FY26 Quality Initiative Application: Accreditation, Newly Licensed Provider, and Infant Toddler

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Introduction

What is a Quality Initiative?
A Quality Initiative (QI) is an opportunity for early childhood education programs and early educators to participate in professional development around a specific early care and learning topic. All QIs involve developing goals that support continuous quality improvement, participation in educational opportunities, technical assistance, and financial assistance or educational materials.

thread’s QI process includes:

Developing SMART goals with your thread Professional Development Specialist partner to support your program’s quality improvement.
Participation in recommended training and educational opportunities.
Participation in a reflection-based Technical Assistance (TA) process with a thread Specialist that follows a Plan–Do–Reflect approach.
Financial awards or training materials to support goal implementation.

Newly Licensed Provider: This Quality Initiative (QI) is intended for newly licensed program owners or administrators within their first year of licensing or with a provisional child care license.

Accreditation: This Quality Initiative (QI) is an opportunity to learn more about the accreditation requirements and the process involved in voluntarily becoming accredited through either the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC).

Infant Toddler: This Quality Initiative (QI) focuses on supporting programs to improve the quality of their infant and toddler learning environment and interactions.

Use this application to submit your Quality Initiative (QI) requests.

Eligibility:
In all cases, to be eligible to receive the QI you must:

Work for or own a current or provisionally licensed child care program.
Be current/active in the Alaska SEED Registry. If you are not yet a member, submit your application now. Visit seedalaska.org.
Individuals who received a QI last year may be waitlisted.
Incomplete applications may be waitlisted.
Participate in a follow-up conversation to ensure that your goals meet the intentions of the QI program.
Submit a completed, signed IRS Form W9 and a copy of your Child Care License issued by the State of Alaska.

Visit www.threadalaska.org/qi2025 for complete details of all the Quality Initiative eligibility guidelines, deadlines, and requirements.

Program Contact Information

Program Name:

Please use the legal business name as listed on your current business license issued by the State of Alaska and your IRS W-9 form.

Program Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Program Telephone Number:

Program Email:

Early Educator / Staff Participating in the Quality Initiative

Early Educator/Participant Full Name:

Please state the full name of the early educator or staff member who is going to be participating in the Quality Initiative.

Early Educator/Participant Email:

Early Educator/Participant Telephone Number:

Your Role:

Other:

What is the best method for us to communicate with you?

PhoneEmailText message

What is the best time of day to reach you?

Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)Lunch (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM)Evening (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

Is the early educator/participant current or active in the Alaska SEED Registry?
To participate in this QI, you must be a member of the Alaska SEED Registry. If you are not yet a member, submit your application now. Visit seedalaska.org.

YesNo

Join the Alaska SEED Registry to become eligible!

You're not eligible for this quality initiative yet, but you can be!

To qualify, you need to be a current member of the Alaska SEED Registry. Good news: registration is easy!

Visit the ServicePortal and login to become an Alaska SEED Registry member today.

Selection Criteria

Which Quality Initiative best meets your program's needs? This is the area of quality in which you will be working to improve your program.

Why did you choose this Quality Initiative Topic? (3-5 sentences)

How will this Quality Initiative develop or improve your program? (3-5 sentences)

Upload IRS Form W9

Please upload a completed, signed IRS Form W9 at the bottom of this section. Acceptable file formats include .pdf, .jpg, and .png. Blurry or illegible files may result in a delay in your application.

Click here to download a blank W9 Form. Save the form to your computer before completing and uploading.

Complete the following sections of the IRS Form W-9:

1: Full legal name as it appears on your government-issued social security card

2: Business name as it appears on your business license issued by the State of Alaska — this must match the information entered above on this application form

3: Select the appropriate box for your federal tax classification

5: Business mailing address

6: City, State, Zip

Part I: Employer Identification Number

Part II: Signature & Date

This is a legal document and must be free of any errors. To avoid mistakes, delays, or denial of your application, please ensure your W-9 form is completed neatly and accurately. Use only blue or black ink, or complete the form digitally. Do not scribble, scratch out, write over, erase, use white-out, or spill anything on the form. If an error occurs, please download a new blank W-9 and start again.

Click here to see an example of a completed W9 form.Click here to minimize the example.

Example of Completed W9

Upload a completed IRS Form W9:

Upload Child Care License

Upload a Copy of Your Child Care License Issued By the State of Alaska or Municipality of Anchorage:

Acceptable file formats include .pdf, .jpg, and .png. Blurry or illegible files may result in a delay in your application.

Statement of Agreement

By applying for this Quality Initiative, I agree to the following:

My early childhood education program is licensed or is provisionally licensed by the State of Alaska, Child Care Program Office, or the Municipality of Anchorage, Child and Adult Care Licensing.
I understand that Quality Initiative applications are accepted based on eligibility, meeting the intent of the Quality Initiative, a short interview, and while funding allows. Consideration will be given to statewide representation and to programs that did not receive a Quality Initiative during the last year.
I am willing to participate in a follow-up conversation which may be used to determine commitment to the process and to prioritize tailored technical assistance to ensure successful program implementation.
I agree to complete the requirements associated with the Quality Initiative within the current fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026) with the education requirement completed no later than April 1, 2026.
I understand that it is solely my responsibility to maintain an active Alaska SEED Registry status and it is necessary to be eligible for any Quality Initiative.
I acknowledge that grant funds/materials are issued to the early childhood education program and not the individual.
I agree to complete a mandatory survey 30 days after receiving the financial or training materials award.