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Save the Date
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Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes
Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Programs
The new guidance document provides updated guidelines for child care centers and family day homes. This document supersedes previous guidelines issued on February 7, 2022 by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children - Conference This Month
The 66th VAAEYC Annual Conference will be held in Hampton, VA, March 17-20. They will offer both in-person AND virtual events, providing countless ways to learn, connect, share, and Explore New Horizons. CLICK HERE to learn more about our COVID-19 policy for the 2022 Annual Conference. This conference is appropriate and provides training and resources for all preschool, child care and family child care providers.
Increase Award Amount for the Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship
Starting March 15, the lifetime award for the Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program will increase from $3,570 to $4,020. This amount will be for students who are new to the program, starting with the Summer 2022 semester. This scholarship was created to assist students with a lifetime award that equals the average amount for 8 community college courses. Based on current tuition rates, the amount has been adjusted to $4,020. Students who are already in the program will keep their current lifetime award maximum.
Notice of Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network RFA
The VDOE has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network. The RFA can be found on eVA, Virginia's electronic procurement system posted here. Complete applications are requested to be submitted by April 15, 2022 to earlychildhood@doe.virginia.gov. Please review the application posted in eVA for additional information.
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Virginia Preschool Initiative
VPI Local Criteria Eligibility Waiver for 2022-2023: Window 1 Now Open, Closes May 15
This will be the first of three application windows to submit the VPI Local Criteria Eligibility Waiver, which allows divisions to request that more than 15% of their VPI slots use locally determined eligibility criteria. Each application is reviewed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and VDOE staff. To prepare, ensure access to the application in SSWS by contacting your local SSWS manager.
Proposed Budget Updates for Pre-K Programs Webinar - Recording
VDOE hosted a webinar on Wednesday February 16, 2022 at 2pm to review the proposed state budget proposals, and their potential implications on Pre-K for the 2022-2023 school year. The recording is linked above.
FY 23 VPI Document Distribution
Last week, VDOE sent an email to VPI contacts. This email contained the documents listed below. If you did not receive this email and feel you should have, please reach out to Tiffanie Meehling
- FY 23 Initial Slot Allocation
- DRAFT Guidelines for Using Family Income Criteria in Determining Student Eligibility for VPI & Best Practices for Implementing a Local Eligibility Process
- 2022 VPI Coordinator Year Long Checklist
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Early Childhood Special Education
Instructional Strategies for Deaf Learners with Additional Disabilities
According to the newest research, approximately 40% of children identified with hearing loss also have other disabilities. In this free training, participants will receive practical instructional strategies to use with students who have hearing loss and additional disabilities. The focus will be on early language and literacy skills. This training, presented by The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is intended for teachers and professionals working with students in Virginia ages 2-21.
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Head Start
Enrollment Forward Webinar Series
The Office of Head Start (OHS) is providing a five-part webinar series that focuses on assisting Head Start Programs to continue providing full in-person comprehensive services to children and families. Updated OHS guidance and pertinent resources are embedded into these webinars to support programmatic decisions specific to enrollment, recruitment, and approaches to workforce development. Take an opportunity to review the webinars available on demand.
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VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System
VQB5 Quality Matters Webinar
VDOE is excited to provide an update on the development of the new Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5). During this webinar, VDOE will share updates about current Practice Year 1 activities as well as plans for next year's Practice Year 2. Anyone interested in learning about the VQB5 Practice Years is welcome to attend. (This webinar will also be recorded).
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Webinar Title: Quality Matters - Update on the Practice Years
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Date/Time - March 16th at 11am
- Register
VQB5 Practice Year 2 (2022-2023) - Interested in Learning More?
Next year will be Practice Year 2 for VQB5. All early childhood programs are invited and encouraged to participate. Early childhood programs interested in learning more about VQB5 Practice Year 2, can complete this form and a Ready Regions representative will follow up to provide additional information and next steps.
As a reminder, VQB5 will be required for all publicly-funded early childhood programs beginning in fall 2023. Practice Year 2 is the final practice year.
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Early Learning Support
Access to Virginia’s No-To-Low Cost Early Childhood Curriculum Option, STREAMin3, Available Soon!
Virginia is reducing disparities in access to comprehensive early childhood curriculum by providing a no-to-low cost curriculum option, STREAMin3, beginning this month. STREAMin3 is an open-resource curriculum model available to all birth to five publicly-funded classrooms. Learn more about STREAMin3, access and enrollment and how to get the curriculum.
Important reminder: Programs participating in VQB Practice Years have multiple options for selecting a VDOE-approved curriculum. Read about Early Childhood Curriculum Options for VQB5.
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The ECE Resource Hub Focus of the Month: Supporting and Guiding Young Children's Behavior
Help us Improve the VDOE Website
Website visitors are encouraged to complete the VDOE User Study Survey to assist the department with updating its web presence. Input received will help VDOE improve a website that thousands of teachers, students and families use every day. Please note that this task is intended for site visitors only. Your feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Early Childhood Educators: Help Us Highlight Your Work with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
SchoolHouse Connection is seeking to elevate expertise and stories from early childhood programs via media outlets, social media, and owned media (ex: Medium), to illustrate the realities of young children experiencing homelessness and elevate the urgent need for targeted support and solutions. We are interested in hearing stories from Head Start/Early Head Start, Pre-K (public and private), childcare, home visiting, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and others.
Please share this survey widely with any of your early childhood networks!
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