2015 Qris-Program Quality Improvement Grant

2015 QRIS-PROGRAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT

Continuous Quality Improvement Plan Template Question and Answer #1

1) Why are there three different versions of each CQIP template?

When I look at the “CQI Plan Templates” posted on the Cybergrants QRIS web page there are plan templates for each of the three program types (After School and Out of School, Center Based/School Based, and Family Child Care). Under each program type, CQIP templates are available in three different formats (PDF, Form Fill MS Word, and MS Word). Why so many types and which version do I use?

The three different formats for each CQIP template reflects the diversity and differing technology needs of the QRIS participants. Some grantees havenew computers and the latest software. Some programs use Microsoft Windows software, others use Apple computers and software. Others have older computers and software that cannot use documents prepared with newer file formats. A number of grantees do not even have regular access to a computer.

PDF Version – The PDF (Portable Document Format) version of each CQIP template isthe universal form. Almost every computer hasAdobe Acrobat Reader.Once printed in this format,the only way to complete your CQIP is by hand or on a typewriter. While producing fillable PDF forms is possible, it is not supportable by the QRIS Team because of the hardware and software requirements.

Form Fill MS (Microsoft) WORD – This is the version most programs will find the easiest to use. Depending on the Word version you use, you may need to click on the View tab and change the setting to Edit Document.Once you have done this, you can move around the template by using the Tab key to move forward or backwards. You can also use your mouse to navigate. A single left click of your mouse button over an information box allows you to type in your information. You can save plans that are only partially complete and come back to them at a later time.

This fillable form is a modified version of EEC’s original templates. They used a newer version of MS Word that saves documents as DOCX files. The text boxes will expand if you exceed their formatted height and will push information on to the next page. If you leave a fillable box empty it will print the “Click here to enter text”when you print the form.

MS (Microsoft) DOC– This version of each template was prepared to meet the needs of programs using older versions of MS Word for Windows or MS Word for MAC that cannot use the Form Fill MS Word version.It is not a fillable form,you cannot simply tab from text box to text box. It is really just a version of the form that has been typed into MS Word. The user can move around the template like any other document they had typed for themselves.You need to use some care in navigating the form because you can delete form text. You can still save your work like any other MS Word file and work on it later without retyping what you have already done. This version also uses the DOC file format so it will work on just about any computer.