Greetings!
Early Learning Update Week of May 15th, 2023
Items Covered:
· Save the Date: INSPIRE Conference Thursday, August 10th at Seattle University
· Registration for FREE May Professional Development Opportunity: Saturday, May 20th 9:00am – 11:00: Every Book Can be a Math Book
· Monthly Butterfly Pediatrics Session: Friday, May 19th at 11:30am
· Licensed ONLY: Annual Licensing Fees Reinstated
· Licensed ONLY: DCYF Early Childhood Equity Grant Now Open
Please see this week’s professional development opportunities and news.
1.) Save the Date: INSPIRE Conference Thursday, August 10th at Seattle U 8:30am – 3:30pm
Please save the date for the INSPIRE conference on Thursday, August 10th at Seattle U from 8:30am – 3:30pm. All Early Learning Staff in your program are invited to this FREE in-person conference that will bring us together for sessions specifically focused on our Early Learning Programs. I will be sending a separate email this week with all of the details (including housing options) and you will also be receiving a postcard invitation from our Office for Catholic Schools Office. This conference will have a specific tract for Early Learning where you will enjoy great speakers and have the opportunity to share resources about your program and create community with other Early Learning Leaders. I am looking forward to bringing us together in person for the 2nd time!
2.) Registration for FREE May Professional Development Opportunity: Saturday, May 20th 9:00am – 11:00: Every Book Can be a Math Book
Molly Daley will lead a great session on Math! Reading books together is a familiar and comforting routine for early learners. This creates a safe space for children and grown-ups to explore math ideas together! This session will focus on strategies for mathematizing the books we read, even those that don’t appear to be mathematical at first. Outcomes: Participants will understand the importance of inviting mathematics into established and familiar literacy routines. Participants will consider the mathematical aspects of a variety of books (overtly mathematical or covertly mathematical). Participants will engage with strategies to mathematize children’s literature. This training will be eligible for 2 STARS or CLOCK Hours.
3.) Monthly Butterfly Pediatrics Session: Friday, May 19th at 11:30am
Mark your Calendars! On Friday, May 19th from 11:30am – 12:30pm we will be joined by Butterfly Pediatrics for their monthly conversations with us this school year to discuss student behavior. Experts from Butterfly Pediatrics will join us virtually to answer your questions and give resources/ideas about situations your programs are dealing with.
To make the most of our hour can you please email me at
david.mayer@seattlearch.org by Wednesday, May 17th any situation/example you are dealing with that you would like the experts from Butterfly Pediatrics to discuss during the virtual meeting. I will be sending these case studies in advance to the Butterfly team so they can be prepared to give you as much information as possible during our time together. Even if you are not able to join the meeting, you can still submit situations and we will record the conversations and send a recording link to all.
Join Zoom Meeting
4.) Licensed ONLY: Annual Licensing Fees Reinstated
All licensed Early Learning programs will re-start paying their annual child care licensing fees when due. As you may recall, fees were temporarily lifted in a Governor-issued COVID-related emergency order to help alleviate costs for child care in an effort to keep licensed child care open during the pandemic.
DCYF’s goal is to implement this return to licensing fees as efficiently and seamlessly as possible. An email will be sent shortly to all licensed providers with more details about this transition. At this point there is nothing you need to do. When your licensing fee is due your program will receive information through the mail.
5.) Licensed ONLY: DCYF Early Childhood Equity Grant Now Open
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is pleased to announce that the Early Childhood Equity Grant application is now available. This grant is intended to serve as a step toward expanding access to early learning statewide and transforming Washington's early learning system to make it more inclusive and equitable. The grant will support inclusive and culturally and linguistically specific early learning and early childhood and parent support programs across the state. This is a competitive grant and has some specific requirements. Please read the information before considering applying and please let me know if you have any questions. The grant closes on June 30th at 5pm.
Have a great week!
