In Standard 2: Program Evaluation, starting at Star 3, programs are required to create a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan. If your program doesn’t have a specific document called a “CQI Plan,” you might feel overwhelmed or have questions about where to start. The important piece to remember is that it should be YOUR plan and focus on what’s important to your program, including staff, children, and families. The handout “Five Reasons Program Evaluation Can Help You” gives an overview of the benefits of creating a CQI Plan.

It’s likely that your program already has components of a CQI Plan in place. Do you distribute annual family surveys? Do you have a suggestion box? Have you started working on the Rising Stars for ME Inclusive Practices Checklist? These items can all be part of your CQI Plan! The idea is to review your sources of information and think about:

• What is your program doing well? 

• What areas could be improved? 
• How can we make these improvements? 

You can start small by creating two or three goals related to your findings. If your program has staff, make sure to include them and think about the various places where you can gather feedback. Plan regular check-ins on your goals and keep your plan up-to-date as you gather more information.

Take a look at these great resources for more help with your CQI Plan: 

• Program Evaluation Report Checklist

• Program Evaluation Quality Improvement Toolkit (log in to online training through the MRTQ Registry to access this free resource)

As always, reach out to risingstarsforme@maine.edu with questions.