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.
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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 340 years of experience in early childhood, and 160 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, 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, German, French, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Swahili.
Click the links below to learn more about the different roles in the QAS Department.
Testimonials from Our Staff and the Field
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.
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Agenda: Website Walkthrough: Ben Graessle, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Breakout Sessions for Connection & Collaboration Time, ERS-3 Coach Certification Update, Office Updates and Consultative Roles: Sarah Roberts, CDHS & Lisa Matter, CDHS, Mental Health Consultations: Natalie Holifield, WellPower, Environment Rating Scale, Third Editions (ERS-3) Notes for Clarification, Colorado Shines Submitted Questions/Q&A
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Agenda: State updates, Colorado Coaching Credentials, Answer questions regarding refreshed Colorado Shines QRIS framework, Healthy Child Care Colorado (Breastfeeding Recognition and Pyramid CO), Health Department (CDPHE), Demonstrated Competencies updates, Submitted questions, Open Q&A/Close
COVID-19 Health Protocols
We continue to work closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to ensure our COVID health protocols are up-to-date. Please click the button below to learn more about the health protocols all Quality Assessment Services staff follow when they visit programs.
