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Friday, March 13, 2020
Of Interest to All
COVID-19 and Virginia's Public Schools
The VDOE is continuing to work closely with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and other state and federal authorities to provide the latest information and guidance on COVID-19 to the commonwealth’s public schools. On March 9, a Superintendent Memo was released with additional resources and links to past communications. Further information can be found on the VDOE COVID-19 Website.
New, Unified Set of Birth-Five Early Learning Development Standards Available for Your Review Soon!
Virginia is working with stakeholders and experts to develop a unified set of early learning and development (ELD) standards for children ages birth to five. This project is supported through the federal Preschool Development Birth to Five (PDG-B5) grant.
The Birth-Five ELD Standards will support programs in providing developmentally-appropriate practice and instruction for all learners. The revised standards will reflect cultural responsiveness; be pragmatic for families and programs; have a special emphasis on caring for the most vulnerable populations; and be in alignment with Virginia’s kindergarten standards of learning (SOLs).
Once finalized, these standards will replace the Department of Social Services’ Milestones of Child Development and the Virginia Department of Education’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning documents. Programs will be able to phase in the use of the new birth-five standards, with expected use beginning in 2021-2022.
The VDOE will be seeking your input on a draft version of the ELD Standards later this spring. Information on how to provide feedback will be included in the next edition of Readiness Connections.
For questions about Virginia’s Birth-Five ELD Standards project, contact Tamilah Richardson at tamilah.richardson@doe.virginia.gov.
VPI Expansion and Enhancement Series
Communication regarding the proposed enhancements and expansions for VPI Coordinators is ongoing. A separate VPI Expansions and Enhancements Updates Email list has been used to share information about the bi-weekly webinar series and other critical updates related to VPI. These emails will continue through May 2020. Be on the lookout for these important emails. If you would like to begin receiving these emails, please email Laura Heath at Laura.Heath@doe.virginia.gov.
VPI Waiver to Increase use of Local Eligibility Criteria
The VDOE released Superintendent’s Memo #041-20 on February 21. This memo included information about how localities can seek a waiver to increase the percentage of at-risk children served through local eligibility criteria to be greater than 15 percent. The memo includes information about the requirements for the waiver, as well as a form to be used. There is not a limited set of rationales for local eligibility criteria. School divisions should consider the unique needs of their community.
Divisions seeking this waiver must complete the Waiver to Increase Local Eligibility Criteria for the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Form (Attachment A of Superintendent’s Memo #041-20).
Divisions are encouraged to submit the waiver form by March 31, 2010.
Mixed Delivery Grant and Preschool Development Grant - Letter of Intent due March 20
In order to help communities consisting of one or more localities increase the opportunities for young children and their families to benefit, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) is offering opportunities for communities to apply to participate in the Preschool Development Birth-Five Grant (PDG) and/or Mixed Delivery Grants. Information about both opportunities can be found on the VECF Website.
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Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG), with a focus on building local infrastructure: Through PDG, communities have the opportunity to build, expand, and sustain a birth-to-age 5 (B-5) system that supports school readiness for Virginia’s children served in publicly funded early childhood care and education (ECCE) classrooms. These efforts will help build the foundation for a new uniform measurement and improvement system required for all publicly-funded programs currently proposed in legislation.
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Mixed Delivery Grants (MDG), with a focus on increasing the number of slots for three and four-year-olds: Communities face structural barriers to providing sufficient access to high-quality ECCE experiences. The Governor’s budget includes funding that will support communities’ efforts to address these barriers and prepare more children for success in school through Mixed Delivery Grants for three and four-year-old at-risk children.
A letter of intent (LOI) for both opportunities is due on March 20.
Using Know, See, Do Action Planning Resources - Recorded Webinar
If you missed the Using Know, See, Do Action Planning Resources Webinar be sure to listen to the recorded webinar and review the slides located on the Advancing Effective Interactions and Instruction in VPI Classrooms Website. Scroll down to 'Resources' to see links for the Know, See, Do Action Planning resources and the Webinar.
These resources are organized around a key school readiness area (thinking skills, social skills, self-regulation, language and literacy, and math). They provide leaders with a menu of free resources and a structure for creating "action plans" for teachers. This webinar will support the work of VPI coordinators, school principals/assistant principals, coaches, or others who offer PD or directly support teachers.
State of Early Childhood Webinar - May 27
The VDOE will host an updates webinar on May 27 at 12:00. This webinar will provide updates from the 2020 Legislative Session, and discuss plans and key initiatives for the 2020-2021 year. Jenna Conway will walk stakeholders through important next steps and timelines. Time for question and answer will be provided.
What: State of Early Childhood Webinar
Who: All interested parties including program leaders, teachers, and other key stakeholders.
When and Where: May 27 from 12:00-1:00.
Link to Join: https://zoom.us/j/973091123
For VPI
Timeline for Spring VPI Applications
The VDOE will soon be releasing information about the Spring VPI Application.
- The Spring VPI Application to serve four-year-olds will be released through SSWS in April. This will be following the typical timeline for the Spring VPI Application. The Spring VPI Application will be due on May 15. A webinar providing detailed instructions on the Spring VPI Application will be hosted as part of the VPI Expansion and Enhancement Series (see above for information).
- The VPI for Three-Year-Old Pilot Application will be released via Superintendent's Memo March 13, 2020. This application will be completed via a paper application, and only needs to be completed for divisions that are seeking to serve three-year-olds. The VPI for Three-Year-Old Pilot will be due on May 15. A recorded webinar is available.
For questions, please contact Mark Allan at Mark.Allan@doe.virginia.gov.
For ECSE
Best Practices for Assessment of Young Children - A Three Part Webinar Series
The VDOE is pleased to offer a three-part webinar series titled Best Practices for Assessment of Young Children. This series will deliver targeted technical assistance in determining eligibility for special education and related services for children ages two through five. The webinars will be delivered by Marie Ireland, Eligibility and Speech Language Impairment Specialist.
During these three webinars, participants will learn about best practices in assessing young children to ensure informed decisions are made regarding eligibility for special education and related services.
What: Best Practices for Assessment Webinar
Who: School division leaders that are engaged in determining eligibility for special education and related services for children ages 2-5.
When and Where: Three part webinar series. Registration is required to participate.
For questions, please contact Dawn Hendricks.
Online Course for Parents: Early Childhood Academy (Presented by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center [PEATC] in Collaboration with the VDOE
The Early Childhood Academy, presented by PEATC in collaboration with the VDOE is a FREE 4-week self-paced online course for parents of young children with a disability. The course is an innovative and parent-friendly resource focused on providing information on the transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education, eligibility for special education and related services, the importance of early childhood services, and valuable resources available. Participants will learn practical information to help set the foundation for the child’s lifelong learning and social emotional development.
Early childhood is a critical time of developmental growth, and early learning helps children develop the skills necessary to be successful in school and life. The VDOE encourages divisions to provide families with information about this online course.
What: Early Childhood Academy - Online Course for Parents
Who: Parents of a young child with a disability
When and Where: 4-week online, self-paced course. Register here.
For questions, please contact Dawn Hendricks.
Serve and Return Interactions: Serving Children with Hearing Loss Webinar
Serve and Return interactions shape the development of a child’s brain. This webinar will examine the research base underlying “serve and return” interactions, and is aimed at improving participants’ understanding of the impact of environment on development. Participants will learn strategies for “serve and return” to coach parents, help teachers, and use themselves in making interactions more meaningful and engaging for children with hearing loss.
What: Serve and Return Interactions Webinar
Who: Teachers of children who are deaf/hard of hearing, early intervention providers, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, regular education teachers serving, and others working to encourage language development in children with hearing loss.
When and Where: March 18 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here.
For questions, please contact Dawn Hendricks.
Why Inclusion Matters on the Playground - Highlight Video
When general education students and students with special needs play together, it breaks down unconscious biases about disability and fosters relationships. A powerful video from a California school that demonstrates inclusion on the playground.
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