A message from CDE: UPK Survey!

Dear Early Education and P-3 Alignment Partners,

The California Department of Education has a few questions for UPK implementers and would greatly appreciate your input by filling out a UPK survey. This survey should take approximately five minutes to complete and will help inform future planning. Your responses will be kept anonymous. Please complete the UPK survey by clicking on the following link https://surveys3.cde.ca.gov/s.asp?k=165610509696.

If you have any questions, please email us at UPK@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent
Opportunities for All Branch
California Department of Education

Stephen Propheter, Director
Early Education Division
California Department of Education

Seeking Input from Pre-K-2 Educators

 
Seeking Input from Pre-K-2 Educators

Dear Early Childhood Educators and Administrators,   The California Department of Education would like to hear from you! This is an exciting time for California in which we are reviewing and revising the Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF) and the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) to incorporate recent research in the field, including best practices to support equity, dual language learners, and the inclusion of children with disabilities. In support of the CDE’s P-3 initiative, we are exploring the extension of the PLF to inform frameworks for K-2 as well as aligned assessments in early elementary school. We invite you – preschool, TK, and K-2 educators, family child care providers, and administrators, coaches, or trainers – to share your suggestions, questions, and feedback in virtual focus groups.   If you are interested in participating in a focus group about the PLF, we will be conducting these in the coming weeks. If you are interested in participating in a focus group on the DRDP, we will be conducting these meetings in the coming months. Please read more and fill out an interest form. Those selected for a focus group will receive a $50 stipend as compensation for participating.   We look forward to hearing your input.   Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent Opportunities for All Branch California Department of Education  

¡Educadores y administradores de la primera infancia, el Departamento de Educación de California le gustaría escucharlos! Este es un momento emocionante para California en el que estamos repasando y revisando los Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar (PLF) y el Perfil de Desarrollo de Resultados Deseados (DRDP) para incorporar estudios recientes, incluyendo las mejores prácticas para apoyar la equidad, los aprendices de dos idiomas y la inclusión de los niños con discapacidades. En apoyo de la iniciativa P-3 del CDE, estamos explorando la extensión del PLF para informar marcos para K-2, así como evaluaciones alineadas en la escuela primaria temprana. Los invitamos (educadores del preescolar, TK y K-2, proveedores de cuidado infantil en el hogar y administradores, capacitadores o entrenadores) a compartir sus sugerencias, preguntas y comentarios en grupos de enfoque virtuales.   Si está interesado en participar en un grupo de enfoque sobre el PLF, lo realizaremos en las próximas semanas. Si está interesado en participar en un grupo de enfoque sobre el DRDP, llevaremos a cabo estas reuniones en los próximos meses. Lea más y complete un formulario de interés. Los seleccionados para un grupo de enfoque recibirán un estipendio de $50 como compensación por participar.   Esperamos escuchar su aporte,   Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent Opportunities for All Branch California Department of Education    

幼儿教育工作者和管理人员们,加利福尼亚州教育局 (CDE)希望听到你的想法!对于加州来说,这是一个激动人心的时刻,我们正在审查和修订学前学习基础 (PLF) 和期望结果发展概况 (DRDP),以纳入该领域的最新研究,包括支持公平、双语学习者、和包容残疾儿童的最佳实践。为支持 CDE 的 P-3 计划,我们正在探索 PLF 的扩展,以便为 K-2 的框架以及小学早期的统一评估提供信息。我们邀请你——学前班、TK、 和 K-2 教育工作者、家庭托儿服务提供者以及管理人员、教练或培训师——在线上焦点小组中分享你的建议、问题和反馈。   如果你有兴趣参加有关 PLF 的焦点小组,我们将在未来几周内开展这些活动。如果有兴趣参加 有关DRDP的 焦点小组,我们将在未来几个月内召开这些会议。请阅读更多内容并填写一份兴趣表被选中参加焦点小组的人将获得 50 美元的津贴,作为参与的报酬。   我们期待听到你的意见,   Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent Opportunities for All Branch California Department of Education     Contact the CAAEYC Public Policy Team  

TEACH for LA is almost here: Register today!

TEACH for LA starts Monday!

We have an exciting conference planned and cannot wait to see you! Please see attached for conference flyer and schedule.

If you have not registered yet, register today! The TEACH for LA conference kickoff is Monday March 21, 2022 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Join us for the TEACH for LA opening keynote speaker, Julee Brooks, CEO Of Woodcraft Rangers. Opening session will cover conference logistics and our keynote will share a message of inspiration and hope. 

TEACH for LA has a robust schedule with 12 breakout sessions on Tuesday and 11 sessions on Wednesday. TEACH for LA will have closing session on Wednesday March 23rd from 5:30-7:00 pm with a keynote from our California Teacher of the Year 2022, Alondra Diaz. Alondra will share her story as an educator, while motivating attendees to be the best educators they can be. Closing session will also have the TEACH for LA opportunity drawing (must be present to win). 

Do you have friends or colleagues who may be interested in attending TEACH for LA? Please spread the word! 

Register today!

TEACH for LA is a free education conference for anyone interested in the field of education.

The conference is virtual and registration can be found at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teach-for-la-tickets-261366102047

We are looking forward to an outstanding TEACH for LA!

Please note: ONLY those that are registered for the TEACH for LA conference will receive conference Zoom links. Zoom links will be emailed to everyone registered on Sunday March 20, 2022.

California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division Contractors and Grantees: Travel Restrictions for Fiscal Year 2020–21

This memorandum is provided to inform Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) Quality contractors and grantees of a Notice of Change to the Terms and Conditions of the 2020–21 contract or grant an agency may hold with the department.
All travel, both in state and out of state, and any travel associated with conference or meeting attendance is no longer in effect. This notice is effective from July 1, 2020 until January 1, 2021. Contractors and grantees may not submit invoices or expenditure reports for any travel expenses.
In January, the CDE ELCD will reevaluate the travel restrictions provided in this Notice of Change according to guidance provided by the State to respond to the pandemic in order to keep Californians safe. If necessary, this Notice of Change will be extended, as needed, until June 30, 2021.
Additionally, the following guidance has been released for scopes of work (SOWs) for Fiscal Year 2020–21 with regard to tasks and subtasks which may involve travel costs in the budget:
• Add the following proposed standard language to all SOW tasks/subtasks which have potential for activities with travel:
Due to COVID-19 and California’s shelter-in-place order, the in-person meeting (update per your SOW) may be cancelled or changed to a virtual meeting at the discretion of the CDE. Therefore, any announcement for the event must state that the event may be in-person, virtual, or both. The CDE cannot reimburse the Contractor for any cancellation fees, deposit or pre-payments under any circumstances, even if the CDE decides to cancel the event.
• Additional language if registration fees are collected:
The Contractor will be responsible for refunding any unused portion of the registration fee collected, if any, if the event is cancelled or changed to a virtual meeting. OR include specific program income language.
• EXHIBIT B CONSIDERATIONS: Costs in the budget for in-person or virtual will require additional review as the budget will require costs for any eventuality stated in the SOW. Remember the SOW must support the budget, and the budget must support the SOW.
If you have questions, please contact your contract or grant monitor for more assistance.

Guidance for Serving School-Age Children During Distance Learning

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of All State Subsidized Early Learning and Care Programs 

 The CDE, ELCD would like to thank local partners and programs for all of your efforts in supporting children and families during this incredibly difficult time. We acknowledge each and every one of you who are continuing to support the children and families of California. Whether you are currently open, preparing to open, or preparing for distance learning, the ELCD acknowledges your need for guidance at this time. We appreciate your efforts and continue to work with the Legislature and the Administration in order to provide the direction you need.  

 The ELCD knows that many school districts are beginning the school year with distance learning; therefore, school-age children need care during their parent’s work hours. The ELCD also knows that questions have arisen about how to interpret California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR), section 18076.2, which does not allow CalWORKs Stage 2 (C2AP), CalWORKs Stage 3 (C3AP), California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP), California Migrant Alternative Payment Program (CMAP), and Family Child Care Home Education Network (CFCC) contractors to reimburse providers during “scheduled instructional minutes” of a public or private educational program that the child is enrolled and attending.  

 Since K-12 distance learning does not provide supervision for children, the CDE does not consider it to be scheduled instructional minutes for the purposes of reimbursing providers.  

Therefore, providers shall be reimbursed for care during the time a school-age child is participating in K-12 distance learning and attending their childcare program or provider during the typical school hours.  

 If the child is participating in a hybrid model (in-person instruction and distance learning) the provider may only be reimbursed for the time that the child is not receiving in-person instruction. 

 Contractors are responsible for budgeting their contract funds to ensure providers will be reimbursed for an increase in the cost of care associated with school-age children that are participating in distance learning.  

 The ELCD will be revising Management Bulletin (MB) 20-15 to include this clarification. Until that MB is released, the guidance in this listserv should be utilized when making payments to providers. 

  Please visit our Early Learning and Care Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) website for the latest updates at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/covid19elcdfaq.asp

CDE: Upcoming Guidance and Family Fees

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of All Subsidized Early Learning and Care Programs

The CDE, ELCD would like to thank local partners and programs for all of your efforts in supporting children and families during this incredibly difficult time. We acknowledge each and every one of you who are continuing to support the children and families of California. Whether you are currently open, preparing to open, or preparing for distance learning, the ELCD acknowledges your need for guidance at this time. We appreciate your efforts and continue to work with the Legislature and the Administration in order to provide the direction you need.

 

To address concerns regarding the collection of family fees in a variety of situations, the CDE, ELCD engaged with the Legislature and the Administration on a solution to waive family fees for July and August 2020. Further, the CDE understands the Administration and Legislature plan to address the fee cost in August Budget Actions.

 

Contractors must immediately suspend collecting any family fees for the month of August and must notify families and providers that the fees for July and August have been waived, pursuant to the Superintendent’s authority provided by Education Code Section 8209. In addition, contractors should not disenroll families for non-payment of family fees until further guidance is released from the CDE. This guidance will address family fees for emergency childcare, distance learning, reimbursing families for paid fees, reimbursing providers for fees not collected, and other issues.

 

In addition, we understand the urgent need for information and appreciate your patience as we work hard to implement Management Bulletins (MBs) based on the Fiscal Year 2020–21 Budget Act.

As a reminder, the CDE will be releasing MBs for direction and guidance covering the following topics:

  • Direct contract programs–regarding distance learning, Desired Results Developmental Profiles (DRDPs), contract reimbursement, and related issues
  • Alternative Payment & Data–regarding provider payment and data collection requirements
  • Resource and Referrals (R&Rs) and Local Planning Councils (LPCs)–regarding data collection requirements and supply distribution
  • Family Fees – regarding family fees for children that are distance learning and addressing family fees paid for July and August.

Please visit our Early Learning and Care Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) web page for the latest updates at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/covid19elcdfaq.asp.

 

If you have questions regarding the information in this email, please contact your assigned Program Quality Implementation Regional Consultant on the ELCD Consultants Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.

FDA Warning About the Dangers of Hand Sanitizers With Methanol

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers and health care providers about hand sanitizer products that are labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol (i.e., methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested. As per the FDA news update hyperlinked below, “Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing. The agency will provide additional information as it becomes available.”

 

FDA has identified more than two dozen hand sanitizers that are toxic when absorbed through the skin. It is urgent that this information be sent to child care providers, parents, state child care licensing offices, child care professional development agencies, and others who can disseminate this information.

 

Consumers who have been exposed to a hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for the potential toxic effects of methanol poisoning, which can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, permanent blindness, and seizures. Although people of all ages are at risk for methanol poisoning, “young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk.”

 

Please see the full FDA news update on hand sanitizers with methanol at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol for further information.

 

Special Needs School Transportation Camera Program

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has requested the California Department of Education to share this grant opportunity with school districts and education agencies within California.

The Special Needs School Transportation Camera Program is a grant administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The program is intended to provide cameras on school transportation used by pre-K through high school students with disabilities/special needs to identify abusive behavior that may occur between students and/or between students and bus drivers/school personnel. Please see the Request for Proposal (RFP) for eligibility information and how to apply.

Grant Subaward Performance Period: January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022

Submission Deadline: Monday, August 17, 2020

Available Funding: Individual Applicants may request up to $138,022

The RFP is located on the Cal OES website at: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/pages/Grant-Details.aspx?itemID=374&ItemTitle=2020-21%20Special%20Needs%20School%20Transportation%20Camera%20(SN)%20Program%20RFP

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

This is a message on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (OCC).

 

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. The CARES Act provides $3.5 billion and various flexibilities for state, territory, and tribal lead agencies to operate their Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency and to ensure the supply of child care after the emergency subsides.

 

The CARES Act includes additional provisions that, although not specific to child care, address the needs of child care providers and child care workers, as does the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“Families First Act”), which was enacted on March 18, 2020. State, territory, and tribal governments now face the complexities of blending COVID-19 funding programs across multiple agencies to best support children, families, and child care providers. To aid with these decisions, the OCC has prepared guidance listing the funding programs outside of the CCDF program that affect child care providers and staff. The information can be accessed, along with updates reflecting ongoing legislation, on the OCC COVID-19 Legislation Guide for CCDF Administrators web page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/covid-19-legislation-guide-for-ccdf-administrators.