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Tuesday, February 27, 2024
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Call for Nominations for Vacancies on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC)
VDOE is accepting applications for several vacancies on the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), which advises the Board of Education on all programs, systems, and regulations related to Virginia’s unified public-private early childhood system. All qualified applicants are invited to apply. Nominations may be made by completing this nomination form by Friday, March 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
ECAC membership is established in § 22.1-289.04 of the Code of Virginia. Additional information about the Committee—including current members and meeting materials—are available on the ECAC website: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/data-policy-funding/virginia-board-of-education/board-committee-meetings/early-childhood-advisory-committee-ecac.

Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes
Child Care Provider Seasonal Updates Webinar and Regional Listening Session on March 12
Join the Office of Child Care Health and Safety (OCCHS) for a webinar to receive updated information about the vision and goals of the OCCHS as it relates to child day programs and family day systems. Registration is limited to 1,000 registrants, but the webinar will be recorded and posted on the VDOE’s child care website. Following the webinar, the OCCHS team will be available to meet with providers for an in-person listening session in Norfolk. Come any time during the session to share your questions and thoughts with leadership of the OCCHS.
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Event: Seasonal Updates Webinar and Regional Listening Session
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Date: March 12
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Webinar Time: 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
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Webinar Registration: Seasonal Updates Webinar
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Listening Session Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
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Location of Listening Session: Waterside District, 333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
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Parking is free after 6:00 p.m.
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OCCHS staff will be available in The Market Norfolk area inside the building.
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Food will not be provided, but can be purchased from the many vendors available.
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Virginia Preschool Initiative
VPI Local Criteria Eligibility Waiver for 2024-2025: First Window Opens March 1 through May 15
This is the first of three application windows to submit the VPI Local Criteria Eligibility Waiver, which allows school 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 complete this process, ensure access to the application in SSWS by contacting your local SSWS manager.
Save the Dates: VPI Spring Webinar Series March 6 and 20 at 11 a.m.
VDOE will host a two-part webinar series to prepare school divisions for the 2024-2025 school year. VPI coordinators and VPI enrollment staff are encouraged to attend. This year we will be taking a deep dive into VPI’s two guiding documents. Registration is required, sessions will be recorded and shared with all registered attendees.
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Early Childhood Special Education
Webinar: Introduction to Evidence-based Hearing Screening Practices for Children Ages 0–5
This webinar, presented by the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention – National Technical Resource Center, is intended to improve the quality of hearing screening and evaluation practices for children ages birth to five in Head Start, Early Head Start, and other early care and education program settings. Two screening methods, Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Pure Tone Audiometry Screening, will be covered. Resources to support implementation will also be made available.
Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families
In response to feedback and collaboration with the field, as well as to legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has released a Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families as additional guidance to support accurate and consistent eligibility determinations and access to special education services across school divisions. Each of the eight modules may be viewed as a stand-alone resource or viewed in succession.

Head Start
Addressing Challenging Behavior
Early childhood educators strive to implement effective strategies to prevent challenging behaviors and promote positive learning environments. To support their efforts the National Center on Early Childhood, Teaching, and Learning has developed the Coaching Corner Series. This webinar series offers in-depth resources and evidence-based strategies on how to respond to challenging behaviors. For more information, check out The ABC’s of Addressing Challenging Behavior webinar recently added to the early childhood learning and knowledge center resource library.
VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System
VQB5 Quality Profile Preview Webinar – Tuesday, March 19
On Tuesday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m., the VDOE will host a VQB5 Quality Profile Preview Webinar to gather input and feedback on the VQB5 Quality Profiles, to be released publicly in Fall 2024. Please register here to attend.
Early Learning Support
RFA Announcement - Virginia Early Childhood Consultation
VDOE has issued a Request for Application (RFA) to solicit applications to award funds to one subgrantee to implement the state-wide Virginia Early Childhood Consultation Program. The service will support early childhood professionals with the most need to improve teacher-child interactions and social-emotional environments for children in early education settings identified by the VDOE.
The RFA can be found on eVA, Virginia's electronic procurement system, posted here.
Please note: While all are welcome to apply, this grant opportunity is not intended to support operations for individual child care providers. This grant will identify one entity to provide statewide coaching and consultation support.
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Ready B5 Recap Winter Edition is Here! Click to view the latest edition of Ready B5 Recap, the Quarterly Newsletter for Early Childhood Care and Education in Virginia.
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