Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center
Benchmarks for Quality Improvement
Strategic Planning Tool
Guidelines
This Benchmarks for Quality Improvement (BQI) Strategic Planning Tool accompanies the BQI online self-assessment tool. The tool is designed to help guide States and Territories through the strategic planning process for developing and implementing the quality elements.
You can use the Strategic Planning Tool in several ways. Depending on your preference, you can develop a strategic plan for each indicator, separately; work on a selected number of indicators;group some indicators together;or group all of the indicators together to create a single higher-level plan.
As you use this tool, you may decide to focus on an indicator that you’ve rated as ‘No Action’or on an indicator that is close to being fully implemented. You may also find it helpful to refer to the guiding questions included under each indicator in the BQI self-assessment tool. Guidelines for thinking through each section of the Strategic Planning Tool are included below.
Step 1: Setting expectations, target dates and next steps
What is working?
In answering this question, you might think about specific initiatives you currently have in place that are working well. For example, birth to five Early Learning Guidelines are in use. Or you might think more generally about what is working in your favor. For example, support from the Governor’s office or political will.
What does our next stage of implementation look like?
Here, you will include what you plan to achieve next. You may find it more useful to think about short-term goals here, or you may decide to include longer-term goals. Whatever you decide, ensure that they are achievable. A short-term goal might be to review existingstandards. A long-term goal might be to develop QRIS standards that are aligned with PreK standards, core knowledge and competencies, ELGs, and assessment tools in use.
What steps will lead to our next stage of implementation?
This is where you can outline the action steps necessary to get to the next stage of implementation. For example, in order to develop QRIS standards that are aligned with existing standards, you may need to establish workgroups, review existing standards, review other states’ QRIS standards, develop draft standards, and convene focus groups to review the standards. You may also want to include who will take the lead on each of the steps listed.
What is the target date for achieving our next stage of implementation?
You should include realistic and achievable target dates here for what you plan to implement next. If you have several items listed, enter a target date for each. Timelines might be as short as a few months and as long as a year or more.
STEP 2: Assessing barriers, supports, establishing ownership, and measuring success
What are the barriers to achieving the next stage and how can we address those barriers?
Be as specific as possible here. For example, if funding is a barrier, include what type of funding is necessary, how much, and how you will work to secure additional funding or work with existing funding to meet realistic and achievable goals. For example:Department has competing areas of focus and priorities. We will address this barrier by building a case for why a QRIS is critical, how it will benefit children, programs, and the State (message will be tailored so that it is meaningful to the audience), and illustrate that it does not compete with, but supports, other areas of focus.
What supports are needed to move forward?
Again, be as specific as possible. For example, you may need a QRIS project lead or a consultant to ensure that the process is staying on task. You may need to enlist the support of licensing staff or provider organizations.
Who will guide the process?
Identify someone who is responsible for ensuring that the process stays on track, taking on a leadership role, and assigning others to lead individual steps or aspects of the work. This may be a QRIS manager, a consultant, or someone who is taking on additional responsibilities to guide the process.
How will we measure success?
This is where you can include performance measures. This might include what you expect to see and how you expect to measure it, using data, descriptions, feedback, or other methods. For example, existing systems are coordinated and state personnel can describe and report how they function together as part of the full quality improvement system.
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLUse the space below to develop a strategic plan for moving toward full implementation of the element. Referring to the indicators on your self-assessment, you may choose to include a strategic plan for each indicator separately, work on a selected number of indicators, group some indicators together, or group all the indicators together to create a higher-level plan.
Identify the element and indicator(s) that you are planning for here:
STEP 1: Setting expectations, target dates, and next steps
What is working? / What does our next stage of implementation look like? / What steps will lead to our next stage of implementation?(You may also include who is taking the lead on each step.) / What is the target date for achieving our next stage(or steps) of implementation?
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL
STEP 2: Assessing barriers, supports, establishing ownership, and measuring success
What are the barriers to achieving the next stage and how can we address those barriers? / What supports are needed to move forward? Be as specific as possible. / Who will guide the process? / How will we measure success?
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL
Use the space below to develop a strategic plan for moving toward full implementation of the element. Referring to the indicators on your self-assessment, you may choose to include a strategic plan for each indicator separately, work on a selected number of indicators, group some indicators together, or group all the indicators together to create a higher-level plan. The guiding questions for each indicator in the BQI online self-assessment tool may also be a helpful reference.
Identify the element and indicator(s) that you are planning for here:
STEP 1: Setting expectations, target dates, and next steps
What is working? / What does our next stage of implementation look like? / What steps will lead to our next stage of implementation?(You may also include who is taking the lead on each step.) / What is the target date for achieving our next stage(or steps) of implementation?
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL
STEP 2: Assessing barriers, supports, establishing ownership, and measuring success
What are the barriers to achieving the next stage and how can we address those barriers? / What supports are needed to move forward? Be as specific as possible. / Who will guide the process? / How will we measure success?
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL
Use the space below to develop a strategic plan for moving toward full implementation of the element. Referring to the indicators on your self-assessment, you may choose to include a strategic plan for each indicator separately, work on a selected number of indicators, group some indicators together, or group all the indicators together to create a higher-level plan. The guiding questions for each indicator in the BQI online self-assessment tool may also be a helpful reference.
Identify the element and indicator(s) that you are planning for here:
STEP 1: Setting expectations, target dates, and next steps
What is working? / What does our next stage of implementation look like? / What steps will lead to our next stage of implementation?(You may also include who is taking the lead on each step.) / What is the target date for achieving our next stage(or steps) of implementation?
BENCHMARKS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL
STEP 2: Assessing barriers, supports, establishing ownership, and measuring success
What are the barriers to achieving the next stage and how can we address those barriers? / What supports are needed to move forward? Be as specific as possible. / Who will guide the process? / How will we measure success?
National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement, A Service of the Office of Child Care
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