eNotes
June 23, 2017In this Issue:
- Invitation to Comment - Data Collection for Children Receiving Early Intervention Services Under Part C Source: U.S. Department of Education
- Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) Source: U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services
- Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) for Early Care and Education Programs Source: RAND Corporation
- Leading the Way: How States are Addressing Early Learning Under ESSA Source: Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) and New America
- Why is it so hard to stop suspending kindergarteners? Source: The Hechinger Report
- Implementing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization: A Guide for States Source: CLASP and the National Women's Law Center (NWLC)
- 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation
1. Invitation to Comment - Data Collection for Children Receiving Early Intervention Services Under Part C
The U.S. Department of Education is inviting comments on a proposed information collection request related to the reporting of infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services and of program settings where services are provided in accordance with Part C. The Department is interested in comments that help assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Comments must be received by August 21, 2017. To learn more, see the Federal Register Notice.
2. Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
The Office of Head Start (OHS) recently launched its redesigned Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) website. New features include an easier menu navigation, robust searching capabilities, and easier access to relevant policies and regulations, as well as, links to each state's child care licensing information.
3. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) for Early Care and Education Programs
This report (June 2017) assesses what the early childhood field has learned about QRIS and provides recommendations for the second generation of QRISs. When the federal grant funds expire, there will be less resources available to states for administering their QRIS. The authors provide strategies and suggestions to states about the allocation of funds to achieve their goals for expanding access to and improving early childhood education programs.
4. Leading the Way: How States are Addressing Early Learning Under ESSA
According to this blog entry from the blog series Early Ed in ESSA: Helping Every Child Succeed (June 2017), CEELO together with the Regional Education Laboratory-Southwest sponsored a webinar recently highlighting important strategies that early education administrators can use to ensure early learning is integrated throughout the ESSA plan. Some of the strategies include using a birth to third grade system framework, creating an evidence-based early learning footprint in the state plan, and building alliances to engage all stakeholders for aligning priorities and resources.
5. Why is it so hard to stop suspending kindergarteners?
According to the findings in this recent Hechinger Report (May 2017) some states continue to struggle with the high number of suspension cases for young children. "In 2014, the U.S. Department of Education reported 5,000 preschoolers were suspended at least once, and 2,500 preschoolers were suspended more than once." Research shows this experience in early school years can cause irreversible damage academically. The report highlights the cultural demographics of young children receiving the most suspensions and explores different teacher skills training practices some states are using to address behavioral issues. Maintaining strong relationships between students and their families is a key component.
6. Implementing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization: A Guide for States
CLASP and NWLC have produced an update (June 2017) to their implementation guidebook originally published in April 2015 to include an outline and discussion of provisions in the final rule implementing the CCDBG issued by the Administration for Children and Families in September 2016. This guidebook reviews key sections of the law, offering recommendations to states regarding lead agency responsibilities, allowable use of CCDBG funds, and other considerations for implementing model policies.
7. 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book
Since 1990, KIDS COUNT has examined trends and ranked states on child well-being across four domains: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education, (3) Health, and (4) Family and Community. The latest report, 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book finds overall improvements in the child poverty rate continuing to drop since 2015, landing at 21%. However, the data still reveals unacceptable levels of children living in poverty. In the areas of child education and health, improvements were found in reading proficiency and the number of children with health insurance. New Hampshire ranked first among states for overall child well-being. Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi ranked the lowest.