AVR 3: Program Improvement
Overview
It is important to dedicate effort towards continuous quality improvement to ensure that educational opportunities and trusting relationships are provided to children and their families. Program improvement is a process. Each program will assess its strengths and opportunities for growth and set achievable goals to improve.
Requirement
Level 4:
Process for continuous quality improvement developed and implemented, informed by CLASS assessments and program priorities, including school readiness goals and objectives.
Note: AVR 2.4 must have been completed in order to complete AVR 3.4.
Documentation to upload:
- A statement describing the program’s process for developing a Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
- A Program Improvement Plan addressing:
- All Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) domain scores below 4.5*.
- School readiness goals and objectives.
Instructions
Visit the Maryland EXCELS Program Improvement Resources page under the Additional Resources section for information about the required and optional categories, the requirements per level, sample goals, and the PIP template form.
Use the following tips to begin your program improvement process:
- Review the PIP Guidance and Form found in Additional Resources. Identify the people who will be involved in developing the plan and their roles.
- Plan how you will develop your PIP. For instance, how will you gather input from families and staff? Will there be quarterly meetings, surveys, a committee, etc.? How often will you seek feedback on progress? How will you determine your priorities? The answers will help you create your process statement!
- Find your county’s school readiness scores. The Additional Resources section below includes the link to Maryland’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Report. Consider the following questions: What learning domains have the lowest scores? How could your program enhance learning in those domains?
- Use the program’s CLASS Summary Report. Review the CLASS Summary Report used to meet the requirements for ACR 2 and highlight domain scores below 4.5. Create goals for each domain score below 4.5. (Please note that if a CLASS was not conducted because AVR 2 was met via the accreditation pathway, the PIP does not need to address CLASS domain scores below 4.5.)
- Remember, quality improvement is a continuous process!
Build a Statement
The Reflection Questions below will help you consider what the program does to capture it when creating your statement. Upon reflection, you are ready to build your statement.
Reflection Questions
- How will the program prepare to develop the PIP?
- How will the program gather feedback for the plan?
- How will the program identify the goals for the PIP?
- What process will the program put in place to ensure forward progress on meeting the program improvement goals?
- How will the program use the PIP for continuous quality improvement?
After reflecting, you have the option to download and save the Program Improvement Template and create your statement.
If you need more support writing your Program Improvement statement, use the Writers Tips and Prompts to find examples and for additional guidance.
Next Steps
- Review your statement and PIP to ensure that it addresses all requirements.
- Log into the Maryland EXCELS System to upload the program’s program improvement statement, either as a separate document or part of the PIP form, and the PIP.
- Submit for review.
Additional Resources
- Maryland EXCELS Program Improvement Plan Visit this link to access the Maryland EXCELS Program Improvement Plan Form and Guidance.
- Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Use this link to view Maryland’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Report.
