QRIS and Quality Improvement Initiatives as a Mechanism of Consumer Education

The quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) structure was designed by states to evaluate and strengthen the level of quality of early child care programs and communicate these findings in an understandable way (Office of Child Care, n.d.). The QRIS structure uses a system of rating programs that includes a ranking of stars, levels, or steps from 1 to 4 or 5. This type of rating system provides an independent evaluation of key quality indicators and information that can be very helpful to parents when they initially look for programs for their child.