Section 1240-04-07-.03 - QUALITY RATING IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM(1) The license monitoring process shall include an evaluation of the child care agency for a quality rating improvement system scorecard in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.(2) A child care agency shall receive an annual quality rating improvement system score that sets forth the agency's overall score based upon applicable criteria contained within each component area.(3) The component areas, as determined by the Department, measure certain key indicators of performance set forth in T.C.A. § 71-3-502(j), as indicated below:(a) Health and Safety; and(b) Teacher/Child Interactions.(4) Monitoring Visits. (a) For the purpose of generating an annual quality rating improvement system score, monitoring visits shall consist of four (4) quarterly visits each year, except for programs that are closed during the summer. These agencies will have three (3) quarterly visits and one (1) quarterly visit prior to or just after the three (3) month closure.(b) Each visit will be conducted at a different time of the day to get a look at the entire program throughout the year.(c) During each quarterly monitoring visit, twenty-five percent (25%) of the Health and Safety section categories and one hundred percent (100%) of Teacher/Child Interactions will be scored.(5) In addition to critical health and safety items, during each quarterly monitoring visit, one of four (4) categories from the Health and Safety section will be scored with a total value of 60 points. The four (4) categories are listed below: (a) Supervision Practices/Facilities/Equipment;(c) Healthy Weight and Disease Prevention; and(d) Organizational Structure.(6) Assignment of Scores. (a) The score for each component area of the Health and Safety section indicates the agency's compliance with departmental licensing regulations.(b) Each element indicator on the classroom observation tool is scored based on "required evidence." Therefore, in order to achieve a score of "met" on an item, all of the required evidence must be either visually observed or documented during the teacher interview when the classroom observation tool is administered during each quarterly visit.(c) The total combined score possible for the Teacher/Child Interactions and Health and Safety sections is 100.(d) Upon completion of the quarterly visit, prior to departure, the Licensing Consultant (LC) will review the scoresheet with the agency director or primary educator and discuss areas of high performance and strategies for areas that may have been deficient. If time or schedule does not allow for the director and/or educator to meet on this day the LC will schedule a time either in person, video chat, or through a telephone conversation within five (5) business days to review.(7) The agency's official quality rating improvement system scorecard and license shall be posted together in a conspicuous area at the child care agency, as may be directed by the Department.(8) Violations. (a) Agencies found to be in violation of licensing requirements during a live monitoring visit will have points deducted from the item from where the violation was found.(b) Agencies found to be in violation of critical health and safety items and/or teacher/child interactions items between monitoring visits will have points deducted from the item where the violation was found on the next monitoring visit.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-07-.03
Original rule filed October 30, 2001; effective January 13, 2002. Repeal and new rule filed October 21, 2008; effective January 4, 2009. Amendments filed May 1, 2018; effective July 30, 2018. Amendments filed March 31, 2022; effective 6/29/2022.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq.; 4-5-202; and 71-3-502(a)(2) and (j).