This article describes the lack of an equity lens in the history of early childhood program quality rating systems. The authors address the flaws in quality rating systems (QRS) as they relate to equity for marginalized communities and offer suggestions for improvement of QRS toward a more equitable system of measuring quality in early childhood programs.
Meek, Shantel, Iheoma U. Iruka, Xigrid Soto-Boykin, Darielle Blevins, Brittany Alexander, Mario Cardona, and Dina Castro. 2022. Equity is Quality, Quality is Equity: Operationalizing Equity in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. https://childandfamilysuccess.asu.edu/sites/default/files/2022-06/QRIS-report-062122.pdf (Accessed September 16, 2022).
Black people experience much higher rates of prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms compared to all other racial/ethnic groups in California and compared to national rates.These disparities stem from past and present racism and discrimination in the health care system and their day-to-day experiences that results in poor quality of care for Black communities.
Children Now, (2021).
In this technical assistance document (a companion to the Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions, which outlines the legal requirements related to behavior support and discipline for eligible students with disabilities under IDEA), the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides information about resources, strategies, and evidence-based practices that (while not required by law) can help States, LEAs, schools, early childhood programs, educators, and families in their efforts to meet IDEA requirements and, in doing so, improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Office of Special Education Rehabilitative Services. 2022. Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting the Needs of Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Stakeholders
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/guide-positive-proactive-approaches-to-supporting-children-with-disabilities.pdf (accessed September 16, 2022).
This document is a summary of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) provisions of the IDEA as applicable to preschool aged children with disabilities.
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. 2022. Preschool LRE Reference Points and Discussion Prompts. https://ectacenter.org/topics/iep/iep-reference.asp (accessed September 16, 2022).
This article is adapted from a presentation for ZERO TO THREE’s Scientific Meeting held on April 27, 2021. In the presentation Ross Thompson articulated The Development of Social Categories and Preferences by Young Children, Dr. Andrew Meltzoff described his research concerning the ways that young children pick up bias from everyday experience and Dr. Walter Gilliam discussed racial bias exhibited by early childhood educators.
Thompson, R.A., Meltzoff, A.N., & Gilliam, W.S. (2021). Race, Equity, Bias, and Early Childhood: Examining the Research. Zero to Three Journal, 42(1), 5-16.
