The Quality Assessment Services (QAS) Department at Clayton Early Learning partners with organizations across the state to deliver valid and reliable assessments to help early childhood education programs and providers with continuous quality improvement efforts. We are the vendor for Colorado Shines ratings and reliabilities, and we also offer a variety of external services. We provide customized assessment projects which typically include project design, scheduling, observation and assessment, feedback reports, and consultation. Our experienced and diverse staff have a passion for high-quality early education and are honored to help make a difference in the lives of young children across the state of Colorado.
Let’s stay in touch! Sign-up here to receive news and information in our quarterly newsletter. Or catch up on past issues below:
About Our Team
Our highly qualified, diverse staff bring a variety of experiences and a wealth of knowledge to our department and to the work in which they are so passionately invested. Collectively, our team brings a combined 400 years of experience in early childhood, and 200 years of experience assessing classrooms for quality or reviewing rating data.
The majority of our staff have experience as classroom teachers, family home providers, and/or program directors in early childhood prior to joining our team. Additional expertise comes from previous roles including Quality Rating Specialist, The Peace Corps, Licensing Specialist, contracted Child Trends Assessor, ECE Coach, Child Care Referral Specialist, ECE Trainer, Secondary Teacher, Benefits Navigator, and Research Assistant.
Our staff represents a variety of cultures and backgrounds, many of which are reflective of the populations we serve throughout Colorado. We have team members who are fluent in Spanish, Hindi/Urdu, German, French, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Swahili.
Click the links below to learn more about the different roles in the QAS Department.
Coaches Meetings
Twice a year, the Quality Assessment Services Department provides Coaches Meetings that are free to early childhood professionals across the state. These meetings provide information about the Environment Rating Scales, Colorado Shines, child development, innovations from the field, licensing regulations, and more.
Click the date below to view recorded Coaches Meetings from previous sessions held and reference the agenda to see what was discussed.
-
Agenda: Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Consultations, Virtual Coaching, Updates from the State, Quality Advancement Team Updates, Q&A
-
Agenda: Retooling update/Training and Virtual Certifications, Using PDIS for Coaching and Appreciative Inquiry to Deepen Relationships, Introduction of Sarah Roberts and Regional Coaches, Development of the New QRIS Framework, EMBRACE, QAS Newsletter Launch, Virtual Rating Pilot Data, ERS-R Scoring Considerations, Virtual Ratings Tips/Tricks, Submitted Questions/Colorado Shines Q&A
COVID-19 Health Protocols
We have been working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to develop health protocols (in addition to vaccination) for our staff to follow when they visit programs. Below are the highlights of these protocols:
- All federal and state mandates are followed
- Before they visit, staff check local public health orders, and providers are asked to share any program-specific health protocols
- If a provider reports there was a recent outbreak in their program, we will not enter the program and will return another day
- Staff complete self-screening (temperature and symptom checks) the day of the visit
- Staff wear face coverings at all times during the visit
- Staff wash hands as soon as they enter the classroom/program, when needed throughout the visit, and before leaving
- If we are aware of any possible exposures, we will follow CDC guidelines for testing, isolation, etc.
We will continue to work closely with CDPHE and update protocols when needed.
