Head Start Performance Standards: Extension of Comment Period

In response to requests from the public for more time to submit comments on the proposed changes to the Performance Standards; the Administration for Children and Families has extended the comment period. The new deadline for submitting comments is September 17, 2015.  You can find the proposed standards and other information on this process here:

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/hspps/nprm

The HSSCO will host two calls to provide feedback and ask questions.Please join us:

Friday Sept. 4th from 10-11 am Conference Call Line: 1.877.216.1555 Passcode: 1059546#

Wednesday Sept. 9th from 9-10 am Conference Call Line: 1.877.216.1555 Passcode: 337662#

Privacy Technical Assistance Center Webinar on Early Learning Data for Head Start Grantees

Please join us on September 14th, 2015 at 1:00 for a conversation around early learning data privacy tailored for Head Start Programs. You can register for the webinar here.

You can learn more about PTAC by visiting their website at http://ptac.ed.gov/ 

DEL announces new Director: Ross Hunter

Ross Hunter joins the Department of Early Learning as the new Director replacing Dr. Bette Hyde. Ross will begin work on September 8th, 2015. You can read more DEL welcoming Ross here. Read about other leadership changes at DEL here.

Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships & Early Head Start Expansion

In January 2014, Congress appropriated $500 million to expand the number and quality of early learning slots for infants and toddlers through two options: Early Head Start- Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships and the expansion of Early Head Start grants. The EHS-CC Partnership grants allow new or existing Early Head Start programs to partner with local child care centers and family child care providers to increase comprehensive, high quality early learning opportunities to infants and toddlers from low-income families. The Early Head Start expansion funding allows existing grantees to add additional EHS slots. Through this funding we will see 460 new EHS-CC Partnership and Expansion slots in Washington. 

The EHS-CC Partnership Grantees are Puget Sound ESD, Children's Home Society, and Olympic ESD 114. The EHS Expansion Grantees are Family Services of Grant County, Children's Home Society, Community Colleges of Spokane and the Nisqually Tribe.

Work has begun and is at all different stages for each grantee. All of the Grantees are participating in quarterly meetings with the HSCO, DEL partners, and Region X Head Start and Child Care Staff. 

You can visit http://www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/head-start/Expansion.aspx to learn more about the Washington State Grantees participating in this opportunity. 

Join DEL's Professional Development Community

Professional development is an important part of having an effective early childhood workforce in programs that serve young children and families. The Department of Early Learning's Professional Development team is dedicated to supporting people who are passionate about early education and wish to find ways to enhance their training, attend informational, educational and/or networking events and more. 

This team helps Washington's early childhood education workforce become as prepared and knowledgeable as possible for the development of our state's children during some of their most formative years.

With a growing need for educators, DEL's Professional Development (PD) team is using new ways to reach out and grow the PD community. One of those ways is through the launch of their new Facebook page, which already has a community of over 1200 people who get up-to-date announcements about training, tips for career enhancement and more.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 

"The professional development of all early childhood educators—at all levels of expertise—should be an ongoing process: All professionals need to continue to update their knowledge and skills—through a coherent and systematic program of learning experiences." 

If you care for and teach young children professionally or you’re interested in a career working with children and families, Washington’s professional development system can help you:

• Learn what you need to know and be able to do when caring for children.
• Manage your training and education record.
• Find opportunities for training and education.
• Find resources and financial support for your professional development.

DEL's PD team is involved with the maintenance of MERIT. MERIT (Managed Education and Registry Information Tool) is an online portal that helps professionals in the field of early care and education in Washington:

• Keep track of their education and training experience
• Find training opportunities by state-approved trainers
• Share their qualifications with current and future employers
• Complete a portable background check application
• Be recognized and receive awards for their professional achievements

MERIT is for anyone who works in early care and education, including facilities and programs such as:

• Family home child care
• Child care centers
• Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)
• Head Start
• School-age child care

MERIT is also for those who support early care and education:

• Administrators, including facility directors and program supervisors
• Coaches and trainers
• K–12 educators and higher education faculty

DEL's PD team is also currently in the process of restructuring its resources in a way that makes sense for early learning professionals. Check out their Resource Gallery online to find a collection of resources for state approved trainers and professionals to use when offering classes or learning more about early care and education. The Resource Gallery is organized by the following Core Competencies which are essential to early learning:

• Child Growth and Development
• Curriculum and Learning Environment
• Ongoing Measurement of Child Progress
• Families and Community Partnerships
• Health, Safety and Nutrition
• Interactions
• Program Planning and Development
• Professional Development and Leadership

You can find great information if you browse the Professional Development pages of DEL's website such as financial or educational award information, training info and more. Join the PD community and enhance your learning today!

Early Educator Central for Infant/Toddler Professional Development

Early Educator Central is a web-based resource for Infant/Toddler Professional Development. The resource includes information for teachers, administrator, trainers, coaches, as well as professional development system leaders. This resource is open and available to all infant/toddler professionals, so please share this resource with your partners.

Here are two different avenues for accessing the site. 

https://earlyeducatorcentral.acf.hhs.gov/

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/pd/eec.html

Additionally, Early Educator Central is live and you can use the Spread the Word resources to share this information with others, taking advantage of an infographic, PowerPoint presentation for your adaption, and social media messages. 

Influenza Handouts and Resources For Early Care Providers

We are pleased to inform you that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have collaborated to produce a new influenza prevention and control handout (see the embedded link). This handout includes information on the symptoms of influenza, how influenza is spread, the benefits of the influenza vaccine, and much more. Please encourage your staff and other early education and child care providers in your area to review this handout and take steps to prepare for the upcoming flu season.

As you likely know, the AAP recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccine for all people 6 months and older. It is critical that we encourage adults who care for children at highest risk to get vaccinated (called “cocooning”). This is especially important for children younger than 6 months of age, who are too young to receive influenza vaccine.

 For additional strategies to help programs prepare, view the AAP Prepare for the Upcoming Flu Season Web page, located on the AAP HealthyChildren.org Web site for parents. Also, consider encouraging colleagues to take the free online PediaLink course Influenza Prevention and Control in Early Education and Child Care. I am thrilled to share that almost 1,100 child care providers/others have finished the course since its release about a year ago!

 The AAP and the CDC are planning a webinar for child care providers on influenza prevention and control in November 2015. By e-mailing DisasterReady@aap.org, you will be put on a list to receive further information about this webinar.  

Thank you so much for everything you do to promote the health of children in your care.

Next Institute: Nov. 13-16, 2014 

Edward Hansen Convention Center
2000 Hewitt Ave
Everett, Washington 98209
United States
Register Here.

For More Questions Please Contact EAIhelp@uw.edu

Early Achievers Resources for Head Start

The Department of Early Learning has a webpage with resources specific to Head Start Grantees and Early Achievers. To learn more visit http://www.del.wa.gov/care/qris/EAHeadStartECEAP.aspx

Early Achievers Orientations for Head Start Grantees

As a way to support Head Start sites as they enter Early Achievers in the new 2015-2016 school year, DEL is offering technical support and connection of resources to Grantees and Site Directors. If you are a new Head Start program manager or are new in the management role at a Head Start site, we want to help answer your questions and make the transition as smooth as possible so that you can support your families while going through the Early Achievers process. 

For many, the first step is an orientation webinar. We are currently offering our next round of  Early Achievers Orientations for Head Start and ECEAP for the fall of 2015. 

If you are interested in participating in a webinar,  please contact Roxanne Garzon by September 15th.  

If you have more questions about Early Achievers, please contact Roxanne Garzon, on the QRIS team at Roxanne.garzon@del.wa.gov or 360.725.3504. She’s happy to talk with you about next steps in Early Achievers.

The Early Start Act Pages

With Child Care Aware (CCA) support, DEL developed 2 flyers – one for parents and one for existing providers. The purpose of the Early Start Act flyers is to provide initial information and clarify the Early Achievers mandates and supports that are stated in the Early Start Act. Please visit the new Early Start Act pages on DEL’s website to view this information.

DEL is Hiring!

The Department of Early Learning currently has an array of positions open including the new Tribal Liaison position, a State to Local Coordination Program Specialist and a Public Records Officer.

http://www.del.wa.gov/about/jobs.aspx

Please review the link to the open positions and share with individuals you think might be interested and can bring great strengths to our efforts to advance racial equity and increase coordination and collaborations between state, regional and tribal partners.  

Early Learning Guidelines Available Online

The Department of Early Learning (DEL), in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington, published the Early Learning and Development Guidelines (guidelines) for children from birth through third grade. The guidelines replace the Early Learning and Development Benchmarks, which were first created in 2005 to outline what children know and are able to do at different stages of their development. The Guidelines are available in English and Spanish. Download an electronic copy here. Hard copies of the Guidelines are free of charge, but people who order are responsible to pay for handling and shipping. Order them at myprint.wa.gov