Behind the Scenes of Quality Matters Monterey County

Quality Matters Monterey County is a collaborative effort of early learning partners throughout the community, including First 5 Monterey County; the Monterey County Office of Education; the Monterey County Child Care Planning Council; the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation Resource and Referral; North Monterey County Unified School District; California State University, Monterey Bay; Hartnell College; and Monterey Peninsula College. Each of these partners are committed to the well being of the children and families in Monterey County, and believe in building a respectful, responsive, and inclusive early learning system. Quality Matters Monterey County is operated by the Monterey County Office of Education.

Are you interested in becoming involved in Quality Matters Monterey County? Attending Consortium meetings is a great place to start. See a list of upcoming Consortium meetings on our calendar.

The 2018 - 2021 Strategic Plan for Quality Matters

Learn more about the future of Quality Matters and its impact on the early learning years in Monterey County.

Review our strategic plan to see the goals we are focusing on to improve the quality of early childhood education.

Our Mission

WhY WE EXIST

To support and empower programs and educators in providing the highest quality early care and education possible to children and families.

What is Quality Matters Monterey County?

Quality Matters Monterey County is a quality recognition and improvement system (QRIS), an initiative designed to support childcare programs and preschools to provide the highest quality early learning experiences possible for children from birth through age 5. For Monterey County, specifically, the QRIS is a system that is built to empower educators, parents, and community members–all with the goal of setting children up for success.

QUALITY MATTERS SUPPORTS QUALITY LEARNING BY:

Establishing standards that define what quality means and looks like for early care and education programs.
Measuring programs using the standards.
Offering and connecting educators to professional development opportunities.
Helping parents and caregivers find quality programs for their children.

Quality Matters looks at the following characteristics of early learning programs:

Teacher-to-Child Ratios

More one-on-one time with teachers allows children to be more engaged, and allows teachers the opportunity to address children’s specific needs.

Positive Teacher-Child Interactions

Teachers encourage mutual respect between children and adults to help children develop trusting relationships with their teachers. In addition, teachers model positive guidance techniques and expand language through open-ended questions to stimulate reasoning.

Learning Activities

It’s important that high quality learning activities support each child’s interests, growth, and development, as well as culture and home language.

Health and Child Development

In addition to effective teacher-child interactions, it’s important that high quality learning environments are safe, healthy, and engaging.

Staff Training and Education

Program administrators and teachers are trained in child development and early learning; they have completed relevant college coursework towards an A.A. or B.A. degree and/or ongoing professional training.