VQB5 Participation Requirements

In response to state law, the Virginia Board of Education has established a unified measurement and improvement system (VQB5), with required participation for all of the following publicly-funded birth-to-five early childhood programs:

• Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI)
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE or IDEA Part B, Section 619 preschool)
• Title I Preschool
• Head Start/Early Head Start
• Virginia’s Child Care Subsidy Program
• Local government child care assistance, such as Fairfax’s Child Care Assistance and Referral (CCAR) program
• Federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS)
• Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) Mixed Delivery 
• Federal Department of Defense Military Child Care Fee Assistance (MCCYN) 

 Programs that do not receive public funding have the option to participate in VQB5. 

Annual Participation Requirements 

Publicly-funded sites must complete three activities annually to meet the  legislative requirement. Non-publicly-funded sites who opt-in to VQB5 must also complete these activities in order to receive a public quality profile. 

1. All VQB5 participants are required to use LinkB5 to provide information about their sites, classrooms, teachers, and child enrollment through the completion of various profiles. This includes using LinkB5 to:
   • Complete site, site administrator, educator, and classroom profiles during annual registration, August 15 - October 1. 
   • Enter information about optional use of VDOE-approved curriculum for each classroom by October 1, with the option to update curriculum information by May 31.
   • Complete classroom lists by December 22 to better understand the impact of classroom experiences on child outcomes.
2. Every eligible classroom must complete two local CLASS observations, one in the fall and one in the spring, with scores entered in LinkB5.
   • The fall local observation window occurs from August 15 to December 22.
   • The spring local observation window occurs from January 20 to May 31.
3. In addition to the two local CLASS observations, all participating sites must participate in external CLASS observations for each age-level served, between August 15 and May 31.   

Sites should contact their local Ready Region lead agency for additional VQB5 information and support.

Participation Resources: 

• VQB5 Participation Requirements 2024-2025/Spanish
• VQB5 Participation Frequently Asked Questions 2024-2025/Spanish
• VQB5 2024-2025 Participation Handbook/Spanish
• VQB5 Participation Overview Video for Program Leaders
• LinkB5 Resources Webpage 
• VQB5 Classroom Lists Overview 2024-2025/Spanish
• VQB5 Data Verification Resource Guide- July 2024

For additional details about VQB5 participation requirements and consequences for not completing required participation activities, refer to Section 3 in the VQB5 Guidelines.  

For questions about VQB5 participation, contact vqb5@doe.virginia.gov