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Looking for a High-Quality Early Learning Program?

Click here to find a Quality Start OC participating program near you

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Looking for FREE Professional Learning?

Click here for Quality Start OC's Professional Learning Calendar

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Join Quality Start OC

Click here if you are an Early Learning Professional interested in joining

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​WHY IS HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT?

College and career readiness and success starts with high-quality early learning.

When we ensure all of Orange County's children have access to high-quality early care and education, we aren't just creating better futures for them, we're creating a better future for our entire community.​​

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Orange county map outline with checkmark in middle

​QUALITY START OC FOR EARLY LEARNING PROFESSIONALS

As an early childhood educator you play a vital role not only in the lives of the children in your care, but in the Orange County community as a whole. Families trust you to care for, nurture, and teach their children in their first years.

Quality Start OC (QSOC) was established to recognize and support the quality of your programs and to connect parents to your services.​​
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WHAT IS QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION?


Key components of a high-quality program include:

  • A safe environment
  • A developmentally appropriate curriculum
  • Well educated staff
  • Small group sizes and low adult-to-child ratios
  • Parent-teacher communication and family engagement​
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Adult reading to children
Groupd of elementary kids in a backyard setting

​CHILDREN IN HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE:

  • ​4.6 times more likely to get a college degree​​​
  • ​Less likely to repeat a grade, need special education services or get into trouble with the law
  • Ready to excel in math and reading
  • More likely to earn an additional $2,000 per month
  • ​Better at communicating and cooperating with others​​​
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Explore QSOC's Fee-for-Service Professional Learning Catalog!

View Catalog

Learn more about QSOC's Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS)

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MORE RESOURCES

EARLY EDUCATORS

https://qualitystartoc.ocde.local/Pages/Home.aspx?1

BUILDING QUALITY AT HOME

https://qualitystartoc.ocde.local/Pages/Home.aspx?2

CHOOSING QUALITY

https://qualitystartoc.ocde.local/Pages/Home.aspx?3

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

https://qualitystartoc.ocde.local/Pages/Home.aspx?4