🌷 VDOE Readiness Connections Update: May 30, 2023

Virginia Department of Education sent this bulletin at 05/30/2023 12:05 PM EDT

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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Save the Date

May 31 at 3:00 p.m. - Webinar: Promoting ECE Staff Mental Health and Well-being. Register

June 1 at 11:00 a.m. - Webinar: VPI Office Hours. Register

June 8 at 3:00 p.m. - Webinar: Engaging Community Partners to Strengthen Male Engagement. Register

Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes

Child Care Financing Program – New Eligible Expenses as of May 2023

The Virginia Child Care Financing Program (CCFP) offers low-cost, no-interest loans to eligible child care programs and, as of May 2023, eligible expenses now include computer technology and business software. CCFP financing can also be used for items that enhance the learning environment including curriculum, classroom furniture, cubbies, cribs, playground surfacing, fencing, and more. Minor upgrades to comply with health/safety standards or to support children with special needs are also allowable expenses. For more information about the CCFP, please review the overview or application documents.

Child Care Provider Legislative Updates Webinar on June 22

Join the Office of Child Care Health and Safety for a webinar to learn about new laws related to child day programs and family day systems. This webinar is relevant for licensees, owners, and directors who represent licensed programs, subsidy vendors, voluntarily registered homes, religious exempt centers, certified preschools, and license-exempt programs. Registration is limited to 500 registrants, but the webinar will be recorded and stream live on VDOE’s YouTube channel on June 22.

Webinar: Child Care Provider Legislative Updates
Date: June 22, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Register
Live Stream on June 22

Virginia Preschool Initiative

VPI Office Hours: Next Meeting June 1

This is an optional meeting where Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) coordinators can join VDOE staff to ask questions and brainstorm issues. There is no set agenda, discussions will be free flow guided by the individuals that join the call. Office hours are held on the first Thursday of the month at 11 a.m., registration is required. Register once to attend any month.

Webinar: VPI Office Hours
Date: First Thursday of the month, 11:00 a.m.
Register

Early Childhood Special Education

Improving Inclusive Practices and Outcomes for Preschoolers: Technical Assistance Opportunity

The VDOE’s Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTACs) are available to assist program leaders in building effective systems to improve access and participation for all children within high-quality inclusive learning environments. Technical assistance may be provided to address broad systemic issues or a specific area of need and may be long or short-term. The Improving Inclusive Practices and Outcomes for Preschoolers (IPOP) Flyer for Technical Assistance provides information about areas of support that may be addressed through this technical assistance opportunity. To learn more, contact your ECSE TTAC or Dawn Hendricks.

Improving Inclusive Practices & Outcomes for Preschoolers (IPOP)

Just the Basics: Educating Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Early Care and Education

Registration is open for the VCU Autism Center for Education (ACE) Just the Basics: Educating Young Children with ASD in Early Care and Education course. This is a free, hands-on course where early childhood professionals will have opportunities to assess their classroom practices and implement evidence-based practices for three main areas: environment, instruction, and interactions.

Interested in receiving more information from VCU-ACE? Please join the mailing list.

Course: Just the Basics & Learning Paths Course (VCU ACE)
Dates: September 11, 2023 – March 29, 2024
Register

Head Start

Engaging Community Partners to Strengthen Male Engagement

Male figures play an integral role in family structures and their presence helps to promote positive changes for their families and lasting connections in communities. Join the National Center for Parent, Family and Community Engagement for the final webinar in the Exploring Fatherhood in the 21st Century webinar series. Learn strategies to build engaged program-community partnerships in support of fathers’ interests.

Webinar: Engaging Community Partners to Strengthen Male Engagement
Date: June 8 at 3:00 p.m.
Register

VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System

2 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.

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.

Early Learning Support

The Office of Early Childhood Learning has a new webpage dedicated to Curriculum!

The EC Curriculum webpage houses information and resources to support curriculum use across the Commonwealth, including providers participating in VQB5. Visitors will find resources connecting Curriculum to CLASS, Virginia's current Approved Curricula List (updated monthly), information about the Curriculum Review Process, and resources to support curriculum choice. Learn more about Early Learning Support.

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

The May ECE Resource Hub Newsletter is available featuring new resources to support cognitive learning, including read-aloud guides and tips for supporting thinking skills through experimentation, pretend play, and problem solving.

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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