Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Division 22 - Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education › Rule 016.22.22-002 - Better Beginnings Quality Rating Improvement System

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
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.
1.0
RULES AND REGULATIONS
1.00
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
1.01 These regulations are enacted pursuant
			 to Arkansas Code Ann. §
										20-78-201 -226 as
			 amended.
1.02 These regulations
			 shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Child
			 Care and Early Childhood Education regulations governing Better Beginnings,
			 Arkansas's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System.