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Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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Child Care Centers and Family Day Homes
Updated Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School and Childcare Facility Personnel
The Virginia Department of Health released an updated Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School and Childcare Facility Personnel in August 2025. Key updates include adding Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD); Mononucleosis; Pinworm, and Tuberculosis to the list of communicable diseases that must be reported to parents when children at the facility have been exposed. It is critical that child care programs and schools refer to the most up-to-date chart when determining which communicable disease exposures must be reported to parents and when to exclude children from care. Note that the reporting requirement for HFMD supersedes information shared in last week’s Readiness Connections Newsletter.
Child Passenger Safety Week: September 21 to September 27
In recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week, the VDOE is reminding educators and caregivers to correctly choose, install, and use car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts when transporting children in vehicles. Virginia laws require that children are in a safety seat through age seven. Contact your local Sherriff’s Office to see if they are offering free child safety seat checks in your community this week. Child passenger safety requirements can be found on the Virginia Department of Health website.
Public Comment on Proposed Regulation – Open through November 21
The Proposed Background Checks for Child Day Programs and Family Day Systems regulation (8VAC20-770) was published in the Virginia Register of Regulations (Volume 41, Issue 2) on September 22. The Proposed Background Checks for Child Day Programs and Family Day Systems represent an action to repeal the regulation, 8VAC20-770, in order to establish, in a separate action, a new regulation that incorporates background check requirements, general procedures for licensure, and fee requirements for all child day programs and family day systems. Public comment will be open through November 21. Refer to the notice of public comment memo distributed to providers on September 19 for more information.
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Virginia Preschool Initiative
VPI Fall Verification Webinar - October 8
Fall Verification, released via the Single Sign-On Web System (SSWS) in mid-October, will contain all the necessary questions and information needed to report for Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) for the 2025-2026 school year. In order to support divisions, the VDOE will host a technical webinar to review the VPI Fall Verification Report. Attendance is recommended for VPI coordinators or other school division reporting contacts. Registration is required; information has been sent to all VPI coordinators.
Early Childhood Special Education
Fundamentals of Early Childhood Special Education Administration Webinar Series: Part 2 Recording Available
On August 21 and September 18, VDOE hosted parts one and two of the three-part series "Fundamentals of Early Childhood Special Education Administration Webinars." This series is intended for new ECSE administrators, new special education directors or those who would like a refresh on topics related to ECSE administration. The recording and materials are available below.
Webcast: Immersion, Not Coercion: Supporting Communication in Early Childhood
This webcast highlights practical strategies for creating communication-rich early childhood classrooms where all children can participate, gain independence, and express themselves. Attendees will learn how to naturally embed augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and core vocabulary into daily routines, play, and instruction. This webcast is provided by Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center’s Autism Center for Education (VCU-RRTC-ACE).

Head Start
Education Manager Series: Introducing the 5Rs for Early Learners Toolkit - TODAY at 3 p.m.
Join the National Center on Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning in this upcoming webinar opportunity through their Education Manager Series. In this session, early childhood leaders will learn about the new toolkit that provides a practical, research-based framework inclusive of strategies that can be utilized to engage and empower internal teams.
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Webinar: Introducing the 5Rs for Early Learners Toolkit
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Date: Today at 3 p.m.
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VQB5 - Virginia's Unified Measurement and Improvement System
One Week to Register for VQB5 by October 1 Deadline
All publicly-funded programs that serve children ages birth to five are required by state law to participate in VQB5 and must start registration in the LinkB5 data portal by October 1.
Early Learning Support
Today: STREAMin3 + Emotional Support Live Online
Join the STREAMin3 team for a hands-on session packed with everyday strategies to build stronger emotional support interactions through your STREAMin3 implementation.
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STREAMin3 Coach Q&A every Tuesday and Thursday!
STREAMin3 is offering free, real-time curriculum use support every week with expert coaches. Support available in Spanish.
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The Ready B5 Recap Summer Edition is Here!
Click to view the summer edition of Ready B5 Recap, the quarterly newsletter for Early Childhood Care and Education in Virginia.
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