Early Childhood Digest
The Latest Early Childhood Developments by Wayne RESA
February 16, 2024
Early Childhood Services Department at Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA)
Email: EarlyChildhood@resa.net
Website: https://www.resa.net/teaching-learning/early-childhood
Location: 33500 Van Born Road, Wayne, MI, USA
Phone: 734-334-1312
Notes From the Executive Director
Greetings Early Childhood Educators,
The PreK for All roadmap has been released! The roadmap provides details and information around recommendations to support accomplishing access to PreK for All while still prioritizing families with the greatest need. See below for opportunities to be part of the preparations and planning as we navigate the road to PreK for All.
To access the Roadmap, click here: A Roadmap for Implementing PreK for All
Wayne RESA would like to invite you to attend a presentation of the PreK for All Roadmap recently released by MiLEAP. During this webinar, representatives will provide a brief overview of the key elements and recommendations contained within the PreK for all Roadmap implementation document.
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If you previously attended the session presented by MiLEAP on Monday, February 5th or Wayne RESA on February 9th then this session will be similar in nature.
Wayne RESA Early Childhood is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Pre-K for All Overview : Wayne County
Time: Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 2PM – 3PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://resa-net.zoom.us/j/83534730553
Meeting ID: 835 3473 0553
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The sessions below are designed for specified groups to engage in dialogue and feedback. Time will be spent in small groups so participants can synthesize the information provided in preparation for implementation.
March 8, 2024
Topic: Paving the Way: Navigating the PreK for All Roadmap
Times:
9:00 - 10:30 LEAs and PSAs (Superintendents, Asst. Superintendents, EC District Directors & Principals)
11:00 - 12:30 CBOs (Owners and EC Directors)
1:30 - 3:00 External ECSs
Please note: Teaching teams should not attend any sessions offered on March 8th.
Watch your email for registration and virtual meeting instructions.
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To stay current with the latest information about PreK for All, a new website has launched: www.Michigan.gov/PreKforall
If you have not done so already, I encourage you to bookmark it.
Best regards,
Sophia Lafayette-Lause, Ed.D
Social Emotional Learning
Early childhood education is rooted in respecting and understanding development. Early childhood educators recognize two key domains of development that the early years are vital in laying foundations are social and emotional development. We know for instance that before one can learn to share as a preschooler a child must first have possession. “Mine” is a key part of toddlerhood and comes before a human can understand the perspectives of others and taking turns for example. Early childhood educators are able to lean into social and emotional development with intentional lessons, best practices in classroom arrangement, routines, experiences, and interactions between child and adult and child to child. After all, this is where in early childhood, we first learn to be part of a community. For children in Strong Beginnings and GSRP that community includes their classroom.
Wayne RESA is committed to providing professional learning experiences, coaching, consulting, resources, and strategies to strengthen social and emotional teaching practices. This month we are highlighting three areas of support for your programs with social and emotional learning. We are here to support your programs so that all children thrive. A thriving child is eager to learn!
First, your teaching teams will receive a survey about Social Emotional Learning (SEL). The survey asks about resources, including the Michigan Model for Health (PreK), and their teaching practices. Please check with your teachers to ensure they have received and completed the survey. The survey is key for tailoring professional learning experiences and potential resource gaps.
Second, in this edition of the Digest we have information about Early Childhood PBIS including an opportunity for programs to apply for EC PBIS. Our data on the success of EC PBIS is clear that the intensive collaborative format of EC PBIS works.
Finally, we are pleased to introduce you to Dr. Kelly Anderson, Social and Emotional Development Consultant. In collaboration with our Classroom ECCs and Program ECCs Dr. Anderson will partner with teaching teams when they seek additional support in helping children who exhibit challenging behavior have success in the GSRP classroom.
A Message from Dr. Anderson...
Hello Everyone! My name is Dr. Kelly Anderson and I am excited to work with you to meet the social and emotional learning needs of our early learners in Wayne County. Before coming to Wayne RESA, I was the principal of Wayne Westland’s preschool building which included GSRP and Special Education programming. As this is a new position, I am working closely with those within Wayne RESA who are already working on SEL resources and supports. My primary role will be to support programs experiencing significant behavioral needs in collaboration with the Classroom ECC, the Program ECC, and the teaching team. Please know that I do not have a magic wand and definitely don’t have all the answers, but I am excited to dig into this problem with you and develop some innovative solutions that support those children in need of individualized supports for challenging behaviors and SEL growth. If you feel your classroom or program needs my support, please refer to the Social Emotional Support Referral Process outlined below:
Early Childhood PBIS
Wayne RESA Early Childhood Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (EC PBIS) strives to cultivate the effective implementation of sustainable, researched-based, Early Childhood PBIS systems for ALL Wayne County Birth-5 programs, classrooms, families and children through intentional social-emotional learning, tiered individualized supports and the empowerment of educators.
3 exciting updates for all programs around this important work:
1. We are currently accepting applications for programs to receive ongoing, intensive, support to strengthen the social-emotional development of your entire program. A webinar will be held on February 23rd with more information. Applications are due by March 8, 2024.
A virtual informational webinar and Q&A session will be held on February 23, 2024 at 1:00PM, (Zoom Meeting ID: 685 865 3416) See below to join.
3. Please share this special Early Childhood PBIS Newsletter with resources for all Birth-5 educators. Teachers are encouraged to subscribe to the newsletter to receive future updates directly.
Fiscal Reminders
Please be advised:
The payment date for February has changed from from March 1st to February 23rd.
Important: Student Enrollment Count End Date
End of Count Period - The last day for the count period is February 21st. Children Emust be enrolled (have attended at least one day of school) on or before February 21st and must be entered correctly in MiStar or your SIS (Student Information System) to receive funding.
Important - Start-Up and Carryover FERS due March 1st
FERs for programs that received Start-Up funds should be completed and approved by the program's Early Childhood Consultant by March 1st. Please note that unspent funds will need to be returned to the State of Michigan.
FERs for programs that had Carryover from school year 2022-2023 also should be completed and approved by March 1st.
Fiscal Reviews
We will begin conducting fiscal reviews for programs in March. WCRESA fiscal staff will conduct the review, which will examine financial documentation for the 2022-2023 school year. 1 CBO and 1 LEA/PSA are selected randomly and given at least 30 days' notice prior to the review.
ALL ledgers are due to be entered by the 15th of the following month to receive payment. Ledgers for Strong Beginnings and GSRP, and also ledgers for transportation, must be completed and submitted on time to ensure payment.
Please note that ledgers must contain only actual expenses, not estimates or projections. Any ledgers submitted for reimbursement containing estimated or projected expenses will not be paid.
Ready Rosie Access
You received an email about Ready Rosie and need to know next steps.
ReadyRosie builds powerful Family Partnerships with communication.
The State of Michigan has made this platform free to all Strong Beginnings and Great Start Readiness Programs through October 2024. This resource is not curriculum specific and can be used by all programs. Our State funded programs are committed to strong family partnerships, and this is another way we will accomplish our goal. Please see below for some helpful information and links to guide you as you explore Ready Rosie with your families.
MiECC Enrollment Contact Information (CBOs)
Please complete this form, it is intended to capture contact information for individuals who complete your program's enrollment activities. Information submitted here does not replace or impact your Hub Contact elections.
Great Start to Quality Job Board
Do you have openings in your program? Great Start to Quality can help you find qualified candidates!
Early Childhood Job Board - Great Start to Quality
Job postings are good for 60 days and can be renewed, if needed.
Send the jobs description(s), program location and submission contact information to jobs@ecic4kids.org
Once a candidate submits a resume or cover letter, Great Start to Quality sends them directly to the program.
1. Fill out the optional Early Childhood PBIS Application Form.
2.Children must be enrolled (have attended at least one day of school) on or before February 21st and must be entered correctly in MiStar or your SIS (Student Information System) to receive funding.
3. Complete the MiECC (CBOs) survey to update your enrollment contact.
4. Attend the optional Pre-K for All Overview: Wayne County on 2/22 and Paving the Way: Navigating the PreK for All Roadmap on 3/8.
5. Remind teachers to complete the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) survey that will be sent to their email.
Let's Talk About: Preschool Inclusion
Wayne RESA's Early Childhood Preschool Inclusion Professional Learning Group has been working to identify best practices, key resources, and challenges related to inclusive classrooms. Wayne RESA is providing Preschool Inclusion Office Hours to support questions and or ideas related to preschool inclusion.
Week of the Young Child
Kick-off Saturday
Music Monday
Tasty Tuesday
Work Together Wednesday
Artsy Thursday
Family Friday
Talking Is Teaching with Elaine Koons
Talking is Teaching questions may be sent to
EarlyChildhood@resa.net (Subject line: Talking is Teaching)
for monthly answers/updates from
Elaine Koons and Elizabeth Grace.
CBO Recruitment and Enrollment Sessions
Location: Wayne RESA ANNEX Room 1, 2 & 3 - 33500 Van Born Rd, Wayne MI 48184
Community-Based Organization (CBO) Enrollment Training for the 2024-2025 school year. In this session, participants from our CBO partners will learn about any changes to the forms and the enrollment process.
Math Professional Development
Valuing Math in the Early Childhood Classroom (Wayne County GSRP staff)
2/23 9A - 12P 5664 S - Valuing Math in the Early Childhood Classroom (Wayne County GSRP staff)
Location: Wayne RESA Room 250 ABC 33500 Van Born Rd. Wayne, MI 48184
3/8 9A -12P 5664 U - Valuing Math in the Early Childhood Classroom (Wayne County GSRP staff)
Location: Wayne RESA Room 250 ABC 33500 Van Born Rd. Wayne, MI 48184
What do you value as a teacher of young children? Our values fundamentally shape our interactions with young children, as well as our expectations of their learning. Five core values, grounded in evidence from research, supported the development of the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Mathematics: Prekindergarten to Grade 3. These Essentials seek to promote high-quality, equitable teaching and learning for young children in the discipline of mathematics. In this professional learning, we will dive deeper into aligning our practices with the five core values to ensure all children are receiving high-quality math instruction throughout the day. Click on the date above to register for your preferred session.
ASQ Support
Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®) provides reliable, accurate developmental and social-emotional screening for children.
ASQ Technical Assistance is available! If your program needs ASQ Online training, login or password info, or access to the Help Me Grow partner Google Drive please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amber Anderson at Help Me Grow. All GSRP programs should be a Help Me Grow partner to receive their ASQ Online Account.
Amber Anderson
Care Coordinator/Technical Assistance
Help Me Grow Michigan
Great Start Collaborative Detroit-Wayne
313-410-5235
Open office hours are available on Thursdays at 2:00 P.M.
Zoom link for our GSRP working hours: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5969353317
Google form link: GSRP Partner Intake Form
Booking link: Everybody Ready (zohobookings.com)
Looking for updates on what is going on in your child care licensing region?
Please join the CCLB Regional Office Hours hosted by the CCLB area managers! This is an opportunity to stay informed, connected, and engaged within your child care licensing region. These sessions are a great opportunity for conversation and connection.
LARA Office Hours (see link below):
Wayne County with LaTanya Ellington