional Development Specialist.

Family & Community Engagement

QUALITY STANDARD: Program celebrates the cultural and linguistic diversity of all children and families enrolled in the program. Program values and intentionally plans for consistent communication and active family involvement in child’s early childhood and school-age experiences.

QUALITY ACTIVITY: See Level 2 training requirements: Strengthening Families.

LEVEL 3: COMMITTING TO HIGHER QUALITY

Click on the below domains to learn more about the Quality Standards & Quality Activities associated with Level 3.

Administration & Leadership

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Program is guided by an early childhood philosophy statement.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: Program’s philosophy statement is shared with families and personnel at hire, or new Early Childhood Program (ECP) orientation.

QUALITY STANDARD #2: Early childhood educators continue to advance knowledge and understanding of best practices and developmentally appropriate practices of children in care; social-emotional development; impacts of adversity; use of environment to support learning; inclusion and diversity practices; how to support children and families to be resilient; and how to use child observation & assessment and curriculum to guide interactions..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #2: Program inclusion readiness checklist is completed annually. Program has developmental screening, child assessment, and curriculum policies and procedures aligned with program philosophy and are shared with families at enrollment and ECP at new staff orientation.

QUALITY STANDARD #3: Program utilizes a continuous improvement process focused on supporting teachers to: create positive outcomes for children; create individualized and culturally responsive learning environments; engage and partner with families; and cultivate leaders..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #3: Program leadership team completes I program self-assessment tool to inform CQIP or annual planning document.*

*see appendix for list of suggested tools and minimally required membership

QUALITY STANDARD #4: Program demonstrates supports for ECP retention, wellness, and sustainable business practices..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #4: Program completes an annual ECP feedback survey. Program uses a business/fiscal administration assessment tool or process to inform the development of CQIP or annual planning document.* Get Started

*see appendix for list of suggested tools or processes

QUALITY STANDARD #5: Program leadership uses the Alaska Early Childhood Core Knowledge & Competencies (and admin CKC), or approved equivalent, to guide the development of annual professional development plans..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #5: Administrator or designee, dedicates time to develop professional development plans with each ECP annually that include alignment with Alaska EC CKC or equivalent professional competencies.

QUALITY STANDARD #6: Programs demonstrate time and tools to assure early childhood and school age professionals/administration have access to ongoing professional development and coaching supports to advance their skills..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #6: Home and Group Home complete the Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential.

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Early childhood and school-age professionals are actively engaged in ongoing professional development to advance Alaska SEED career ladder placement.

QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: A child care center, school district, or head start early childhood administrator is an Alaska SEED Level 8. Home and Group Home administrators are an Alaska SEED Level 6. Program leadership team members are an Alaska SEED Level 8. 50% of lead early childhood professionals are an Alaska SEED Level 6. Remaining lead teachers are at least Alaska SEED Level 4. 50% of assistant teachers are an Alaska SEED Level 4. Remaining assistant teachers are at least at Alaska SEED Level 2.

QUALITY STANDARD #2: Early childhood professionals continue to advance knowledge and understanding of best practices and developmentally appropriate practices of children in care; social-emotional development; impacts of adversity; use of environment to support learning; inclusion and diversity practices; how to support children and families to be resilient; and how to use child observation & assessment and curriculum to guide interactions..

QUALITY ACTIVITY #2: Lead early childhood professionals, leadership team, and the program administrator have completed trainings to satisfy all the Level 3 specific training content areas:

Introduction to early childhood curriculum & assessment
Introduction to inclusionary practices, including description of developmental and social-emotional screening and referral processes
Culturally responsive practices to include information on implicit bias
Introduction to Coaching
Training related to reduction of exclusionary practices

Assistant early childhood education professionals have completed Level 2 specific trainings. Program administrator, or designee, have completed training specific to developmental screening they have chosen, including how to communicate screening results with families.

Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions, and Child Outcomes

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Family & Community Engagement

LEVEL 4: GROWING INTO HIGHER QUALITY

Click on the below domains to learn more about the Quality Standards & Quality Activities associated with Level 4.

Administration & Leadership

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Program is guided by an early childhood philosophy statement.
QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: Program has a written philosophy statement.

QUALITY STANDARD #3: Program demonstrates time and tools to assure early childhood and school-age professionals and administration have access to ongoing professional development and coaching supports to advance their skills and knowledge.
QUALITY ACTIVITY #3: Program Administrator completes the Alaska Early Childhood Asministrator Credential (or equivalent baed on personnel of program). See Level 2 training requirements: Introduction to the Alaska EC CKC.

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development

Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions, and Child Outcomes

Family & Community Engagement

LEVEL 5: THRIVING IN HIGHER QUALITY

Click on the below domains to learn more about the Quality Standards & Quality Activities associated with Level 5.

Administration & Leadership

QUALITY STANDARD #1: Program is guided by an early childhood philosophy statement.
QUALITY ACTIVITY #1: Program has a written philosophy statement.

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications & Professional Development

Learning Environment, Adult-Child Interactions, and Child Outcomes

Family & Community Engagement

What’s Next

Stay tuned for Quality Activities for Levels 3-5!