The Quality Counts Head Start Quality Research Center

Quality Counts

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Quality Counts, Inc. was incorporated on December 21, 1999 to conduct research and evaluation studies related to the quality and education for young children and their families and to disseminate the findings through professional journals, books, and reports.  The IRS tax exempt letter was issued on August 28, 2000 for the non-profit status.  The Board of Directors
for this organization is representative of the research, Head Start, and child care communities.

Quality Counts, Inc. has secured two contracts with the GA State Department of Human Resources.  One Contract for $200, 000 is to provide stipends to 360 infant and toddler teachers throughout Georgia so that they can enroll in the Infant and Toddler Technical Certificate of Credit program and complete the related childcare courses.  The second contract for $200, 000 is to provide Quality Enhancement Grants to infant and toddler programs in GA so that they can purchase needed materials to improve the quality of their services.  The funding for these contracts is from January 1, 2001 through December 30, 2001. Quality Counts, Inc. has also been awarded a federal, five-year grant for a Head Start Quality Research Center.

Dr. Martha Abbott-Shim serves as the Executive Director of Quality Counts, Inc.  She retired from GA State University on January 1, 2001.  Dr. Abbott-Shim's intention is to continue research activities through initiatives at the non-profit organization.