virginia’s early
childhood initiatives
Presentation for Part C Network ::
September 19, 2008
Kathy Glazer :: Office of Early Childhood Development
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Timeline of Governor’s
EC Initiatives
2005
Early Learning Council
Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
2006
Start Strong Council
Governor’s Working Group on EC Initiatives
2007
Home Visiting Consortium
Virginia’s Plan for
Smart Beginnings
2008
Office of Early Childhood
Development
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2005
 Early Learning Council
5 goal areas comprehensive prenatal to 5
 2 key recommendations to Gov. Warner:
- non profit grantmaking foundation as
presence in private sector: VECF
- multi-agency entity focused on EC in
Governor’s office
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2006
 Governor’s Working Group established by Gov. Kaine
in Secretary of Education’s office, including:
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Secretaries of Finance, Education, SHHR, Commerce
and Trade
Commissioners of VDH, DMHMRSAS, DMAS and
DSS
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Governor’s Policy Director
Heads of VCCS, SCHEV, VEDP
Added: HS Collaboration and Private Partners
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2006-07 GWG
 Primary Initiatives:
Alignment Project
Home Visiting Consortium
Virginia’s Plan for Smart Beginnings
Start Strong
- recommendation for comprehensive
governance structure at state level
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Alignment Project:
setting the stage
Confluence of factors…
 yet another round of legislation to undermine
child care regulations
 new Governor with school readiness as
priority, with an emphasis on mixed delivery
preschool, merging child care culture with
public school culture
 underlying characteristic: Virginia's one-termGovernor rule
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School readiness:
balance and alignment for success
 Horizontal Alignment
standards  curriculum  assessment  teacher competencies
 Vertical Alignment
Home
Child Care
Pre-K
Kindergarten
From Sharon Lynn Kagan, National Center for Children and
Families, Teachers College, Columbia University.
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the alignment project:
products
 Milestones of Child
Development
 Competencies for
Early Childhood
Professionals
 Quality Rating and
Improvement
System
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the alignment project:
initial approach
 identification of multi-
disciplinary team
 vigorous activity and
ambitious timeline
 emphasis on birth to
K continuum and
multiple domains
 joyful and respectful
approach by team
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the alignment project:
team members
 Departments of Education, Social Services,
Mental Health, Health
 early intervention and special education
 Head Start
 United Way/Success by 6
 community colleges and 4-year colleges
 representatives from the National Women’s
Law Center and NCCIC
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process for developing the
Milestones and Competencies
 research and review of other states' initiatives
 development of documents
 multidisciplinary perspectives
 independent readers/reviewers
 regional focus groups/feedback sessions
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the alignment project:
principles
 Families are the first and most influential teachers of
young children.
 Every child develops at an individual rate, possesses
unique characteristics, and exhibits an array of
talents and interests regardless of family background,
culture, special need, experience, or ability.
 Optimal learning occurs when we recognize that all
aspects of a child’s development are inextricably
interrelated and nurtured through a combination of
active exploration, play, social interactions, and
thoughtfully planned activities that capitalize on
children’s natural tendency to seek even higher levels
of challenge to master.
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the alignment project:
principles, contd.
 Early learning experiences
draw upon and enhance the
connections between families,
early childhood programs and
services, schools and the
community.
 Quality early learning
experiences for children are
guided by research-based
knowledge and practice.
 All children are capable and
competent learners, and they
learn best when they are
included with their peers.
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strategies for early learning
guidelines
 articulate optimal continuum of a
child's skill development:
 in all domains
 infants, toddlers, preschoolers
in one set of standards
 integrate with existing
state preschool standards and
Head Start
 Intended audience:
 parents and families
 teachers, directors, and
administrators
 child care providers
 early intervention
 home visitors
 trainers and educators
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the alignment project:
milestones of child development
 skills continuum for children ages birth to K
and strategies for adults to support
 includes six domains of child development:
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social and emotional development
approaches to learning
language and literacy
cognition and general knowledge
fine arts
physical development and health
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the alignment project:
competencies for EC professionals
 articulate skills, knowledge
areas, and competencies for
adults working with young
children
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levels of mastery/emphasis
instructive for professional
development
career lattice
 Intended audience:
 providers, practitioners, and
teachers
 directors and program
administrators
 trainers and training organizations
 higher education faculty, staff, and
administrators
 federal, state, and local agencies
 professional development efforts
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the alignment project:
competencies for EC professionals
 includes eight core content areas:
 Health, Safety, and Nutritional Practices
 Understanding Child Growth and Development
 Appropriate Classroom Observation &
Assessment
 Partnering with Families and Communities
 Learning Environment
 Effective Interactions
 Program Management
 Teacher Qualifications & Professional
Development
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the alignment project:
program standards – QRIS
 Quality Rating and
Improvement System:
opportunity to develop
EC program standards
with focus on quality
and accountability.
 Market-based
approach that supports
continuous quality
improvement in early
childhood settings
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the alignment project:
virginia’s star quality initiative
 4 standard areas, based on research linking
these measures to positive child outcomes:
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education, qualifications, & training;
interactions (CLASS);
staff to child ratio & group size;
learning environment and instructional practices
(Environmental Rating Scales).
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QRIS Pilot Years 1 and 2
 Community coalitions across the state
support diverse EC programs serving
toddlers and preschoolers with assessment,
mentoring, and supports
 State hub trains raters and mentors on
CLASS and ERS, inclusive practice.
 Partnership among OECD, Va. Early
Childhood Foundation, Child Development
Resources (year 1), Special Education and
T/TAC (year 2).
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2008
 Creation of Office of Early Childhood
Development
 Virginia team at Harvard Symposium
- science of early childhood development
- impact on policy
- clear recognition and commitment to
integrated and comprehensive effort for
young children
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OECD priority objectives
 High Quality pre-K and child care
- QRIS
 Integration of health initiatives with OECD
 Comprehensive, coordinated professional
development system
 Integrated data initiative
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for more information…
 Kathy Glazer, Director – Office of Early
Childhood Development
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kathy.glazer@dss.virginia.gov
(804) 726-7124
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