Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) is partnering with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services (DHHS, OCFS) to offer these awards to eligible early childhood and out-of-school time programs working toward and increasing their Star rating on Rising Stars for ME, Maine’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. The Quality Improvement Awards are funded by the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5) Renewal Grant, # 90TP0097=01-00.
**Latest Update** to the 2024-2025 Quality Improvement Awards
- Recognizing that one of the biggest eligibility barriers for receiving a Quality Improvement Award is meeting the Career Lattice requirements in Standard 3. Meeting the education, experience, and training expectations by the end of the funding period prevents some programs from benefiting from this opportunity. To allow more programs to benefit from the Quality Improvement Awards and be able to make quality changes, we have adjusted the eligibility. Programs facing challenges with meeting the Career Lattice requirements are now eligible if they develop a professional development plan addressing these needs with MRTQ and can meet all other requirements for increasing their Star rating.
Starting April 1, 2024, Awards will be provided on a first come first served basis until funds run out or October 31, 2026. Programs must allow enough time to complete Rising Stars for ME requirements and increase the Star rating by then.
Deadlines – To allow time to complete the Rising Stars for ME requirements and increase the Star rating:
- Programs working toward a Star 3 or 4 must submit the Quality Improvement Plan no later than May 1, 2026.
- Programs working on Star 5 must anticipate meeting all Rising Stars for ME Star 5 standards and complete the accreditation application by October 31, 2026.
To receive an award, programs moving from Star 2 to 3, Star 3 to 4, Star 4 to 5, or
maintaining a Star 5 will:
- Use the Rising Stars for ME Recommendations to create a Quality
Improvement Plan and identify steps and resources needed to meet Rising
Stars for ME Standards. - Meet with MRTQ PDN staff to review the Quality Improvement Plan and be
connected to training offerings, technical assistance, and financial resources. - Estimate reasonable and necessary funding based on the Quality
Improvement Plan and submit a Funding Request. - Be approved and receive initial funding to support the identified steps in the Quality Improvement Plan.
- Commit to working toward meeting the Rising Stars for ME Standards.
- Reapply for a new Star rating and, if successful, receive a cash payment.
Programs that commit to increasing their Star rating can receive funding to support the work required to meet Rising Stars for ME standards and receive a cash payment after Star rating has increased.
After Star rating has increased, programs receive cash payments of:
- $3500, for increase from Star 2 to 3.
- $3000, for increase from Star 3 to 4.
- $2500, for increase from 4 to 5 or for remaining Star 5.
Based on the Rising Stars for ME Standards, initial funding may cover some costs of completing/meeting requirement:
- Cost of MRTQ PDN or State-Approved training.
- Personal or substitute time to participate in training or Technical Assistance offerings.
- Purchases of materials and equipment.
- Minor changes and upgrades to the program’s physical space.
- An administrative stipend for planning and implementing changes.
An award for improvement of a single Star level cannot exceed $10,000. Programs can apply for additional awards for movement to the next Star rating.
Award money is considered income, as a grant is.
Please send and questions to Karen Bergeron, Statewide Quality Initiatives Manager at mrtq.qiawards@maine.edu or call 207-653-5090.
Eligibility: To be eligible to receive a Quality Improvement Award, programs will:
- Have an unexpired Star 2 rating or above on Rising Stars for ME, Maine’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
- Have completed a Rising Stars for ME application and E-Portfolio, including uploaded documents that reflect current work.
- Ensure there is time for the program to meet all Standards for the desired Star rating by October 31, 2025.
- Be enrolled in the DHHS OCFS Salary Supplement Program.
- Not have a current Conditional License. If your program becomes Conditional during this process, you may continue to participate in the Quality Improvement Plan process but would not be eligible for further funding. Upon resolution of Conditional status, the program may receive the remainder of the award if funding is available.
- Have or will create a vendor account for the University of Maine System
How to get started:
- Program Owner or Director will complete and manage a Quality Improvement Plan for each child care license.
- Download the Excel spreadsheet for the form that best fits your program, and complete it using our step-by-step instructions: Facilities – Quality Improvement Plan Spreadsheet or Family Child Care – Quality Improvement Plan Spreadsheet. *Save the document to your computer.
- Mac Computer users may find the Spreadsheet does not work properly. Please contact Karen Bergeron for alternate access to the Spreadsheet.
- Optional: If you prefer a paper version to write out your plans first, download and print the Quality Improvement Plan Worksheet.
How to Complete the Quality Improvement Plan:
To view your Rising Stars for ME Recommendation Page
- Visit: Rising Stars for ME, log in to your account, go to “Your Rising Stars Application” and clicking on the most recent application.
MRTQ PDN provides individual support for individuals having difficulty with accessing or completing any portion of the Quality Improvement Award process due to an individualized need such as a disability, language barriers, etc. If interested, contact Karen Bergeron at mrtq.qiawards@maine.edu or 207-653-5090.
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