Spark is Being Redesigned

Spark, Oregon’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System for early childhood care and education programs, is being redesigned! Our goal for the redesigned Spark is to create a system that is inclusive of Oregon’s diverse families, child care providers, and early learning programs. This will support adults caring for young children to continuously improve their practices and assist families in finding child care and early education programs that are the best fit for their child.

Inclusion

Equity

Diversity

Access

The redesigned Spark system will be:

Responsive to:

  • Diverse cultures, beliefs, languages, abilities, needs, and goals 
  • New research and practices
  • Family, program, and state goals

Supportive of:

  • Positive outcomes for children, families, early learning and care workforce, and early learning and care programs
  • Empowering Spark participants to select goals that are meaningful to them and connecting them to relevant resources to achieve their goals

Connected to:

  • Raise Up Oregon: A Statewide Early Learning System Plan
  • Oregon’s Early Learning System and current initiatives
  • Equitable and effective standards and practices
  • Available resources and supports

1. Statewide Engagement

Gather input from families, educators, providers, leaders, & community partners from all across Oregon.

2. Listening and Design workgroups

Diverse workgroups conducted in Spanish and English will review findings and co-create recommendations.

 

 

3. Transition Planning

Spark-rated Transition Team will make recommendations on transitioning to the redesigned Spark.

4.Spark Accountability Team

The Spark Accountability Team will make recommendations on high level design concepts for the redesigned system.

5. Redesign Implementation

TRI will roll out the Redesigned Spark in phases.

6. Assessment

The redesigned Spark will be assessed for effectiveness and the Spark Improvement Cycle Plan will be made.

1. Statewide Engagement

Gather input from families, educators, providers, leaders, & community partners from all across Oregon

2. Listening and Design workgroups

Diverse workgroups conducted in Spanish and English will review findings and co-create recommendations

3. Transition Planning

TRI and Spark rated programs will plan the transition from the current Spark to the Redesigned Spark

4.Spark Accountability Team

The Spark Accountability Team will make recommendations on high level design concepts for the redesigned system

5. Redesign Implementation

TRI will roll out the Redesigned Spark in phases

6. Assessment

The redesigned Spark will be assessed for effectiveness and the Spark Improvement Cycle Plan will be made

Listening and Design Team Representatives

Mayra Ramierez
Area Represented Portland Oregon
Chyanne Schlappie
Area Represented: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Bruna Pimentel
Area Represented: Cave Junction, Oregon
Chelsey McAlister
Area Represented: Pendelton, Oregon
Hadiatu L. Johnson
Area Represented: Beaverton,Oregon
Jessie Carpenter
Area Represented: Eugene and Springfield, Oregon
Shawn C.Reynolds
Area Represented: Ontario, Oregon
Dr. Massene Mboup
Area Represented: Lake Oswego
Erendira Pin
Area Represented: Hermiston, Oregon
Fernanda Lucas De La Torre
Area Represented: Coos Bay, Oregon
Janet Marlene Hernandez Ramirez
Area Represented: Cottage Grove, Oregon
Judith Murillo Tuesta
Area Represented: Portland, Oregon
Miriam Orozco
Area Represented: Milwaukie, Oregon
Ramiro Diaz
Area Represented: Wilsonville, Oregon
Sabi Velasco
Area Represented: Washington County, Oregon
Mayra Ramierez
Area Represented: Portland Oregon
Karen Alejandra Macias
Area Represented: Monroe, Oregon
Juana Leticia Barcenas Sanchez
Area Represented: Beaverton, Oregon
Norma A. Marín Favela
Area Represented: McMinnville, Oregon
Maria del Rosario Gaytan
Area Represented: Medford Oregon
Jorge Martinez Yañez
Area Represented: Beaverton, Oregon
Leonor Adriana Iturbe
Area Represented: Bend, Oregon
Jennifer Rodrigues Bell
Area Represented: West Linn
Robert M. Kleng
Area Represented: La Grande, Oregon
Sage Halvorson
Area Represented: Gold Beach, Oregon
Sheila Ward
Area Represented: Portland,Oregon
Teri McClain
Area Represented: Salem, Oregon
Tram Gonzales
Area Represented: Sandy, Oregon
Amran Noor
Area Represented: Portland Oregon

Spark Redesign FAQs 

Spark is evolving to better support programs with a more flexible, individualized approach to quality improvement. The redesigned Spark focuses less on ratings alone and more on ongoing improvement through individualized goal setting in the Quality Improvement Cycle, while also providing programs with ongoing, annual financial support to help sustain their quality improvement efforts.

June 30, 2026 (postmark date) will be the last date your program can submit a portfolio for a rating or resubmit for a higher rating.

*Portfolios postmarked July 1, 2026 may still be eligible for review.

After June 30, 2026, programs will no longer submit portfolios for ratings. Instead, Spark participation will focus on individualized goal setting and continuous improvement through the Quality Improvement Cycle, with ongoing support from a Quality Improvement Specialist. 

Yes—for now. Programs can continue to earn Spark ratings until June 30, 2026. This is the last day to submit a portfolio for a new or higher Spark rating. After that date, Spark will fully transition to individualized goal setting through the Quality Improvement Cycle.

The redesigned system is being rolled out now with programs able to access the new framework, the Quality Improvement Cycle. As of July 1st, 2026, the portfolio-based star rating system will be retired. Programs must submit any portfolios by June 30th, 2026 (postmark date) to receive a rating. After July 1, 2026, any ratings awarded, as well as all current ratings, will be categorized as historical ratings, which reflect the highest rating a program has achieved historically. The portfolio-based star rating system will officially retire on June 30th, 2026.

Your Spark rating will continue to be recognized and will remain visible in your program’s profile on Find Child Care Oregon. As you participate in Spark’s Quality Improvement Cycles, your quality improvement achievements will also be reflected in your Find Child Care Oregon profile, alongside your rating. After July 1, 2026, any current ratings and new ratings awarded will be displayed a historical rating – the highest rating achieved during when the star rating system was active.

The redesigned system will not include ratings. However, the highest rating you achieved when the rating system was active will still be displayed on Find Child Care Oregon. 

That’s a program decision. Programs may choose to pursue a new or higher rating before June 30, 2026, or they may choose to focus on quality improvement through coaching and goal setting. A Quality Improvement Specialist can help you decide what approach makes the most sense for your program.

The Quality Improvement Cycle is an ongoing, annual process where programs set individualized goals, take action, reflect on progress, and adjust as needed. It’s designed to be flexible and responsive to each program’s strengths, needs, and priorities—rather than a one-time checklist or submission.

Currently, having a Spark 3-4- or 5-Star rating is how programs can receive additional funding through ERDC. Programs with a Spark rating receive a monthly per-child quality stipend for children whose families receive ERDC benefits.

As Spark transitions from ratings to individualized goal setting through the Quality Improvement Cycle, DELC is working to determine how quality-related ERDC funding will be aligned with the redesigned Spark. Programs will receive advance notice of any changes, and funding tied to quality will not be discontinued with short notice. Participating in Spark continues to demonstrate a program’s commitment to quality improvement and is expected to remain an important part of how quality-related benefits are supported.

After July 1, 2026, Find Child Care Oregon profiles will continue to show Spark participation information, including retired ratings and completed Quality Improvement Cycle efforts. Retired ratings will reflect the highest rating a program achieved, giving families a clear view of quality investments over time.

Yes. Spark is committed to supporting programs in ways that respect language, culture, and community. Interpretation, translated materials, and culturally responsive support are available, and programs can request assistance as needed.

Spark is designed to be accessible using basic technology like a smartphone, tablet, or computer. If your program has limited access or needs assistance, a Quality Improvement Specialist can help identify options and supports.

Yes. The Quality Improvement Cycle offers programs the opportunity to set goals that are meaningful and relevant to their program and community.

Most programs will be eligible for a $500 Goal Payment annually and will receive a $250 Reflection Payment upon submission of their final reflection. Programs that choose to begin another Quality Improvement Cycle will be eligible for an additional Goal Payment. One-time Support Payments are being retired in favor of these annual, ongoing payments, which provide more consistent support for quality improvement and enable more programs to access funding more frequently than in the past.

Questions?

Call 877-768-8290 or email  oregonspark@wou.edu