Overview
Paths to QUALITY™ encourages child care providers to enhance their businesses by providing knowledge, training, and guidance in providing higher quality care.
- It identifies four levels of high quality care and establishes the requirements to meet those levels
- It provides incentives to advance to the next level of care
- It provides a referral system that helps parents locate participating Paths to QUALITY™ providers like you
Best of all, Paths to Quality™ is a free resource, and it’s easy to do! You can participate using our easy, self-guided workbook. For support navigating the program contact a Support Specialist at 800-299-1627
What are the benefits of participating in Paths to QUALITY™?
- All programs who enroll in the Paths to QUALITY™ system will receive a participation incentive.
- Programs that successfully complete Levels 2 and 3 are eligible for one-time cash recognition awards upon attainment of each level.
- Programs who achieve Level 3 and desire to move on to Level 4, which includes becoming accredited by an approved national accrediting body, will be eligible for financial support and technical assistance to help with the costs associated with national accreditation. The amount of financial support is based on need and the number of children enrolled in a program. Support is available to assist with the accreditation process, the validation/endorsement phase, and/or equipment needed to meet the accreditation criteria.
- After completing the standards for Level 4, programs are eligible for special one time cash recognition award to recognize their achievement of the highest level of quality.
- Programs enrolled in Paths to QUALITY™ can receive free marketing materials including a toolkit full of practical items to market their program to current and potential families. Programs will also receive recognition certificates and a Paths to QUALITY™ sign or banner to display outside their program.
- Scholarships and professional development opportunities are available to increase staff education and skill levels.
- A program enrolled in Paths to QUALITY™ is eligible, on an ongoing basis, to receive an increased maximum reimbursement amount through the Child Care and Development Fund voucher program. CCDF reimbursement rates are tiered based on the Paths to QUALITY™ level, meaning the state will pay more for higher quality rated programs.
- Overall, participation in Paths to QUALITY™ will give programs better access to knowledge, information, assistance, materials and general support to help them provide higher quality early care and education experiences for young children.
Paths to Quality enrollment and level recognition awards
| Licensed child care homes | Licensed child care center | Unlicensed registered ministry | LLEP school program | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $50 cash | $50 cash | $50 cash | None |
| Level 2 | $300 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash |
| Level 3 | $300 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash |
| Level 4 | $500 cash | $1,500 cash | $1,500 cash | $1,500 cash |
| Level 4 Maintenance | $300 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash | $1,000 cash |
Approved Accrediting Bodies
To meet the highest standards for high quality early care and education, Level Four (4) of Paths to QUALITY™ requires the child care program to achieve and maintain accreditation by one of the following nationally recognized accrediting bodies approved by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning:
- Association of Christian Schools International
- Cognia
- Council on Accreditation - Child and Youth Development
- Council on Accreditation
- National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs
- National Association for Family Child Care
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
- National Lutheran Schools Association
The Indiana Accreditation Project provides financial support for each phase of the accreditation process as well as provider support materials. For more information on the accreditation project or to apply for assistance, contact the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children by calling 800-657-7577 or by visiting their website here.
Forms and Resources
- Request for Change in PTQ Level
Please use this form if you are requesting a Level increase, decrease or would like to advance or maintain your Level 4 rating. Click here for the form.
- PTQ appeal request form
Please use this form if you would like to appeal one of the following decisions: rating decision appeal, Fast track policy appeal, Level Transfer appeal. Click here for the form.
- PTQ Inactive Voluntary Status request form
Please use this form if you are experiencing an event expected to last longer than 30 days that will prevent you from participating in PTQ. Click here for the form.
- PTQ Level Transfer Request form
This is for current Level 3 or 4 programs ONLY to request their PTQ level follow them in a transition. Types of transitions allowed include new owner, moving locations or adding an additional site. Click here for the form.
- Education waiver
If your program has received an insufficiency due to education, you may qualify for an education waiver, please contact 800-299-1627 to discuss your options.
- Sign replacement
If you need to replace your Paths to QUALITY™ sign, please fill out our sign replacement form here.
- Guidebooks
PTQ guidebooks outline each standard of the readiness checklist and their indicators. Programs can use the guidebooks to better understand PTQ policies and procedures.
- Paths to QUALITY™ Enrollment Packet
Please complete this enrollment packet and submit to Qualitysupport@fssa.in.gov to enroll your program in Paths to QUALITY™. You must have also completed the Introduction to Paths to QUALITY™ training on Indiana Learning Paths
PTQ Documents
- Enrollment Process
This document walks a Program through the process needed to successfully enroll in the Paths to QUALITY ™”.
- Education Information
When an early childhood professional has completed credit-based coursework, but the college transcript does not clearly signify that a particular course is related to the approved courses for Paths to QUALITY™, you can use this form to submit acceptance for your course not currently listed.
FAQ
- My program received an extension; will I get a new certificate?
Yes, your program will receive a new certificate the month prior to your current expiration date
- Will my visit always be in the same quarter?
Visits will happen during the quarter a program’s expiration date falls in. The visit quarters are January-March, April-June, July-September and October-December
- I have planned closure days during my rating quarter, what should I do?
Please fill out this form to let your rater know of any planned closure days. Your program must receive a rating visit during your quarter or you will be dropped to a level 1.
- I’m a Level 4, what is my expiration date?
Your Level 4 rating aligns with the dates that your program’s accreditation is valid
- Have incentives changed?
Programs will still receive a cash incentive for advancing to a higher level. Level 4 programs will no longer receive bi annual maintenance awards, but will receive a cash incentive when they renew their Level 4.
- How many professional development training hours are now required and when are they valid?
Programs must still meet the annual training hours each year, which means Level 2 programs will have a total of 30 hours every 2 years and Level 3 programs will have a total of 40 hours every 2 years.
- Am I required to submit any paperwork or documentation in advance?
No, the raters will review all paperwork onsite during the rating visit
- Is there a required form for me to use to track staff education and training hours?
No, while there is a staff list available on the FSSA PTQ website, your program may use another form of tracking for this information