About Bright & Early ND

Bright & Early ND is North Dakota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS is a systematic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early childhood programs. Bright & Early ND was developed to help early childhood programs offer high-quality care that supports each child's learning and development.

Bright & Early ND is designed to:

  • Ensure that all children have high-quality early experiences that help them develop the skills they need to be successful in school, work, and life.
  • Support early childhood professionals to provide high-quality care by offering resources such as professional development opportunities, coaching, and financial supports.
  • Help families find high-quality early childhood programs that fit their needs by providing information about program quality.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers Bright & Early ND as a key strategy for quality improvement under North Dakota law (NDCC 50-11.1)

Bright & Early ND Policies

The Bright & Early ND Policy Manual is designed to help early childhood programs understand key components of Bright & Early ND. This manual provides a detailed overview of Bright & Early ND policies and serves as a reference tool throughout participation.

  • Bright & Early ND Policy Manual (PDF, 638 KB)