The QSSB Program
Quality Start San Bernardino (QSSB) is a workforce development program that provides training, coaching, and community to early education and school readiness environments across the county. Environments include licensed child care centers, family child care programs, and preschools. Beyond the scope of these more traditional environments, QSSB has extended its work to partner with alternative settings, or license-exempt providers and community-based programs, like family resource centers, home-visiting programs, libraries, and more.
Why should I participate?
QSSB is a program that recognizes your commitment to creating the best early learning experiences possible. QSSB partners with early educators to create opportunities and support your dedicated efforts to increase the level of quality you provide to children and families.
Program Benefits
Programs that participate in QSSB will receive individualized coaching, goal setting, professional development opportunities, and peer-to-peer networking. All sites will create a tailored Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) that is in accordance with the California Early Childhood (ECE) Competencies. The QIPs will build on current strengths and identifiable areas of improvement.
Quality Counts Rating
California State Preschools enrolled in QSSB are assessed and given a quality rating on a scale of one (emerging quality) to five (highest quality). The ratings are based on the Quality Counts Continuum Framework. The framework evaluates early learning programs in the following areas:
- Child development and school readiness, including appropriate learning activities and use of child observation tools and developmental and health screenings
- Teachers and teaching, including lead teacher/family child care home provider qualifications and effectiveness of teacher-child interactions
- Program and environment, including ratios and group size, assessment of the classroom environment, and center director qualifications
For more information, visit our rating information page!
Frequently Asked Questions
Quality Start San Bernardino is a collaboration of partners invested in the early learning community and the children of San Bernardino County. It is led by First 5 San Bernardino, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, California State University San Bernardino, and Child Care Resource Center.
If accepted into the program, each participant is under contract for one year with the option to extend for as long as funding is available.
Coaches provide instructional support and mentorship. Together you will create an individualized Quality Improvement Plan to enhance the overall quality of care and education at our site.
QSSB coaches are highly knowledgeable and have combined educational and work experience backgrounds in child development, early childhood education, and infant and toddler development.
Your participation in QSSB will be published on the QSSB website to identify your program as a high-quality one committed to professional development.
Yes, financial incentives are discretionary and based on the type of program, participation, milestones reached, and individual ratings (when applicable).
QSSB provides resources and information including a customized plan to guide quality improvement efforts, support in the form of coaching, and other professional development and training opportunities tailored to meet your needs.
By participating in the QSSB program, you are demonstrating your commitment to increasing your quality. This is something you can share with parents who have shown interest in your program.
No, this is a business decision made by you.
It would be beneficial to inform parents of your participation. QSSB is a proactive choice to strengthen the quality of your program for their child/children. You will be provided with a letter informing your parents on what it means to be a Quality Start participant and encouraging their support.
Following your acceptance into the program and submission of a completed contract, QSSB staff will begin to schedule the necessary visits for California State Preschools.
QSSB raters will review all required documentation and determine a score in accordance with the QCC Framework. The scheduling of your rating is dependent upon where your site falls in the rating cycle. Ratings occur every 3 to 5 years.
Connect with us using our Contact Form. Select "How to Join" and send us a message telling us about your program.
Licensed and Private Center Facts
Licensed and License-Exempt Child Care Providers and Community Based Programs
TK and Alternative Program Facts
Transitional Kindergarten
Notes on the 2025-2026 Program Year for QSSB Participants
Here is what you can expect for coaching, rating, and assessments this program year:
- Coaches will continue to support participants with coaching, resources, and hosting/sharing training and Communities of Practice. They will do so with a hybrid virtual/in-person approach. Be sure to check your email for training invites and/or visit the QSSB Training Calendar here.
- Not all sites are required to have a formal quality rating. However, some sites including select CSPP sites will receive a rating.
- Informal assessments will be offered this year for non-CSPP sites. These will be used to inform a site’s Quality Improvement Plan and will not be used for official purposes.
