Greetings!
Early Learning Update Week of October 25th, 2021
Items Covered:
· All: Screening and Assessment Results Inventory
· All: Educational Leadership Partners and Fulcrum Grant Program
· Licensed Only: Child Care Resources FREE 2021 Fall Virtual Professional Development Institute
· Licensed Only: "Covid-19 Requirement Met" drop down in the Health and Safety menu on MERIT
· Licensed Only: DCYF October Webinar: MERIT Account Management – Tuesday, October 26th at 6:00pm
· Licensed Only: DCYF December Webinar: PACE Launch – Tuesday December 14th at 6:00pm
1. Assessment and Screening Inventory Results
Thank you to those that were able to complete the Assessment and Screening Inventory for your program. We had 40 responses which was great! Below were some of the key findings and results from the Inventory. I am currently communicating with a few Early Learning assessment companies to potentially create Archdiocese accounts and will keep you up to date on progress if your program would be interested in a subscription type assessment program in the future.
· Assessment/Screening Prior to Early Learners Entering the Program:
6 programs conduct an assessment/screening prior to participants entering the program
34 programs do not conduct an assessment/screening prior to participants entering the program
For the programs that do conduct a screening prior it is typically to gain an understanding on where students are with a variety of the following areas: ABC’s, numbers, colors, writing, behavior, daily living skills and fine motor skills. Programs use this information to inform teachers and plan emphasis areas for the year.
· Assessment/Screening with Early Learners during the school year
36 programs conduct assessment/screenings during the school year
4 programs do not conduct assessment/screenings during the school year
For the programs that do conduct assessment/screenings during the school year the highlights are the following:
36 programs conduct an assessment/screening during the school year
4 programs do not conduct a assessment/screening during the school year
16 programs have created their own screening/assessment tool
9 programs use the screening/assessment tool that is a part of their comprehensive curriculum
8 programs use a screening/assessment subscription service (GOLD, ESGI, ASQ)
3 programs use a screening/assessment from a free site such as CDC “Act Early”
I am more than happy to have a conversation with any program that would like to discuss screening/assessment tools. I can get you connected with schools that have created their own templates, talk through subscription services or free programs.
2. Educational Leadership Partners and Fulcrum Grant Program
There are 8 universities that we have cultivated a relationship with in Educational Leadership. Many of these programs have rolling admissions periods and a 50% discount for full-time Catholic educators in the Archdiocese of Seattle. All of the universities in the link below operate on a cohort basis. This provides a network of fellow aspiring administrators to collaborate with while pursuing the degree/certificate. Click here for the dates on virtual open houses and events for the Educational Leadership partners as well as opportunities for aspiring leaders.
For any aspiring leaders who would like to learn more about Educational Leadership and principal certification, have them contact Kelly Surapaneni, Coordinator of Leadership Development at kelly.surapaneni@seattlearch.org or call, 617-233-9993.
3. Licensed Only: Child Care Resources 2021 FREE Fall Virtual Professional Development Institute
Child Care Resources is offering a FREE Fall Virtual Professional Development Institute from November 8th – November 13th. There will be up to 30 sessions offered all on Zoom that will give you STARS hours. Please click the link below to browse the session offerings and sign up!
4. Licensed only: "Covid-19 Requirement Met" drop down in the Health and Safety menu on MERIT
In the Health and Safety section of each staff’s MERIT Professional Record Account there is now an additional drop down choice after clicking the blue bar for “Covid-19 Requirement Met” The purpose of this Health and Safety addition is to have each staff check to confirm they met the vaccine requirement. A copy of their proof of vaccination just needs to remain in their staff file (it does NOT need to be uploaded into MERIT)
5. Licensed Only: DCYF October Webinar: MERIT Account Management – Tuesday, October 26th at 6:00pm
DCYF is offering a webinar this upcoming Tuesday that will provide greater detail of some aspects of the new MERIT platform. If will focus specifically on Recording Health and Safety Trainings, Verifying Education and Options for completing training requirements. I will attend the webinar and pass additional information to you next week. DCYF will also do a recording of the webinar that I will send out as soon as it is available. Please see description of the Webinar from DCYF and link to sign up below:
This webinar is designed to help you manage the basics of your MERIT account and will focus on education verification and training.
The following topics will be covered in detail during this webinar:
· Managing your MERIT account.
· Recording Health & Safety trainings.
· Verifying education in MERIT.
· Options for completing training requirements.
6. Licensed Only: DCYF December Webinar: PACE Launch – Tuesday December 14th at 6:00pm
DCYF’s December Webinar will focus on the PACE program launch which will be one way that Early Learning staff will be able to meet their job role education requirement. I will attend the webinar and pass additional information to you next week. DCYF will also do a recording of the webinar that I will send out as soon as it is available. Please see description of the Webinar from DCYF and link to sign up below:
PACE is coming! DCYF is gearing up to launch PACE in early 2022 and we want to make sure you stay up-to-date on this option.
PACE (Provider Access to a Community Equivalent), which was formerly known as the Community-Based Training model, is one of the options to meet your licensing education requirement for those required to have an initial or short certificate.
Join us during this webinar to learn:
· If this option is right for you.
· How to find the PACE trainings.
· How CCB and EQEL fit into PACE.
· How PACE will be tied to additional educational opportunities.
Thank you and have a wonderful week!
