016.22.22 Ark. Code R. § 002 - Better Beginnings Quality Rating Improvement System
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND HISTORY
In 1993, the legislature passed a bill enabling the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (the "Division" or "DCCECE") to create a system by which licensed childcare and early childhood education entities could be certified as "quality." A goal of this system was to help the families of Arkansas to understand that providers, achieving this certification, consistently provided an early care and education environment above the minimum licensing requirements. The larger goal was to encourage and achieve better lifelong outcomes for children, by helping to assure that their time in childcare and early childhood education is nurturing, enriching, and meaningful.
In 2004, the state of Arkansas was awarded a State Maternal and Child Health Care grant which created the Arkansas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Initiative (AECCS). Over almost five (5) years, committees, which involved more than two hundred (200) childcare and early childhood related professionals met, researched, and created an improved approach to "quality." The result was a tiered quality rating and improvement system for our state called "Better Beginnings," implemented in 2010. Since this time, the state has dedicated much time and many resources to finding ways to meet the needs of the children, and to assist programs in overcoming obstacles to participation.
"Better Beginnings," Arkansas' revised tiered quality rating and improvement system is available to every licensed and registered childcare provider in Arkansas. The system is designed to help programs improve their day-to-day environment for children, and to establish proven administrative practices. Tools and trainings are readily available for providers as they move along the path from Better Beginnings levels one through six (1-6).
Better Beginnings is available to every licensed and registered childcare provider in Arkansas. Whether you are a family home, an out-of-school time program, or a childcare center, your participation is imperative for the future of Arkansas. We are grateful to all who have worked to create Better Beginnings and make it what it is today. Every Child Deserves Our Best!
Better Beginnings Overview
Better Beginnings is a tiered quality rating and improvement system (TQRIS) which is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. Program types include center-based care, family child care, and out-of-school time programs.
Better Beginnings is a "building block" approach, which means that programs must meet all requirements at one level before moving to the next. Licensing, or Minimum Licensing Requirements (MLR), is the foundation on which Better Beginnings is built. The requirements at level one (1) of Better Beginnings align with MLR and help the director or primary caregiver begin the journey towards quality improvement. At level two (2), the staff become more involved in the process. Levels three (3) and above set even higher requirements for all components.
Resources are available and have been specifically designed to help providers understand and meet each requirement. The resources will help providers become more knowledgeable and effective for Better Beginnings in the lives of children.
ADE |
Arkansas Department of Education |
ABC |
Arkansas Better Chance |
AEDC |
Arkansas Economic Development Commission |
BAS |
Business Administration Scale |
CARF |
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities: Child and Youth Services Standards |
CDA |
Child Development Associate Credential |
DCCECE |
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education |
DHS |
Department of Human Services |
Director |
The person who meets MLR as director and is on site a minimum of 50% of the operational day. |
ECERS |
Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale |
ERS |
Environment Rating Scale |
FCCERS |
Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale |
ITERS |
Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale |
MLR |
Minimum Licensing Requirements |
NAEYC |
National Association for the Education of Young Children |
NAFCC |
National Association for Family Child Care |
PAS |
Program Administration Scale |
PDR |
Professional Development Registry |
PQA |
Program Quality Assessment |
SACERS |
School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale |
TQRIS |
Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System |
YPQI |
Youth Program Quality Intervention |
* Administration
* Staff Qualifications and Professional Development
* Learning Environment/Environment Assessment
* Child Health and Development
There are requirements to be met in each component area in each of the levels. The components, requirements, and levels are on the following pages.
ARKANSAS BETTER BEGINNINGS CHILD CARE CENTER REQUIREMENTS
All facilities must be in good standing with the Department of Human Services.
COMPONENTS |
LEVEL 1 |
LEVEL 2 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 |
LEVEL 3 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 and Level 2 |
LEVEL 4 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 3 |
LEVEL 5 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 4 |
LEVEL 6 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 5 |
A. Administration |
1.A.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.A.2 The facility may have a program review completed by a certified PAS assessor. School age programs using YPQI may have a PQA Form B review completed by a reliable assessor. |
2.A.1 The facility shall have a PAS review completed by a certified PAS assessor. Schoolage programs using YPQI shall have a PQA Form B review completed by a reliable assessor. 2.A.2 The director shall complete a Strengthening Families training listed on the PDR. |
3.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on PAS items 1-21 (items 5 and 6 are scored but are not included in the average). School-age programs using YPQI shall have a PQA Form B score of 3.75 or higher. 3.A.2 The director shall complete the Strengthening Families online self-assessment for three (3) or more Strategies. 3.A.3 The facility shall develop a Strengthening Families action plan and implement at least one (1) action step. |
4.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on PAS. School-age programs using YPQI shall have a PQA Form B score of 4.00 or higher. 4.A.2 The director shall implement at least one (1) additional Strengthening Families action step for a total of two (2). |
5.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on PAS. School-age programs using YPQI shall have a PQA Form B score of 4.25 or higher. |
6.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on PAS. School-age programs using YPQI shall have a PQA Form B score of 4.75 or higher. |
B. Staff Qualifications and Professional Development |
1.B.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.B.1 All directors and at least fifty percent (50%) of teaching staff shall complete "Early Learning Standards (ELS) Basics Training." The director and school-age staff shall complete "Developmental Assets Training." 2.B.2 All directors and fifty percent (50%) of teaching staff shall complete an ERS training; if the facility is using YPQI, all directors and school-age staff shall complete YPQI training. 2.B.3 The director and kitchen manager (if applicable) shall participate in at least two (2) clock hours of training on nutrition for children annually. 2.B.4 The director shall complete training on developmentally appropriate physical activities for children. |
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C. Learning Environment / Environment Assessment |
1.C.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.C.2 The facility may have an ERS review. School age programs using YPQI may have a PQA review. |
2.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 3.00 or higher on the ERS review. School age programs using PQA shall score a 3.00 or higher on the PQA. |
3.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on the ERS. School age programs using PQA shall score 3.75 or higher on the PQA. 3.C.2 The staff shall maintain a portfolio for each child. |
4.C.1 Staff to child ratios shall be maintained as follows: Birth-18 months 1:4 18-36 months 1:7 2 ½ - 3 years 1:1 4 years 1:12 5 years and up 1:18 4.C.2 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on the ERS. School age programs using PQA shall score 4.00 or higher on the PQA. |
5.C.1 Staff to child ratios shall be maintained as follows: Birth-18 months 1:4 18-36 months 1:6 2 ½ - 3 years 1:10 4 years 1:10 5 years and up 1:18 5.C.2 The facility shall score an average of 5.50 or higher on the ERS. School age programs using the PQA shall score 4.25 or higher on the PQA. |
6.C.1 Staff to child ratios shall be maintained as follows: Birth-18 months 1:4 18-36 months 1:6 2 ½ - 3 years 1:10 4 years 1:10 5 years and up 1:15 6.C.2 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on the ERS. School age programs using the PQA shall score 4.50 or higher on the PQA. |
D. Child Health and Development |
1.D.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.D.1 The facility shall document distribution of ARKids First information to families of uninsured children. 2.D.2 The facility shall share information on child development, stages of development, and children's health with families. 2.D.3 All children, birth to kindergarten, shall have an annual developmental screening. |
3.D.1 The facility shall share information on nutrition and physical activity for children with families. 3.D.2 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a (1) physical activity selfassessment and create and implement one action plan in the physical activity module. |
4.D.1 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding & infant feeding, outdoor play & learning, or screen time and create and implement two action plans in that module. |
5.D.1 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time and create and implement two (2) action plans in that module. |
6.D.1 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time and create and implement two (2) action plans in that module. |
2.D.4 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a child nutrition self-assessment and create and implement one (1) action plan in the child nutrition module. 2.D.5 The facility shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a second self-assessment in the child nutrition model to assess progress. |
3.D.3 The facility shall use the Division -approved tool to complete a second self-assessment in the physical activity module to assess progress. |
4.D.2 The facility shall use the Division - approved tool to complete a second selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding & infant feeding, outdoor play & learning, OR screen time to assess progress. |
5.D.2 The facility shall use the Division - approved tool to complete a second selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding & infant feeding, outdoor play & learning, OR screen time to assess progress. |
6.D.2 The facility shall use the Division - approved tool to complete a second selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding & infant feeding, outdoor play & learning, OR screen time to assess progress. |
ARKANSAS BETTER BEGINNINGS - LICENSED AND REGISTERED HOME REQUIREMENTS
All facilities must be in good standing with the Department of Human Services.
COMPONENTS |
LEVEL 1 |
LEVEL 2 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 |
LEVEL 3 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 and Level 2 |
LEVEL 4 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 3 |
LEVEL 5 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 4 |
LEVEL 6 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 5 |
A. Administration |
1.A.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.A.2 The facility may have a program review completed by a certified BAS assessor. |
2.A.1 A program review shall be completed by a certified BAS assessor. 2.A.2 The primary caregiver shall complete a Strengthening Families training listed on the PDR. |
3.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on BAS items 2-10 (item 2 is scored but is not included in the average). 3.A.2 The primary caregiver shall complete the Strengthening Families online selfassessment for three (3) or more strategies. 3.A.3 The primary caregiver shall develop a Strengthening Families action plan and implement at least one (1) action step. |
4.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on BAS. 4.A.2 The primary caregiver shall implement at least one (1) additional Strengthening Families action plan for a total of two (2). |
5.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on BAS. |
6.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on BAS. |
B. Staff Qualifications and Professional Development |
1.B.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.B.1 The primary caregiver shall complete "Early Learning Standards Basics" training. 2.B.2 The primary caregiver shall complete an ERS training. 2.B.3 The primary caregiver shall participate in at least two (2) clock hours of training on nutrition for children, annually. 2.B.4 The primary caregiver shall complete training on developmentally appropriate physical activities for children. |
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C. Learning Environment / Environment Assessment |
1.C.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.C.2 The facility may have a FCCERS review. |
2.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 3.00 or higher on the FCCERS. |
3.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on the FCCERS. 3.C.2 Caregivers shall maintain a portfolio for each child. |
4.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on the FCCERS. |
5.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.50 or higher on the FCCERS. |
6.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on the FCCERS. |
D. Child Health and Development |
1.D.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.D.1 The primary caregiver shall document distribution of ARKids First information to families of uninsured children. 2.D.2 The primary caregiver shall share information regarding child development, stages of development, and children's health with families. 2.D.3 All children birth to kindergarten shall have an annual developmental screening. 2.D.4 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a child nutrition selfassessment and create and implement one (1) action plan in the child nutrition module. 2.D.5 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a second self-assessment in the child nutrition module to assess progress. |
3.D.1 The primary caregiver shall share information on nutrition and physical activity for children with families. 3.D.2 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a physical activity selfassessment and create and implement one action plan in the physical activity module. 3.D.3 The primary caregiver shall use the Division - approved tool to complete a second self-assessment in the physical activity module to assess progress. |
4.D.1 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a self-assessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time and create and implement two action plans in that module. 4.D.2 The primary caregiver shall use the Division-approved tool to complete a second self-assessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screentime to assess progress. |
5.D.1 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a self-assessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time and create and implement two (2) action plans in that module. 5.D.2 The primary caregiver shall use the Division-approved tool to complete a second selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time to assess progress. |
6.D.1 The primary caregiver shall use a Division-approved tool to complete a self-assessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time and create and implement two (2) action plans in that module. 6.D.2 The primary caregiver shall use the Division-approved tool to complete a second selfassessment in child nutrition, physical activity, farm to ECE, oral health, breastfeeding and infant feeding, outdoor play and learning, OR screen time to assess progress. |
ARKANSAS BETTER BEGINNINGS - OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME REQUIREMENTS
All facilities must be in good standing with the Department of Human Services.
COMPONENTS |
LEVEL 1 |
LEVEL 2 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 |
LEVEL 3 Must meet all requirements for Level 1 and Level 2 |
LEVEL 4 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 3 |
LEVEL 5 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 4 |
LEVEL 6 Must meet all requirements for Levels 1 - 5 |
A. Administration |
1.A.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.A.2 The facility may have a PAS review completed by a certified assessor or a PQA form B review completed by a reliable assessor. |
2.A.1 The facility shall have a PAS review completed by a certified assessor. If using YPQI, PAS is not required; however, a PQA Form B review shall be completed by a reliable assessor. 2.A.2 The director shall complete a Strengthening Families training, listed on the PDR. |
3.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on PAS items 1-21 (items 5 and 6 are scored but are not included in the average.). If using YPQI, PAS is not required; however, a PQA Form B score of 3.75 or higher is required. 3.A.2 The director shall complete the Strengthening Families online self-assessment for three (3) or more Strategies. |
4.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on PAS. If using YPQI, PAS is not required; however, a PQA Form B score of 4.00 or higher is required. 4.A.2 The director shall implement at least one (1) additional Strengthening Families action plan for a total of two (2). |
5.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on PAS. If using YPQI, PAS is not required; however, a PQA Form B score of 4.25 or higher is required. |
6.A.1 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on PAS. If using YPQI, PAS is not required PAS is not required; however, a PQA Form B score of 4.75 or higher is required. |
3.A.3 The facility shall develop a Strengthening Families action plan and implement at least one (1) action step. |
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B. Staff Qualifications and Professional Development |
1.B.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.B.1 All directors and at least fifty percent (50%) of teaching staff shall complete "Intro to the 40 Developmental Assets" training. 2.B.2 All directors and, and fifty percent (50%) of the teaching staff shall complete an ERS or YPQI training. 2.B.3 The director and kitchen manager (if applicable) shall participate in training on nutrition for school age children/youth, annually. 2.B.4 The director shall complete training on developmentally appropriate physical activities for children/youth. |
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C. Learning Environment / Environment Assessment |
1.C.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. 1.C.2 The facility may have a SACERS or a PQA review completed by a reliable assessor. |
2.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 3.00 or higher on the SACERS or 3.00 or higher on the PQA. |
3.C.1 Facility shall score an average of 4.00 or higher on the SACERS or 3.75 or higher on the PQA. 3.C.2 Staff shall maintain a portfolio for each participant. |
4.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.00 or higher on the SACERS or 4.00 or higher on the PQA. |
5.C.1 The facility shall score an average of 5.50 or higher on the SACERS or 4.25 or higher on the PQA. |
6.C.1 The staff/participant ratio shall be 1:15. 6.C.2 The facility shall score an average of 6.00 or higher on the SACERS or 4.50 or higher on the PQA. |
D. Child/Youth Health and Development |
1.D.1 The facility has a license in New Provisional or Regular status. |
2.D.1 The facility shall document the distribution of ARKids First information to families of uninsured participants. 2.D.2 The facility shall share with families information regarding child or youth development, stages of development, and children's health. |
3.D.1 The facility shall share information on nutrition and physical activity for school age children with families. |
* Arkansas Better Chance (ABC)
* Association Montessori International
* The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities: Child and Youth Services Standards (CARF)
* Early Head Start
* Head Start
* National Afterschool Association (NAA)
* National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
* National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
Other accreditation systems may be considered upon review and approval by the Better Beginnings Program Administrator.
Facilities with such accreditations shall apply for participation in Better Beginnings via the provider portal and submit verification of the accreditation. If the provider portal is not operable, applications may be submitted electronically through email at BetterBeginnings@dhs.arkansas.gov. Additional documentation of Better Beginnings requirements or reviews may be required to determine the level of Better Beginnings certification.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.