Quality First has two distinct participation types, each offering tailored support.
- Quality Improvement participation includes support to help programs achieve quality practices.
- Rating Only participation includes support to help programs maintain their quality practices.
Rating Only participants with a 1-3-star rating are eligible to be selected for Quality Improvement participation depending on regional funding availability and prioritization.
| Benefit | Solo calificación | Mejoramiento de la Calidad |
| Quality First assessment and public star rating | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Support from a Quality First coordinator | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Enhanced DES child care reimbursement rates (for 3-5 star programs) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Quality First Scholarships available to support families in 3-5 star programs, (as funding allows) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Quality improvement coaching | ✔️ | |
| Child care health consultation | ✔️ | |
| Quality improvement funding | ✔️ |
Rating Only Benefits and Supports
Support services
- A Quality First coordinator provides participation support, including helping Rating Only participants understand assessment reports, submit any required paperwork and use the Quality First extranet.
- Beginning July 1, 2027 FTF is launching ECE Quality Connect AZ, a virtual technical assistance hub and digital resource library. This will be accessible for Rating Only participants to receive additional support. ECE Quality Connect AZ will provide:
- On-demand virtual technical assistance from early childhood experts for day-to-day guidance and real-time problem-solving.
- A digital library of resources curated for Arizona’s early childhood educators.
Financial benefits
- Enhanced DES Reimbursement Rates: Eligible Rating Only participants with a 3-, 4-, or 5-star rating qualify for enhanced DES child care reimbursement rates (currently 40% higher than the base rate).
- Quality First Scholarship Allocation: Rating Only participants are eligible to receive scholarships, depending on funding availability and priorities set by their FTF regional partnership council.
Rating and Recognition
- Ongoing Assessment: Rating Only participants receive renewal assessments to renew their star rating every 2 to 3 years (as identified by the program’s assessment cycle end date in the Extranet).
- Rating Only participants may request informal assessments for additional feedback on their daily practices. Informal assessment is scheduled based on assessor availability.
- Public Recognition: Programs maintain their published star rating and standing as a verified high-quality early learning program.