QRIS research: Looking back and looking forward

• QRIS research and evaluation to date primarily focuses on validation studies.
• New research available in the next 5 years will contribute to advancing the field of early care and education and approaches to improving the quality of services children receive.
• This article provides five recommendations for the future of QRIS research.

In this commentary, we discuss the current state of QRIS research and evaluation, expectations for the research currently under way, and aspirations for the future of QRIS research. By reviewing the types of submissions received for the special issue and addressing methodological and conceptual gaps, we aim to help researchers and their partners fill these gaps and make future contributions to research and practice.