Doctoral student presents at 2020 BUILD Initiative – QRIS Virtual Conference

Fourth-year doctoral student Melissa Dahlin (right) presented with colleagues from the Policy Equity Group Jeffry Capizzano and Kelly Etter at the BUILD Initiative – QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) Virtual Conference.

The title of their presentation was “This Is Your Ideal QRIS: Reimagining Beyond the Stars”, delivered during Session 6 on July 15.
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For her doctoral studies, Dahlin is specializing in Human Development in Context (HDiC) and Education Policy and Social Context (EPSC). Her research interests include early childhood education policy and the role of educators and families in supporting young children’s math development. She is advised by Associate Professor Stephanie Reich and Assistant Professor Jade Jenkins.  

Presentation Synopsis 

What would an ideal QRIS look like from the perspectives of families, providers, quality support staff, and state administrators? Participants will explore a hypothetical QRIS model informed by four “big ideas” that integrate concepts derived from unlikely sources such as FitBit, Match.com, and Response to Intervention into an innovative new QRIS model. Participants will be encouraged to question assumptions of traditional QRIS models, consider challenges and opportunities within the context of COVID-19, and engage in interactive content.

A recording of the virtual conference is available here.

The slide show can be viewed here.

The QRIS National Learning Network is a coalition of national and state leaders who are united in the desire to use rating and improvement strategies to elevate the quality of care in state early care and education systems and to support and improve children’s development. The organization produces periodic reports, toolkits, and papers on a variety of QRIS topics and host several public webinars annually.