Category: News and Announcements

As we prepare for state fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025- June 30, 2026) Quality First scholarship allocations, we want you to be aware of an opportunity for multi-site organizations. Child care providers who are part of multi-site organizations have the option of redistributing Quality First scholarships between their locations, as long as they are

Effective July 1, 2025 At First Things First, we are committed to supporting early care and education providers to improve the quality of care for Arizona’s youngest children. To ensure Quality First can continue to meet its goals and expand opportunities to more programs in the future, adjustments to funding amounts for Pursuing Quality (1-2

If your program is considering moving to a new location, please contact Quality First to determine whether your participation is eligible for transfer. The most important factor in whether your participation can transfer is the new location of your program. If your new location is in the same First Things First (FTF) region: If you’ll

View announcements and updates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to help keep you keep kids safe. Read important warnings and safety recalls here. To view more safety information and recalls, visit the CPSC website.

Beginning October 1st, 2024: Environment Rating Scales (ERS) assessments will be administered as usual. When ERS scores meet the threshold score requirement for receiving a CLASS assessment, a second random draw will occur to determine which classrooms will be observed. Assessments will no longer be automatically conducted in the same classrooms that were assessed for

Programs on the Quality First waitlist may be eligible to be assessed and earn a Quality First Star Rating! We will contact you if you are eligible.  With a star rating, you can: Who is eligible and what’s next? Selection for participation is limited and dependent upon funding availability. Questions? Contact the Quality First team

Here are a few reminders for participant programs allocated Quality First scholarships for State Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025): Things First’s (FTF) state Board voted to raise the reimbursement rates for Quality First Scholarships to align with the 2021 cost of quality study beginning on July 1, 2024. This will help

Beginning on July 1, 2024, programs that joined Quality First through temporary federal pandemic relief funding, known as expansion-funded programs, will transition to one of three statuses. All expansion-funded programs will be notified about their transition by the end of May. You can find your funding source on the extranet profile summary. Your QF coordinator, coach and

As a Quality First participant, your program earns a star rating following the assessment process. Your rating may be public or non-public, depending on where you are in your quality improvement journey.  Your Initial Rating  Your initial rating is completed at the very beginning of your participation. It provides the starting point of your quality