🌼 VDOE Readiness Connections Update: April 18, 2023

Virginia Department of Education sent this bulletin at 04/18/2023 12:01 PM EDT

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

April is the Month of the Military Child

Governor Glenn Youngkin has designated April as the Month of the Military Child in Virginia, home to several of the country's largest military installations, with over 76,000 military-connected children in the state's public schools.

The Virginia Department of Education is urging educators, administrators, school support staff, and students to wear purple on April 19th to support military-connected students as part of the national "Purple Up! For Military Kids Day".

The VDOE is also promoting the Virginia Purple Star Award, recognizing schools that support military students and their families, and the application window is open from April 1 to September 22. Click here to learn more!

Save the Date

April 18 at 1 p.m. - Webinar: VPI Spring Application for School Divisions. Register

April 18 at 1p.m. - Webinar: Grant Closeouts and Unobligated Balances. Register

April 21, Noon - Webinar: Quality Matters – Overview of the 2023-2024 VQB5 Guidelines Part 2. Register

Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes

Phase II Training for Child Day Centers and Family Day Homes

Are you looking for additional training hours? Have you had a new manager join your team that could benefit from a review of the key health and safety standards required of licensed programs? The VDOE regularly offers a free Phase II Training throughout the state. The training is required for prospective applicants for licensure, but is also a helpful review for existing providers. Contact your regional office today to find out more information.

Virginia Preschool Initiative

VPI Spring Application: Technical Webinar on April 18

The Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Spring Application was released via the Single Sign-On Web System (SSWS) on April 17. This application is required for all school divisions that want to implement VPI in 2023-2024, and will contain all the necessary questions and information to request VPI . In order to support school divisions, the VDOE will host a technical webinar to review the VPI Spring Application on April 18. Attendance is recommended for VPI Coordinators, or other school division reporting contacts.

Webinar: VPI Spring Application for School Divisions
Date: April 18, at 1:00 p.m.
Register

VPI Spring Webinar Series: Recordings

The VDOE hosted a two part webinar series to prepare school divisions for the 2023-2024 school year. Topics included: strategies for increasing enrollment, tips for strong community partnerships, insights on successful program operations, and much more.

VPI Spring Webinar Recordings

Session #1: Strategies for Enrollment March 30 Recording
Session #2: Supporting Community Partnerships April 13 Recording

Early Childhood Special Education

Resource Recharge: Indicator 7

With one school year ending and another soon beginning, it is a good time to refresh your knowledge of Indicator 7: Preschool Outcomes. Ensure your teams can provide accurate ratings as some children exit preschool and others enter to start the school year by reviewing and sharing the resources linked below.

Resource Recharge: Indicator 7

Head Start

Reminder: OHS Grant Closeouts and Unobligated Balances – Webinar on April 18

Join the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Grants Management to better understand the closeout process for your Head Start grant awards. This webinar discusses the differences between budget and project period closeouts, the reporting requirements of each, and what actions are taken when you report unobligated balances on your federal financial reports.

Webinar: Grant Closeouts and Unobligated Balances
Date: April 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Register

ERSEA Institute 2023: Looking Back, Moving Forward

The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement will be offering a virtual professional development event for leadership staff to support their program’s continued eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) priorities. Key topics include new ERSEA resources and strategies to support programs in meeting the Full Enrollment Initiative requirements, strengthening connections with families, and a systems perspective that informs ERSEA planning.

Event: ERSEA Institute 2023
Date: April 27, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Register

VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System

2023-2024 VQB5 Guidelines Webinar Part 2 – Friday, April 21

On April 21, VDOE will host Part 2 of the 2023-2024 VQB5 Guidelines Webinar. This webinar will provide additional details about VQB5 requirements for all publicly funded programs, as well as information about the development of the first public VQB5 quality profiles which will be shared in the fall of 2024. (View Part 1 of this webinar here)

Webinar: Quality Matters –Overview of the 2023-2024 VQB5 Guidelines Part 2
Date: April 21 at Noon
Register

Early Learning Support

VDOE Curriculum Vendor "Get to Know You" Lunch & Learn Series – Next Webinar on April 19

This week, VDOE will host representatives from InvestiGators Club (Infant and Toddler) and Funshine Express (Infant, Toddler, PreK) for this session of our virtual and interactive Lunch & Learn series.

Webinar: Curriculum Vendor "Get to Know You" Lunch & Learn: InvestiGators Club (Infant and Toddler) and Funshine Express (Infant, Toddler, PreK)
Date: April 19, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., plus optional 30 minutes for Q&A with vendors
Register

Early Learning and Development Standards Aligned Resources Pre-Recorded Webinar, Now Available!

The topic of this webinar is the connection between the ELDS, curriculum, and assessment and the early learning resources and tools available to the field, including: multilingual supports from WIDA, ECMHC, and more! After watching the webinar, please let us know about additional ways Virginia can support your understanding and use of ELDS aligned resources and tools by April 28.

ELDS Aligned Resources Pre-Recorded Webinar
Watch (32 mins)

Registration is rolling for the Early Learning and Development Microcredential

Gain a strong foundation in the Virginia Early Learning & Development Standards (ELDS) by completing the ELDS Microcredential! Participation is no-cost and open to all publicly-funded, early childhood professionals for this online, self-and competency-based course. If you have already registered, but do not have log-in credentials, check your spam/ junk folder for the “Welcome” email and contact us for support; please do not complete the registration form more than once.

Register
Contact Rebecca.Shaffer@doe.virginia.gov with registration or course access questions

Explore the FAQ Blog post for answers to common questions about the VKRP.

The April ECE Resource Rub Newsletter is available featuring new resources to support cognitive learning including read-aloud guides and tips for supporting think skills.

The Spring - Ready B5 Recap is Here!
Click to view the Spring edition of Ready B5 Recap, the Quarterly Newsletter for Early Childhood Care and Education in Virginia.

Follow VDOE on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for additional VDOE updates.

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