Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes  |  Virginia Preschool Initiative  | Early Childhood Special Education  |  Head Start  | VQB5  | Early Learning

Virginia’s Child Care Stabilization
Grant Program - Final Round

Last week, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow announced a fourth and final round of direct cash assistance for child care centers and family child care sites through Virginia’s Child Care Stabilization Grant Program.To be eligible for this payment, recipients must be in good standing and have been eligible for a third-quarter payment. A Summary Letter can be found in the provider portal detailing all disbursements. Payments will be distributed starting late August through September. Please contact childcaregrants@doe.virginia.gov if you have questions or have not received your payment by October 1, 2022. Click here to read the news release.

Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes

VQB5 Information Session for Subsidy Vendors - Webinar on August 24

On August 24, VDOE will host a webinar for subsidy vendors, who serve children ages birth to five, to provide information about the VQB5 2022-2023 Practice Year.  The webinar will also include information about how VDOE is supporting subsidy vendors to meet the new VQB5 quality expectations. This webinar is intended for site directors/administrators, family day home providers and other program leaders who support subsidy vendors. ​

• Webinar: VQB5 Information Session for​ ​Subsidy Vendors
• Date : ​August 24 at 12:00 p.m.
• Register

Apply for the Virginia Child Care Financing Program- You May Be Eligible for a 0% Interest Rate Loan

The VDOE, in partnership with the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, offers a low interest child care loan to eligible center-based and family day home providers. Eligible applicants can borrow amounts ranging from a $15,000 to $250,000 cap (depending on provider type) at a 0% interest rate. 

For more information, please review the program flier here or contact Karen White at karen.white@sbsd.virginia.gov.

Upcoming Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Waiver Deadline (October 31, 2022)

The U.S. Department of Education has announced that individuals working for a qualified employer may now be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness.  View the recorded PSLF Webinar to learn about the PSLF waiver and ways that the early care and education workforce can take advantage of this time-limited opportunity for Federal student loan relief. Please share this PDF with your networks to ensure that early educators and caregivers are aware of this opportunity and can submit a PSLF form by October 31.

Virginia Preschool Initiative 

VPI New Coordinator - Webinar on August 17

VDOE will host a training for VPI Coordinators new to their position for the 2022-2023 school year. Reporting timelines and other annual requirements will be reviewed. This session will be recorded and sent to all registered participants as well as posted to the VPI website after completion. Registration is required.

• Webinar: VPI New Coordinator

• Date: August 17 at 11:00 a.m.

• Register

Learn more about the upcoming Coordinated Preschool Enrollment webinar on August 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm highlighted in the Head Start section below. Or Register here.

Early Childhood Special Education

VQB5 Information for ECSE Administrators - Webinar on August 17

On August 17, VDOE will host a webinar for school division leaders responsible for administrative oversight of local ECSE programs to provide information about the VQB5 2022-2023 Practice Year. Since each division is different, this may include directors, coordinators, specialists, lead teachers, or others serving in this capacity. A representative from each school division is encouraged to attend. ​

• Webinar: VQB5 Information Session for​ ​ECSE Administrators
• Date: ​August 17 at 12:00 p.m.
• Register

Co-Teaching in Pre-K Book Study

Pre-K Co-Teaching teams are invited to apply to participate in a statewide book study of 30 Days to the Co-Taught Classroom: How to Create an AMAZING, Nearly MIRACULOUS & Frankly EARTH-SHATTERING Partnership in One Month or Less by Paula Kluth and Julie Causton. Participants will meet twice virtually to review instructional aspects of co-teaching, develop strong collaborative relationships, and more! Those interested should complete the Pre-K Co-Teaching Interest Form.

• Co-Teaching in Pre-K Book Study
• September 21 and October 25 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Head Start

Enrollment Forward Video Series

The Office of Head Start has compiled short video clips from their Enrollment Forward series of recipient agencies responding to questions from the Head Start community.  This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand from recipient agencies across the country discuss their approaches to workforce development, recruitment, retention and building relationships with community partners.   

Coordinated Preschool Enrollment - Webinar on August 16

On August 16, VDOE will host a webinar for early childhood program leaders.  Any individuals who act as administrators or coordinators for Head Start, VPI, ECSE, and Mixed Delivery programs are invited to attend.  The purpose is to share local options and strategies for coordinated preschool enrollment across all early childhood education programs to expand access and enrollment.

• Webinar: Coordinated Preschool Enrollment Webinar

• Date: August 16 at 2:00 p.m.

• Register

VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System

VQB5 Practice Year 2 Registration Open Now Open!

Registration for the second practice year of VQB5 opened on August 1st!  All publicly funded programs should register for Practice Year 2 to prepare for the new VQB5 system. Programs must register by Sept. 16, 2022 through Ready Regions. Contact your local Ready Region for registration details.

VQB5 Participation FAQs

For additional information about the definition of ‘publicly funded programs’ and the VQB5 participation requirements, please view the VQB5 Participation FAQs.

Early Learning Support