🌷 VDOE Readiness Connections Update: May 23, 2023

Opening Doors – Unlocking Potential 2023: Registration is Open 

Opening Doors – Unlocking Potential is an in-person event bringing together professionals and parents from across the Commonwealth of Virginia to engage in dialogue, discussion, and learning methods to strengthen academic outcomes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing to increase the knowledge and skills of those who can have a positive impact on a student's educational process. This year’s theme is Evolution in Education. Priority registration deadline is June 6, 2023.  

• Opening Doors – Unlocking Potential: Evolution in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education
• Dates: June 22 – 23, 2023
  
  

OHS Full Enrollment Initiative 

As recipient agencies are planning for the upcoming program year, the Office of Head Start presented a Full Enrollment Initiative webinar. This initiative is designed to support recipient agencies establish innovative approaches to acquire and maintain full enrollment. Webinar highlights included goals and expectations for participants, partnering with the OHS T/TA network, and developing targeted enrollment strategies that will help to sustain quality comprehensive programming for families. For more information, review the webinar slides. 

Promoting Early Care and Education Staff Mental Health and Well-being 

In continued support of Mental Health Awareness month, join Workforce Wednesdays to hear more about opportunities to promote increased access to mental health services for our early childhood workforce. This joint webinar is supported by the Administration for Children and Families, the Office of Child Care, and the Office of Head Start in response to the unprecedented stress affecting the field of early childhood. 

• Webinar: Promoting ECE Staff Mental Health and Well-being 
• Date: May 31, 2023 at 3:00 pm 
• Register 

3 Weeks Left to Complete Spring CLASS Observations in VQB5 Practice Year 2! 

All programs that are currently participating in Practice Year 2 need to have completed a spring local CLASS observation in every classroom by June 9, with scores entered in the LinkB5 data portal. Contact your Ready Region if you have questions about local CLASS observation completion.   

• Videos and instructions for how to enter CLASS Observation scores into LinkB5, and for accessing exports of local CLASS data can be found on the LinkB5 Resources website. 

VQB5 Participation Requirements for 2023-2024 

Beginning in August 2023, all publicly-funded programs that serve children ages birth-to-five are required by state law to participate in VQB5. Click on the links below for details and answers to frequently asked questions. 

• VQB5 2023-2024 Participation Requirements 1-Pager (English/Spanish) 
• VQB5 2023-2024 Participation FAQs (English/Spanish) 

Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce Survey for VQB5 Educators - Earn $20 and help improve early care and education in Virginia!  

Do you work at a child care center, Head Start, public school preschool/pre-k program, or family day home participating in VQB5? If so, please check your email for an important survey! Partners from the Study of Early Education through Partnerships at UVA sent an email invitation (from noreply@surveys.virginia.edu) with a unique survey link to all eligible educators. Please complete the Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce Survey before June 2 to receive a $20 gift card! Questions? Please see the FAQ or contact the UVA team by email. 

Supporting Children’s Strong Emotions! - Webinar, Thursday at 1pm!  

AEII Coaching and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC)  are hosting a joint session on Supporting Children's Strong Emotions! The AEII Coaching & ECMHC teams will also share information about how to access coaching and social-emotional and behavioral support services. 

• Webinar: Supporting Children’s Strong Emotions! 
• May 25, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. 
• Register