To prepare all children for kindergarten, and in response to state law, Virginia has developed the Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5) to measure and improve the quality of all publicly funded birth-to-five classrooms and support families to choose quality programming across all types of programs.
What is the Purpose of VQB5?
VQB5 is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so that children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 is used in child care centers, family day homes, public school preschools, and Head Start all across the state.
What does this mean if my child is enrolled in a VQB5 site?
VQB5 sites are focused on providing quality learning experiences for your child. This means your child’s teacher is receiving feedback and support multiple times a year. Your site is also likely using a quality curriculum.
How does VQB5 work?
There are two parts to VQB5:
1. Trained observers look at all classrooms using a nationally-regarded early childhood observation tool called CLASS. This observation focuses on the interactions between teachers and children.
2. VQB5 also looks at whether classrooms are using a quality curriculum that has been approved by the state. Curriculum is always optional, and programs have lots of choices.
Where can I find VQB5 Quality Ratings information?
Who takes part in VQB5?
Birth-to-five early childhood programs who receive government funding are required to take part in VQB5. Programs that do not receive any government funding can choose to take part.
What are VQB5 sites required to do?
VQB5 sites are required to do the following each year:
1. Have CLASS observations in every infant, toddler, and preschool classroom in the fall and spring.
2. Report on their use of approved early childhood curriculum.
3. Provide important information about their teachers and classrooms, including child enrollment information to VDOE each fall.
What should I do if I have a question about VQB5 or if I’d like to learn more?
Why do VQB5 sites need to give child enrollment information?
Having child enrollment information for each classroom helps Virginia improve experiences for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. This information will help bring important resources to early childhood programs in our state by showing the positive impact of early childhood education.
