The Provider Cost of Quality Calculator is a new, easy-to-use, dynamic Web-based tool that calculates the cost of quality-based on site-level provider data. The tools helps state policymakers understand the costs associated with delivering high-quality early care and education. The tool can demonstrate whether there is a gap between the cost of providing quality services and the revenue sources available to support a program. Knowing the size of the gap at different quality levels for various provider types can inform the design of financial support and incentive packages.

The PCQC is useful to States that have a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and to States that want to understand the cost of operating a particular type of quality program, such as prekindergarten. The tool can model the cost of quality for any jurisdiction. A user can manage and share multiple scenarios and provider profiles, and store and print reports.

The PCQC is the result of genuine federal-state and public-private partnerships. Many states, working with the Alliance for Early Childhood Finance and Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (APA), contributed to the development of the cost calculator methodology that preceded the online tool, and was funded by the Office of Child Care through the support of the National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement and the Child Care State Systems Specialist Network.

To access a short video introduction demonstrating the PCQC, please click here.

If you do not already have an account, please click the ‘Register now’ button on the right. If you have any questions about this tool, or would like to provide any feedback, please contact OCCQualityCenter@icfi.com.