Of Interest to All
Updates on VQB5 Practice Year 1 (2021-2022) - Registration Deadline is September 17
Practice Year 1 of VQB5 is underway for communities participating in the Preschool Development Grant (PDG). To support program leaders and administrators with VQB5 Practice Year 1 activities, a new Implementation Guide and Video Overview have been developed and are available on the Building a Unified Early Childhood System website, along with other information and FAQs about VQB5. The VQB5 Implementation Guide is now also available in Spanish.
If your early childhood program is located within a PDG community and you’d like to participate in VQB5 Practice Year 1, please contact the PDG Community Lead in your area for registration information. The registration deadline for Practice Year 1 is September 17, 2021. (Programs that are NOT in a PDG Community for the 2021-2022 year will have the opportunity to participate in Practice Year 2, which will begin in July 2022.)
Local CLASS Observation Guidance for VQB5 Webinar Recording and Feedback Survey
On August 18, VDOE hosted a webinar about the guidelines and procedures outlined in the VDOE Local CLASS Observation Guidebook. The webinar also included information about how VDOE is using CLASS to promote equity across all birth-to-five publicly funded programs.
A feedback survey is open through September 30 for stakeholders to provide feedback about VQB5’s approach to using local CLASS observations. Participation is encouraged and is an opportunity to share thoughts, perspectives, and questions.
VDOE is Adding to Its Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) Implementation Toolkit
Virginia’s Early Learning and Development (ELDS), Birth-Five Learning Guidelines are the blueprint for preparing every child to enter school ready to thrive! To ensure all educators are equipped to effectively use the new standards and promote school readiness for all of Virginia’s littlest learners, VDOE is adding to its ELDS Implementation Toolkit. Resources will include foundational documents such as standards crosswalks, introductory and implementation guidance (view the pre-recorded video), domain specific (i.e., ELDS focus areas) instructional tools and other related supports. These resources will be accessible from the VDOE Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction webpage beginning this month and updates will continue throughout the year.
Important Reminder: Effective Fall 2021, the ELDS are the early learning guidelines for all birth to five programs, replacing the Milestones and Foundation Blocks documents.
For questions related to ELDS implementation or resources contact Rebecca.Shaffer@doe.virginia.gov.
WIDA Early Years Now a Part of Virginia’s Portfolio of Supports for Educators Serving Multilingual Children and Families
Beginning next month (October 2021), educators will have access to self-paced learning modules focused on best practices for supporting multilingual children ages 2.5-5.5 and their families through WIDA Early Years. WIDA will also support alignment of the Early English Language Development Standards to VA’s ELDS. Details related to the official launch of this project will be announced later this month.
VKRP Expansion Updates- Preschool Assessments Begin This Fall!
The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) is now available to all publicly-funded preschool programs, and fall assessments are underway! Teachers administer VKRP assessments (PALS for literacy, the EMAS for mathematics, and the CBRS for self-regulation and social skills) in the fall and spring of the year and are provided access to detailed and integrated information about student’s skills at the student, classroom, school, division and state levels.
Programs should reach out to the VKRP Training team for information on tailored teacher training options or other questions related to assessment administration. Contact Tamilah.Richardson@doe.virginia.gov for general VKRP pre-K implementation inquiries.
Helpful VKRP/ECE Resources:
Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC): Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Inclusion
Did you know that there are six VDOE) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC) across the Commonwealth of Virginia that serve professionals in their local areas? They are here to help you with questions about Inclusion.
Early Childhood Advisory Committee to meet on September 15
The Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) will meet virtually on September 15. This meeting will include updates on early childhood regional infrastructure, planning for the new child care stabilization grants, and updates on stakeholder engagement opportunities planning for the remainder of the year. The meeting will be livestreamed. Information and materials can be found on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee website.
Virginia Preschool Initiative
Fall VPI Verification Report 2021-2022 - Due on November 5
Actual VPI program, slot, and budget data will be reported by VPI program leaders through the VPI Verification Report due on November 5, 2021. A Superintendent’s Memo is scheduled to be posted on September 24 announcing the opening of the VPI Verification Report in SSWS. The memo will provide details and instructions for completing the required VPI Verification Report for the current school year. Please note that a school division’s VPI Verification Report cannot be accessed in SSWS until the division has submitted the fall Student Record Collection (SRC). A Fall VPI Verification Report Webinar will be held on October 7 at 10 am. All VPI Coordinators should attend the webinar. The webinar will be recorded.
Fall Student Record Collection - Funding of VPI Slots
VPI funds for both four-year olds and pilot three-year olds are based on VPI preschool data collected on the Fall Student Record Collection application in the Single Sign-On for Web Systems (SSWS) portal. The VPI State Funding Based on Student Enrollment document is available on the VDOE website. This document provides information on preschool funding codes and best practices to correctly code preschool students. Please note the following VPI SRC codes added during 2020-2021 are being used again for 2021-2022.
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Three-Year Olds: Divisions participating in the VPI Pilot for Serving Three-Year Olds must use SRC PK Funding Code #12 in order to receive funding for approved slots for three-year-olds.
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Community Provider Add-on: VPI students who are served in community provider settings should be reported on the Student Record Collection (SRC) with serving school code 9990. Please work with your SRC contact to ensure that the data is being reported accurately.
Local Eligibility Waiver for VPI
The final application window for the Local Eligibility Criteria Waiver is currently open now through October 1. This is the final application window for the 2020-2021 school year. This waiver allows divisions to apply to increase the percentage of slots qualified through local eligibility criteria beyond the 15% granted by the Appropriations Act. Divisions who previously applied for an increase can apply again to further increase the percentage allowed. The application can be found in SSWS, if it is your first time accessing the waiver your local SSWS will need to add the application to your SSWS. Please note, the percentage of slots using local eligibility criteria is based on total slots filled on October 1 through the Fall Student Record Collection, regardless of total number of awarded slots.
Early Childhood Special Education
Recorded Webinars: Fundamentals of Early Childhood Special Education Administration 2-Part Series (VDOE)
On August 18 and 25, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offered the Fundamentals of Early Childhood Special Education Administration webinars. The purpose was to deliver targeted technical assistance to school division leaders who act as the program administrator for early childhood special education (ECSE) programs. Specifically, the two webinars provided an overview of:
- Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education programs;
- The VDOE guidance regarding inclusion of children with disabilities and resources to support increasing and improving inclusive practices;
- Indicators related to Early Childhood Special Education, including Indicator 6 (Preschool Placement), Indicator 7 (Preschool Child Outcomes), and Indicator 12 (Transition from Part C to Part B); and
- Advancing Effective Interactions and Instruction.
To view recordings, click on the links below and use the corresponding passcode:
“Resource Recharge” Emails from LEADS
Have you seen the latest email from LEADS? The “Resource Recharge” features important resources related to Indicators 6, 7, and 12. These emails will be sent at critical times important to each Indicator, highlighting the most helpful resources on the LEADS site. Most recently, “Resource Recharge: Indicator 7” featured top resources to ensure teams are able to complete accurate ratings on Indicator 7: Preschool Outcomes.
To sign up for these emails, visit the LEADS website, and select “send me timely notices.”
Head Start
Head Start Forward Training Series - 2021
To support the Head Start Forward Campaign, the Office of Head Start (OHS) has coordinated a training series that will address service areas included in the current Program Instruction ACF-PI-HS-21-04 OHS Expectations for Head Start Programs. This training series will provide the latest OHS guidance and resources for Head Start programs in supporting the return of comprehensive services for children and families. The prioritized topics addressed will include enrollment, recruitment, selection, eligibility, attendance (ERSEA), mental health, staff wellness, health, safety, and equity. Moving forward the OHS would like to continue guiding Head Start programs in navigating program operations and administrative decisions that will continue to strengthen families. Review the sessions previously recorded to garner pertinent guidance and information listed below.
Previous Sessions available On Demand:
Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
The Office of Head Start continues to update content posted on their early childhood learning and knowledge center website. These resources encompass the latest federal guidance, policy updates, training opportunities and supports for grantees to utilize when implementing administrative program operations. Explore the latest content available across all service areas that will help Early Head Start and Head Start programs move toward fully operational in-person services.
Early Childhood in the Spotlight
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) Pilot Launches This Fall in the Greater Richmond Area
VDOE is collaborating with the Virginia Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN) and UVA-CASTL to provide Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) services this school year in birth-to-five classrooms in the Greater Richmond Area. The pilot region includes two PDG Communities, Henrico and Chesterfield. Key goals for this initiative, funded through the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, include piloting a tiered model of supports to promote children’s social-emotional development and prevent expulsion that could ultimately scale statewide. Virginia’s ECMHC Pilot builds off recommendations outlined in the House Joint Resolution 51 Report.
VDOE will use the pilot as an opportunity to learn what worked well and how to improve services for a potential statewide expansion. A legislative report on progress-to-date will be published for public viewing in October.
Contact Tamilah.Richardson@doe.virginia.gov with questions about this initiative.
PDG Communities Activities for September
Virginia’s federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) is focused on accelerating the development of an equitable early childhood system that delivers stable, affordable and quality early care and education for the state’s families and children, particularly those who are most vulnerable and will benefit the most.
PDG B-5 Communities are continuing to lead the way in building a unified and collaborative birth-five system. This month, PDG communities are focused on:
- Supporting programs with the PDG registration process via the LinkB5 data portal.
- Beginning the first practice year of the Unified VQB5 system which includes registration, preparing for fall CLASS observations and learning about the new birth to five curriculum review process.
- Collaborating with Peers during the fall PDG-MDG Technical Assistance session and weekly office hours.
- Reflecting on efforts to strengthen coordinated enrollment and family engagement through community level assessments.
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