eNotes
October 16, 2020Updates from the ECTA Center
COVID-19 Family Resources
This interactive infographic helps families navigate the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) website for COVID-19 resources and information that help support their children's learning and development. The resource, developed by ECTA and the Center for Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy), also received extensive contributions from several parent training and resource centers from across the country.
Bringing Inclusion to Life in a Virtual World
This webinar explores how inclusive practices can be implemented by providers delivering services remotely, in a hybrid manner (with some in-person learning and some remote), or in person but with health and physical distancing restrictions. Developed and presented jointly by ECTA and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), the webinar includes examples from sites and guiding questions that support innovation.
News from the Field
OSEP Questions and Answers on IDEA Part B Service Provision released on September 28
This document helps local education agencies (LEAs) and parents identify steps they can take to ensure that children with disabilities are well-positioned with an educational program that meets each child's unique needs. As a child's needs may change during the school year, so, too, can the circumstances needed to ensure the health and safety of children and the entire school community. School staff and parents are encouraged to work together to find ways to meet the needs of children with disabilities, notwithstanding the COVID-19 challenges.
Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine each year by the end of October (with rare exceptions). This is especially important for the upcoming flu season to help prevent over-burdening the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting a flu vaccine will also help protect others who may be more vulnerable to severe illness from flu, like babies and young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with certain medical conditions. Families should continue to reinforce everyday preventive actions such as wash hands, wear a mask, maintain physical distance, and cover coughs and sneezes.
Circle Time at Home
Circle Time at Home is an interactive family-centered learning experience that brings young learners' familiar school routine into their families' homes. Focused on social emotional, language, cognitive, and physical health areas of development and aligned with Virginia's Pre-K and Kindergarten learning standards, Circle Time at Home helps children's learning, memory and knowledge so they can use their new skills in broader contexts.
Office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System Renewed
The Office of Head Start (OHS) has awarded new cooperative agreements and contracts, that set the direction for the National Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System for the next five years. The 2020-2025 OHS TTA System has three components: national, regional, and grantee. Its goal is to improve the knowledge, skills, and practices of grantee staff to implement programs that meet or exceed Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) and improve child and family outcomes.
Ounce of Prevention has a New Name: Start Early
The Ounce of Prevention Fund, a national nonprofit with nearly 40 years of experience advancing quality early learning and care to help close the opportunity gap, has changed its name to Start Early. With its new logo and tagline, Champions for Early Learning, Start Early continues to focus on the idea that starting early and nurturing the attachments between children and adults builds strong foundations and are essential to a child's present and future well-being. "The pandemic has exposed the long-standing need to invest more in our early learning and care systems," said its president, Diane Rauner. The need for equitable, quality early learning and care is more urgent than ever before. The new brand will serve as a rallying cry, helping elevate the issue in public conversations and reaching new audiences.