The City of Toronto is committed to investing in high quality licensed early learning programs for all Toronto’s children and families. The work is driven by goals and objectives of the Children’s Services Service Plan.
The Quality Framework is a comprehensive structure that outlines the supports and strategies essential for advancing Quality and Pedagogy within Toronto’s licensed early learning sector. Its purpose is to empower early years professionals to explore, reflect on, and apply research and best practices, ultimately informing their actions to enhance learning environments and experiences. This pedagogical approach is designed to foster high-quality early childhood education and care.
The Quality Framework seeks to clearly define and model the key elements that contribute to the success of early learning programs. The framework emphasizes strategies, skills, and ideas that encourage ongoing dialogue, inquiry, and critical thinking. It underscores the importance of including diverse perspectives and shared understandings while considering the interconnected roles of early years professionals, children, and families. This collaborative approach forms the foundation for professional learning in the sector.
Children’s Services is committed to supporting early years professionals through a continuous journey of reflection, collaboration, and growth. By fostering a culture of professional learning and reflective practice, the framework plays a central role in driving quality initiatives and supporting the ongoing improvement of early learning experiences across Toronto.
Early Learning and Assessment for Quality Improvement Playlist, 2015
TCS Quality and Pedagogy Initiative, 2021
Other Videos
AQI Refresher Modules, April 2022
A validation study is conducted to ensure that a measure of Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) like the Assessment for Quality Improvement (AQI), accurately measures what it is intended to measure. When measures are used as part of Quality Ratings and Improvement Systems, as is the case with the AQI, it is especially important that users know that they measure what they are supposed to measure accurately and consistently. In this case, the AQI was tested against other validated tools to confirm that it effectively assesses program quality in early learning settings. The validation process evaluates several types of validity to ensure the AQI’s effectiveness:
Additionally, we ensure that the AQI produces consistent results. If multiple assessors are using the AQI to evaluate program quality, they should arrive at similar conclusions. This demonstrates the tool’s reliability. The City of Toronto regularly conducts reliability checks with all staff using the AQI to ensure it remains consistent, fair, and unbiased.
Ultimately, a validation study for an assessment tool ensures that it accurately measures what it claims to and that the results are meaningful and trustworthy. This process is vital for making informed decisions based on the assessment, such as setting goals or making policy decisions, ensuring these decisions are fair and based on reliable data.
The City of Toronto collaborated with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT) for the development and validation of the AQI measure. Peer-review journal articles are available for the Infant/Toddler validation and Home Child Care, which outlines the validation process. For further inquiries, please contact qualityassurance@toronto.ca.
The Assessment for Quality Improvement (AQI) is a Canadian Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) that has been rigorously validated to ensure it accurately measures program quality in early learning settings. What sets the AQI apart is its unique Canadian context, making it especially relevant for use in Canada, unlike other validated QRIS tools that are commonly used in early years settings but may not be tailored to Canadian needs.
The City of Toronto collaborated with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT) in the development and validation of the AQI, which also includes a specific measure for Home Child Care. For more details about the validation study, you can find the full report here.
Currently, several jurisdictions, including DSSABs, provinces, and Indigenous Tribal Councils, are using the AQI to assess program quality across their early learning settings. If you are interested in learning more about how the AQI can be implemented in your jurisdiction, please contact qualityassurance@toronto.ca for further details.