441—118.37(237A) Criteria for IQ4K—Level 5 rating standards for registered child development homes.
	118.37(1) Criteria for each category. To be rated at a Level 5, an eligible registered child development home must satisfy all of the criteria in each of the six designated categories listed in Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 or complete all of the criteria designated in its respective specialized tracks for Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. To be rated at a Level 5 the following criteria must also be met:
	a. 	Minimum score. The program must earn a minimum score of 5.0 on the FCCERS assessment.
	b. 	Approved assessor. An assessor approved by the department or department’s designee must perform the ERS assessment.
	c. 	Time frame for assessment. Programs eligible for an ERS assessment must undergo their assessment within 90 days of department approval unless an extension is requested and approved by the department.
	d. 	Assessments not done timely. Programs that do not undergo their assessment within 90 days of approval by the department or that do not receive an approved extension from the department shall forfeit their opportunity for an assessment and will be awarded an IQ4K Level 4 rating with an effective date as outlined in rule 441—118.11(237A).
	118.37(2) Nutrition and physical activity.
	a. 	The program shall actively participate in CACFP.
	b. 	The program shall identify and implement two nutrition goals from the completed action plan in Level 1.
	c. 	The program shall identify and implement four physical activity goals from the completed action plan in Level 1.
	118.37(3) Professional development.
	a. 	The provider shall choose one of the following trainings to complete the initial IQ4K rating:
	(1)	Complete two additional modules of the Program for Infant and Toddler Care.
	(2)	Complete EC-PBIS for Family Child Care Benchmarks of Quality and action plan for continued implementation and growth with coach. The EC-PBIS for Family Child Care must be completed.
	b. 	The provider shall then choose one of the other trainings listed above for the subsequent IQ4K ratings until all of the trainings applicable per ages served have been completed.
	c. 	Once the provider has completed all of the age-applicable trainings, the provider shall complete 22 annual hours of approved professional development training on all subsequent IQ4K applications.
	118.37(4) Family and community partnerships. The program shall complete five activities annually that promote partnerships.
	118.37(5) Provider qualifications.
	a. 	The provider shall meet Tier 2 or higher on the Iowa early care and education teaching roles career pathway.
	b. 	The provider shall have four or more years of full-time child care experience.
	118.37(6) Teaching and learning. The program shall work with families and other experts to implement instructional and environmental adaptations that support the learning for each child, including those with diverse needs, identified disabilities, language barriers, identified behavioral health needs and specialized health needs.
	118.37(7) Environment.
	a. 	The program shall achieve a score of 5.0 or higher on the FCCERS assessment.
	b. 	The program shall score an average of 2.75 or higher on the health and safety checklist for early care and education programs.
[ARC 6277C, IAB 4/6/22, effective 6/1/22]