Stay in the Loop with GSQ's Continuous Quality Improvement Newsletter

November 2025 EDITION

• Winter Break Reminders
• GSQ Quality Connection
• MI-Infant and Toddler Caregiver Certificate
• Approved Curriculum
• Validation and On-Site Observations Tips
• Like and Follow!

Holiday and Winter Break Reminders

Holidays and Winter Break are fast approaching! It's important to remember:

• Programs should be open and available immediately following the submission of the Application for Validation and On-Site Observation until the Validation is complete.
• If a program selected to have a Validation phone call, they should expect to be contacted and be prepared to complete the process, regardless of the time of year. 
• It is best not to submit the Application for Validation and On-Site Observation right before closing, staff vacations, program celebrations, or other events that might affect the ability to complete the process. 
• Reach out to the assigned Validator or Assessor when your program closes unexpectedly due to winter weather or power outages.   

GSQ Quality Connection

Please join us on Wednesday, December 10, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for our next GSQ Quality Connection.

We will share a new feature in GSQ for programs to easily update their openings so families can better find the care they need.

The New Michigan

Infant and Toddler Caregiver Certificate is Here!

Designed to provide infant and toddler professionals with high-quality learning opportunities and to support their success in early learning settings, the MI-ITCC is now available to those who are currently working with, or are interested in working with, infants and toddlers.

Are you currently enrolled in, or have you already completed the Infant and Toddler Development and Care Practices self-paced training? Are you interested in completing this training, even if you haven’t started? This cohort opportunity may be for you!

We are currently filling cohorts to start in February.

For questions, please email infanttoddler@ecic4kids.org.

To learn more about requirements and complete an Interest Form, visit our webpage at www.greatstarttoquality.org/itcc!

Approved Curriculum and Creative Curriculum

We have received some questions about the approved curriculum list and wanted to share an update to provide some additional clarification.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) concluded a comprehensive review of early childhood curricula in September 2025. During this review cycle, Teaching Strategies submitted the Creative Curriculum for review due to updates to the curriculum in the last five years. Below are some items to know about the use of the Creative Curriculum and the Approved Curriculum List. 

• Currently approved for Infants (birth – 11 Months), Toddler (12 – 27 Months), Preschool (3-5 Years), and PreK (4-5 Years).
• This means that programs serving children ages 28- 35 months will need to use a different curriculum for those ages of children to meet the intent of indicator CIL6.
• Teaching Strategies is currently developing a product for Twos, we hope they will submit in the future for review and approval.

The approvals resulting from this process, along with the full list of approved curricula, are available on the GSQ website.

Self-Reflection Tips and Tricks

• Review the Quality Indicator Guidance Document to understand why the indicator is important, know evidence requirements, and see examples of evidence.
• When uploading evidence, use the comment box to help the Validator know where in the document to find the information about that specific indicator, how you share the document with families and/or staff, or use it to label the evidence with classroom names. 
• When determining if you are currently meeting the intent of an indicator in the Self-Reflection, make sure that your evidence addresses all bullet points listed. 
• As you think about completing the process and earning a Quality Level, start taking training in MiRegistry related to the Professional Development Quality Indicators and complete the membership process. Key points to keep in mind regarding PD and Qualifications, and what Validators will be looking for:
• Validators only review the Self-Reflection PD Report and the Staff Qualification Report located in the Self-Reflection. As this report locks at the time the Self-Reflection is submitted for Validation, the reports should be reviewed right before submitting the Self-Reflection. 
• Only review the Self-Reflection PD Report located in the Self-Reflection. Reports located in the Reports tab of the Organization Profile show all training and are continuously updated. You should not review these as you prepare for the Validation, as the data may be different than what is reviewed by the Validator.
• Make sure the Administrator/Director/Owner is connected to the Classroom Tab  

If you have questions, please contact validation@ecic4kids.org. 

Upcoming Observation Windows:

The Importance of Communicating With Assessors

If your program has an upcoming observation window, now is a good time to look over your calendar. It is important to let your assigned Assessor know about any dates that will not be typical for your program. December often includes many special events like holiday parties, celebrations, field trips, or family activities. These days can change the usual flow of the classroom.

Observations that take place on non-typical days do not give the most accurate or helpful feedback for quality improvement. A quick email, text, or phone call to your Assessor can prevent scheduling problems and make sure the observation takes place when your program is operating normally. As a reminder, each program gets five block out dates during the observation window. If you need to update/change your block out dates, please notify your assigned Assessor.

Observation Windows During Winter Weather

Winter weather can bring ice, snow, and sudden closures, especially for programs located in schools. If you have an On-Site Observation window in the winter and your program needs to close or delay opening because of weather, please contact your assigned Assessor as soon as possible. Assessors often travel long distances across the state, so early communication helps keep everyone safe and informed.



If your program follows a school district’s closure schedule, sharing that information with your Assessor ahead of time is also very helpful.

A little preparation and clear communication can make this season run more smoothly for everyone. Thank you for your efforts to keep your Assessor informed and to support a successful observation process during the winter months.

Questions about On-Site Observation? Email us: assessment@ecic4kids.org.

CLASS^®  Overview Course in MiRegistry

Looking to learn more about the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) tool used for On-Site Observation? There is an updated course available in MiRegistry that highlights CLASS 2^nd Edition and CLASS Environment that will be starting August 1 for Pre-K.

This 2-hour course is self-paced and provides information on the tool and its focus on intentional interactions. This training is helpful for all provider types and settings. You can search for it by selecting “Great Start to Quality” as area of interest and “Pd-8 Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as the topic.

Continue to check our CLASS® page on the Great Start to Quality website for additional information and resources.

Great Start to Quality's Family Pages

These social media pages give families resources like tips on finding care, financial assistance, early learning activities, and more. Providers and partners are encouraged to share the pages with the families in your communities.  

Support with public profiles and general information: greatstarttoquality@ecic4kids.org 

Participation with Great Start to Quality: your Resource Center

Connecting employees or connecting with your Validator: validation@ecic4kids.org

Connecting with your Assessor: assessement@ecic4kids.org

Questions about Approved Assessors: approvedassessor@ecic4kids.org 

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