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Childcare Quality System

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Childcare Provider Site Ratings 2021-22
The Childcare Quality System helps childcare programs identify how they are already providing quality early learning and ways they can keep improving. See how Mono County & Alpine County sites rate on the quality scale.

childcare quality system graphic spanish

Calificación de Proveedor de Cuidado de Niños de 2021-22
La Sistema para Mantener en Alta Calidad las Guarderías ayudan a los programas a identificar la forma en que ya están proporcionando un aprendizaje temprano de calidad y las formas en que pueden seguir mejorando. Vea cómo los sitios del Condado de Mono & Alpine califcan en la escala de calidad.


The goal of the Childcare Quality System is to increase the quality of childcare and support family engagement by building a skilled and stable workforce. The Childcare Quality System is open to all licensed childcare sites in Mono and Alpine Counties serving children ages birth to five.

Through the Childcare Quality System and a one-on-one advisor,  a center or family-based childcare provider completes the following annually:

  1. 21 hours professional development
  2. Creates and implements a Quality Improvement Plan
  3. Developmental screenings using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire
  4. Maintains knowledge of, or assessment in, standard classroom assessment tools (CLASS–an interaction-based assessment and ERS–the Environmental Rating Scale)
  5. Is supported in advancement in the Quality Counts California Matrix (updated May 2022).
  6. Is part of a local support network

Participating programs can choose to receive a public rating. For a description of what ratings mean and a list of ratings and participating sites in 2022:

Mono Alpine Childcare Quality System Plan

If you are a childcare provider and would like to participate in the Childcare Quality System:

The Mono Alpine Childcare Quality System offers stipends to sites and individual providers. All licensed or license exempt sites as well as family, friends and neighbors who provide care in Mono and Alpine Counties serving children ages birth to five are eligible to participate. If you are a childcare provider interested in participating, please call 760-924-7626 for English or 760-914-3995 for Spanish.

Quality support is offered by the following agencies:

  • First 5 Mono – funded by the California Department of Education-Quality Counts California and State Preschool Block Grants (QCC-BG & CSPP-BG), First 5 CA-Improve and Maximize all Programs so Children Thrive (IMPACT) and Region 6 Hub, and the Department of Social Services Preschool Development Grant Renewal (PDG-R). Stipends are awarded to participating sites based on 3 factors:
    • The number of children served.
    • The level of work in the system the site chooses to accomplish (Step 1, 2, or 3).
  • Mono County Office of Education–funded by the California Department of Education Workforce Pathways Grant (WPG).

Federal and State Quality Rating Improvement System

Information about the federal and state Quality Rating Improvement System, can be found on the links below:

Becoming a Licensed Provider

This project also assists with becoming a licensed provider. The first step is to take the required online orientations found at the links below:

For more information, please contact:

Annaliesa Calhoun, Childcare Quality System Coordinator, email
PO Box 130, 365 Sierra Park Road, Building M
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
PH: 760-924-7626
FAX: 760-934-8443

To find a childcare provider

To find care with a childcare provider, please contact Mono County’s Resource and Referral agency, the Mono County Office of Education (as of July 2022) 760-934-0031