For Families
Why Participation in Quality Care South Dakota Matters
Quality Care South Dakota (QCSD) is a voluntary program designed to assist child care and school-age care programs and educators by offering personalized coaching and providing observational data to support the development of a continuous quality improvement plan. Committing to quality improvement is an investment that takes time and dedication. High-quality child care and school-age care programs understand that investing in their staff through QCSD participation helps ensure educators are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to create safe, healthy, child-centered, and engaging learning environments. By selecting a child care or school-age care program that prioritizes staff development, you are making a significant investment in your child’s future.
Quality Care – Birth to Age 5
All parents want to support their child’s health, happiness, and development. Choosing quality child care is an excellent way to do this! A quality child care program provides a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive, engage in meaningful play, and develop essential skills.
Research tells us that 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life. The brain develops based on a child’s specific experiences. Children in high-quality child care are more likely to have positive experiences that help their brains develop to the fullest.
Quality Care – School Age
Quality school-age care programs offer engaging activities like sports, arts, and science, helping children develop creativity, teamwork, and life skills. These programs encourage self-expression while teaching problem-solving, communication, and empathy through collaborative play and guided interactions.
In addition to fun, these programs integrate educational opportunities like homework help and enrichment projects, fostering a love for learning in a safe, supportive environment. With trained staff providing structure and guidance, quality care maximizes children’s development during out-of-school time.
Benefits of Quality Child Care AND SCHOOL AGE CARE
Impact how children learn, think, and develop life skills
Promote social skills and emotional skills
Encourage curiosity and cultivate a love of learning
Foster positive relationships with well-trained caregivers who are committed to your child’s growth
Explanation of levels (Areas of focus)
The SD Quality Recognition and Information System (QRIS) frameworks for centers, family day care and school-age care programs are a building block model design with small achievable steps. The requirements for the SD QRIS build from SD child care regulations. In this model, level 1 requirements must be met before moving on to level 2, 3 or 4. In achieving a level 1 designation, we recognize that a child care program has taken steps to move beyond required licensing health and safety requirements and completed additional requirements and training in the first block of the framework. The design of the framework provides an opportunity for programs to be recognized and celebrate their achievements.
Level 1: Programs complete these criteria
- Good standing with licensing
- Use consistent checklists and schedules
- Positively interact with children, parents, and families
- Strengthen knowledge of child development
- Prioritizes learning opportunities with professional development
Level 2: Programs complete all criteria for level 1 AND:
- Participates in external observation to gather data on quality environments.
- Complete goals focused in areas of health and safety, learning environments, program management, and workforce development.
- Encourages free choice and offered a variety of learning activities based on children’s needs
- Help guide child behaviors to build interpersonal relationships
- Shares information with families and community
Level 3: programs have demonstrated all level 1 and 2 criteria AND:
- Conducts internal observations of learning spaces and staff-child interactions
- Provides ample free choice and accessibility for children’s activities
- Incorporates curriculum based on children’s needs and interests
- Plans for continued learning and professional growth
Level 4: programs have demonstrated all level 1, 2, and 3 criteria AND:
- Participates in external observation to gather data on quality environments and interactions
- Shares information and events with families and community
- Encourages staff to focus on age specific trainings within their professional development plan
- Program focuses on leadership development to continue quality improvement and maintenance
For questions, please reach out to SDSU.SDQRIS@sdstate.edu
Box 2218
Brookings, SD 57007
SDSU.SDQRIS@sdstate.edu
605-688-5730
Hours: 8 am – 5 pm CST, Monday -Friday