News

We have heard today that Bev is ill and we are passing along this notice from Suzanne Haggard and her colleagues at Pacific First Montessori: Bev Yorkey Letter

"We would want as many people who know Bev to know of her condition and send their words and wishes of love, care, and friendship."

The Vancouver Island Montessori Association (VIMA) is planning another conference for April 2013.  We are in the planning stages and would like to hear from you what topics and events you would like to see as part of the upcoming conference.  Below you will find a link to a survey in which you will be able to let us know what will support you in your work. The survey will take 5 – 10 minutes to complete.

USE THIS LINK:Click here to take survey

The survey will be available to you until February 15^th.    

Please forward this site http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N95FNSC in the email to any of your colleagues to let them know about the survey if they have not already received this information. 

We will be passing on more information to you as our planning continues. 

Thank you for your support through your completed surveys.

Debbie Gillespie <dgillespie@pacificcoast.net>

VIMA Conference Committee Chair

The following jobs are staff positions at CCR

Find more details at http://childcare.org/jobs/jobs-ccr.asp

Title: Chief Program Officer:  The Chief Program Officer is a key leader and member of the agency’s leadership team. The CPO provides strategic programmatic leadership and direction to 30+ employees. As the person accountable for program delivery, the CPO ensures CCR staff deliver consistently high quality services that meet our outcome requirements. As a dynamic leader, the CPO engages staff to identify innovative approaches that meet children’s needs, support provider’s quality improvement and represents CCR in the early learning community.

Early Learning Consultant Request for Qualifications: Child Care Resources is seeking individuals to provide consultation for child care programs in King County. Consultation may include the following: onsite coaching, mentoring for accreditation, technical assistance, and training. Please see our Project Profiles for details regarding the scope of work.

Early Learning Consultants are independent contractors to CCR, not employees.

Please send Resume and cover letter to: Child Care Resources, ATTN : Human Resources, 1225 South Weller #300, Seattle, WA 98144.

Dear licensed child care providers; DEL has information to share with providers on three topics:

Washington Preschool

·         In response to questions from providers about House Bill 2448, Washington Preschool, we’ve posted a fact sheet with answers: http://www.del.wa.gov/publications/communications/docs/Preschool_Q_A.pdf

Provide your input on several rules under development

·         Please check the DEL blog for information about how to provide input on several rules under development about topics that affect providers, including:

o   Child Care Center rules on lice and nits

o   Non-expiring licenses

o   Suspected unlicensed child care fines

o   Working Connections and Seasonal Child Care subsidy rules

Link to blog: http://delconnect.blogspot.com/2012/01/del-accepting-public-comment-on-several.html

Child Care Check upgrades

·         Today, DEL launched upgrades to Child Care Check, our child care licensing information system. Read about the changes here: http://www.del.wa.gov/resources/newsroom/012712.aspx

PNMA keeps you in the loop as Washington State DEL develops these guidelines.  The current announcement is posted in full on our DEL Page.
Please offer your input during this brief open comment time ending January 18 !  The message includes live links to documents and a comment survey.

You will be hearing more about QRIS now that WA State has won the $60 Million Early Learning Grant.  The Quality Rating and Improvement System will be implemented statewide and OSPI is expanding the WA KIDS program to 500 schools this year and will make it mandatory at all State schools for 2012-13.  Part of this program requires more communication with the Early Childhood centers. More information will be required about children transitioning from Primary to Kindergarten classrooms. 
When QRIS is fully implemented all centers will have to be registered and rated.  The Child Outcomes will be interpreted with WaKIDS Assessment tool or aligned with it.  To help you prepare for more of the changes coming to education in WA, keep up with a few websites and announcements.

OSPI: WaKIDS For Early Care and Education Professionals

About WaKIDS: What Early Learning Professionals Can Expect

DEL.WA.GOV:
Early Learning Advisory Council QRIS

Kindergarten Readiness

And one more resource tracking developments in all 50 states with links to progress and plans!  Besides the alignment of Early Childhood programs and Elementary School in our state, there is also a conversation starting about making it work nation wide.
Child Trends: A Review of School Readiness Practices in the States: Early Learning Guidelines and Assessments
http://www.childtrends.org/Files/Child_Trends-2010_06_18_ECH_SchoolReadiness.pdf

In 2012, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) will start reviewing child care center licensing rules in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 170-295.  This will be the first substantial update since 2003.

Before we begin reviewing the rules, we wants to hear what you think about the current child care center licensing rules, such as:

• Which rules should change?
• Which rules should remain the same?
• Are there any rules that should be eliminated?
• Should DEL consider any new requirements that are not addressed in the current rules?

DEL is interested in suggestions that are child-centered and evidence- or research-based.

How to give input
Submit your comments by March 31, 2012 by one of the following methods:
Online: DEL Rules Comment webpage.  Click “Add Comment” to give your input, or “View Comments” to read what others have said.
Email: Rules@del.wa.gov
Postal mail: 
DEL Rules Coordinator
Washington State Department of Early Learning
P.O. Box 40970
Olympia, WA 98504-0970

We have a collaborative, inclusive Montessori organization in the Northwest.  Be sure to encourage more cooperation in Montessori circles...check out this petition and short questionaire:
MONTESSORI UNITY AND COOPERATION PETITION