Weekly Highlights
En español abajo
February 20, 2024
Happy Tune-In Tuesday! Here are the weekly highlights for the early childhood community in Rhode Island. This issue includes the following sections:
- CELP Winter PD Highlights
- News from DHS:
- RISES System Information
- Comprehensive Background Checks
- News from RIDE:
- RI Pre-K Expansion Grant Application
- Apply to be a RIDE Curriculum Reviewer
- URI Online Pathways
- Survey for Family Child Care Providers
- Spotlight on School-Age Resources
- Resources for You
- PD in the Community
- Share your news and calendar events!
CELP Winter PD Highlights
Check out the winter course offerings, there is something for everyone. Click on the link below to see our complete list. Classes run through March!
Remember to register for your Workforce ID with RISES so you can register for PD. Click here to create your RISES account.
For Administrators:
- Leading by Example – Cohort 2. Are early childhood leaders born, or are they created? If you are an early childhood leader in Rhode Island, you know best, and either way, your answer is correct!! Please join a cohort of your early childhood colleagues to learn, develop and share successful leadership strategies to support your program and the profession! Starts Wednesday, March 20th.
Host Our PD at Your Site
Apply for On-Site Cluster Training Professional Development Opportunities through our Intake Form! Interested in having PD on-site at your location? Fill out the form and we will contact you to discuss hosting PD at your site on a topic relevant to your staff. We are especially looking for programs in the southern part of the state for the spring semester.
| View CELP PD |
News from DHS:
RISES System Information
The RISES system is live and ready for you to visit and create your Workforce ID. Remember to register for your Workforce ID with RISES so you can register for PD.
Here are some helpful links for you to check out:
- RISES landing page (DHS)
- Q & A from CELP
Please stay tuned for more updates! If you have any questions or need assistance regarding the RISES system, feel free to reach out to the Child Care Licensing email at DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov. If you have any questions regarding your CELP account, please email info@center-elp.org.
News from DHS:
Comprehensive Background Checks
The Rhode Island Department of Human Services is issuing the following memo to provide an update regarding comprehensive background checks.
As you know, effective 2015 per federal CCDF law, all employees hired by a DHS-licensed child care provider are required to complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Since this federal requirement was implemented in RI, DHS continues to work to centralize the background checks at the RI Attorney General’s Office. The cost to complete and process these comprehensive background checks are $45/individual ($40/individual for a comprehensive fingerprint and $5/individual for the BCI). In recent years, the child care industry has experienced tremendous hardship in securing staff to support in-person child care services for RI’s youngest learners. In order to help support child care centers and family child care homes in recruiting and onboarding full time staff, DHS has been working alongside the RIAG to waive comprehensive fingerprint check fees that are completed at the RIAG’s office in Cranston, Rhode Island. This waiver began in May, 2021 and was meant to sunset on April 30, 2023.
We continue to truly understand the staffing crisis in the child care sector and want to ensure there are no major barriers to cost for hiring staff. RIAG will continue to waive all fees associated with the comprehensive background check for child care staff and redirect those costs to DHS to reimburse through quarterly invoices for an additional 60 days – through June 30, 2024.
Child care center staff, family child care providers and household members will still be required to provide a signed Affidavit from their DHS-licensed employer validating their employment prior to having RIAG process the comprehensive background check. The signed affidavit will be the way you are able to receive a comprehensive fingerprint at no cost. If you do not have the affidavit, the RIAG’s office cannot confirm that you are a child care employee.
An important reminder about this process is that when you get your no-cost comprehensive fingerprints completed at the AG’s office, you will receive two separate documents that both count as part of your comprehensive fingerprints.
- Your local BCI will be provided to you real time, which is one of the pieces of your full comprehensive background check. You are responsible for making sure your employer gets a copy of this document.
- Your comprehensive criminal background check will be provided within 48 hours after you go to the AG’s office. It will be emailed to the email address at the bottom of your affidavit, and if you provided an e-mail, it will also be sent to you. This encompasses the remaining items for your full comprehensive background clearance.
Both of these are equally as important when thinking of a full comprehensive background check and you will need both to be considered “compliant” and have a full check.
The waived fingerprint cost is only applicable at the Attorney General’s office. Local police, at their discretion, are still providing comprehensive fingerprints but this waived fee is only available at the RIAG’s office in Cranston, Rhode Island.
As always, if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Child Care Licensing Team at 401-462-3009 and DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov.
Thank you for your continued hard work,
Nicole Chiello, Assistant Director, Office of Child Care
Sarah Nardolillo, Administrator, Child Care Licensing
News from RIDE:
RI Pre-K Expansion Grant Application Now Available
RIDE is now accepting applications to become an RI Pre-K provider. Eligible organizations include: licensed childcare programs, Head Start organizations, public schools, and non-public schools that are able to operate a RI Pre-K classroom within the proposed guidelines and Pre-K policies.
Key dates for the 2024-25 grant application process:
- February 16, 2024: Grant Application Posted
- February 26, 2024: Informational webinar posted on the RI Pre-K webpage on the RIDE website
- March 4, 2024: Questions due by 12:00 PM to RIPre-K@ride.ri.gov.
- March 8, 2024: Questions and answers posted on the RIDE website for applicant review.
- March 25, 2025: Submit your application via Google Form by 4:00 PM. Grant application submissions will only be accepted via Google Form submission. Please do not bring paper copies to RIDE.
- April 8, 2024: Tentative announcement of selected programs. RI Pre-K Grant award decisions are subject to approval in the State FY ’25 budget.
RI Pre-K Grant Application 2024
RI Pre-K Application Guidance
Additional Budget and Signature Pages (as needed)
The Center for Early Learning Professionals is pleased to offer two application support sessions for programs that are applying for new or additional state-funded RI Pre-K classrooms. These sessions will include a review of the application instructions, requirements, and budgeting process, and will provide the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. These sessions are optional, and advance registration is required.
Both sessions will be held virtually, via Zoom.
Option 1: Wednesday, March 6th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm Click here to register for this session
Option 2: Thursday, March 14th, 1:00-3:00 pm Click here to register for this session
News from RIDE:
Apply to be a RIDE Curriculum Reviewer
The Rhode Island Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (RIDE) is inviting early learning professionals to participate as reviewers of published, comprehensive and/or content-specific early learning curriculum. Through this process, reviewers will evaluate curriculum submissions intended for use in classrooms servicing children ages 3-5 years for alignment to the 2023 Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards and components of a high-quality early learning curriculum utilizing a RIDE-developed rubric.
Through this application process, RIDE will select approximately 5-10 early learning professionals to form teams that will independently review early learning curriculum submissions and meet jointly to determine final consensus scoring. Review assignments will be based on the number of curricula RIDE receives. Reviewers will be paid $500 per curriculum reviewed and can expect to review three to five curricula depending on the number of curricula submissions RIDE receives. Review work will approximately occur between April 8, 2024 – June 3, 2024.
**To ensure the curriculum review process is holistic, we welcome applications from professionals that represent a variety of roles in the early learning profession such as, but not limited to: General Education and Special Education Preschool/Pre-K Teachers, Kindergarten Teachers, Education Coordinators, Administrators, Professional Development and Technical Assistance providers, Itinerant Service Providers, and Higher Education faculty.
To apply to be a curriculum reviewer, please complete this Google Form: https://forms.gle/1Cwh58yyKAuUc8X67. The application will close on Monday, March 11th 2024 at 12:00 PM.
News from RIDE:
Official Launch of URI Online’s ECCE Pre-K-2 Certification Programs for Fall 2024
RIDE is excited to announce, in partnership with the University of Rhode Island, the OFFICIAL launch of 2 new Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Online Programs: the B.S Degree Completion (with PK-2 certification), and the Accelerated Undergraduate Certificate (PK-2 certification only, no degree) programs. These programs are now accepting applications for Fall 2024 admission (DEADLINE: 4/2/2024 (Early Admission); 7/30/2024 (Regular Admission). Click here for the digital flyer with more information, including some program highlights.
Register and attend a virtual or in-person information session to discover the value of a URI Online Early Childhood Care and Education program and learn more about each new program’s curriculum, admission requirements, and TEACH-RI scholarship eligibility requirements. To register, please click the hyperlink for the session you would like to attend and complete the registration form.
- Session 1: Thursday, February 22nd | 6:00 – 7:00 PM ONLINE/VIRTUAL (Click here to register)
- Session 2: Tuesday, February 27th | 6:00 – 7:00 PM ONLINE/VIRTUAL (Click here to register)
- Session 3: Thursday, February 29th | 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Center for Early Learning Professionals (Click here to register)
- Session 4: Wednesday, March 20th | 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Center for Early Learning Professionals (Click here to register)
Questions? Complete the “request more information” intake form indicating your interest in either new program. You will be connected with a URI Online intake coordinator that can guide you through the application process. If you have any questions regarding RIDE certification or determining whether this program may be for you based on prior credentials, please reach out to Amanda.Blazka@ride.ri.gov.
Survey for Family Child Care Providers
DHS is partnering with Education Development Center (EDC) on a research study examining how Family Child Care (FCC) providers make use of funding and other supports from DHS and its partners. The study also explores FCC providers’ overall experiences managing their programs. As part of the study, the research team created this survey to capture FCC providers’ experiences. Survey responses will be kept confidential and only summaries will be shared with DHS.
Please take this survey to help the research team understand how you have used these supports and your experience being an FCC provider. Those who complete the survey will receive a $25 Amazon gift card as a thank you.
Click on the following link to begin the survey: https://go.edc.org/FCC_Survey.
Spotlight on School-Age Resources
Informational Articles
Curriculum Resources
EiE, the award-winning curricula division of the Museum of Science, Boston, develops research-based, classroom-tested programs that empower children to become lifelong STEM learners and passionate problem solvers. For grades 3-8, explore Engineering Adventures® and Engineering Everywhere® a multidisciplinary engineering curriculum designed for flexible classroom settings.
Engineering curriculum resources from EIE
Coding curriculum resources from Scratch
Math Resources
Afterschool Math Plus – Afterschool Math Plus is an evidence-based program that provides fun, real-world mathematics activities for students in grades three through eight. Materials include a culturally relevant curriculum designed around four thematic units that engage children. Each unit emphasizes identity development, careers, role models, strategies for family involvement, and inclusion of students with disabilities through an equity lens:
Crazy 8s is the “second child” of the Bedtime Math family. It is the largest recreational after-school math club for elementary-aged kids in the U.S.
Additional Resources
Students as Scientists: Nature-Based Inquiry from Cornell Lab K-12 Inquiry. Free units that use nature to inspire scientific investigation in students.
Skills for Success: Developing Social and Emotional Competencies in Out-of-School-Time Programs published by The RAND Corporation.
The Collaborative for Advancing Health Equity in Out-of-School Time has a new Community of Practice: Centering Equitable Approaches to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in OST. Click here to find out more.
Resources for You
- New! LISC 2024 Child Care Facilities Planning Grant Program. Eligible applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration. These planning grants are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve rolling basis to qualifying projects. If you are interested in a planning grant, please fill out a technical assistance request to further discuss your facility’s planning needs and eligibility for this program.
- Genesis Center is offering free English classes for home childcare providers. For more information and to apply, visit: gencenter.org or email: info@gencenter.org, mbonilla@gencenter.org & ccuevas@gencenter.org; tel: (401) 781-6110.
- Multilingual Learning Toolkit website which is the result of a collaborative effort led by Early Edge California in support of young Multilingual Learners in PreK-3rd Grade that includes researchers, practitioners, advocacy organizations, state agencies, and philanthropic organizations from California and across the nation. Create an account to access the free resources.
- CCRI is offering a new English Language Learners Training for future Early Childhood Educators. Classes start February 24th.
- Readings about Language and Culture from NAEYC
- From the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety: Early Childhood Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety Resource List.
- Developmental Milestones Resources: “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” | CDC.
- The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) is accepting applications for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for Child Care staff pilot. This is a one-year pilot offering CCAP benefits to subsidize the cost of child care for eligible early childhood educators and staff who work in a DHS licensed child care program. Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2024. See this DHS webpage for more information: CCAP for Child Care Staff Pilot | RI Department of Human Services.
PD in the Community
New! From URI: Compassionate Classrooms: Trauma-Informed Strategies in Early Childhood Education. A two-part professional development series for early childhood education professionals. February 27th and March 26th from 6-8pm. FREE – Advanced registration required: https://forms.gle/bPj3ZCBbGs4wXzu99
A series from the NHSA: Tackling Challenging Behaviors: with FUN!: Meeting Registration – Zoom.
Looking for tips on self-care? This Teacher Time web training has effective strategies to support your overall well-being. You can use them with children to create a positive learning environment! Time for You: Self-Care Strategies from Head Start ECLKC.
Our colleagues at the Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH) have PD opportunities for you to explore! Online trainings from RIAIMH. In addition, save the dates for the upcoming Community Conversation Series 2024 have been released: March 12th and April 9th from 8:30-10:30AM. The focus being IECMH Trauma Informed Care: Honoring Families, Communities and Culture.
Share Your News and Calendar Events!
Do you have news for Tune-In Tuesday or calendar events that are relevant to the early childhood community of Rhode Island? You can share them through this form. (Center staff may edit your submission for clarity or decline to post any submission.)
Anuncios Destacados
20 de febrero de 2024
¡Feliz martes sintonizado! Aqui tienes los anuncios destacados para la comunidad de educación temprana en Rhode Island. Este boletín incluye las siguientes secciones:
- DP destacado del CELP
- Noticias de DHS
- Información sobre el sistema RISES
- Verificaciones de antecedentes integrales
- Noticias de RIDE
- Información sobre la lotería de prekinder
- Encuesta para proveedores de cuidado infantil familiar
- Recursos para ti
DP destacado del CELP
Las clases de desarrollo profesional del invierno están disponibles. Hay algo para todos. Las clases se extenderán hasta marzo. No te pierdas estas clases, y visita nuestro sitió web para ver todas las clases disponibles este invierno.
Acuérdate de registrarte para tu Workforce ID en RISES para poder registrarte para DP. Haz clic aquí para crear tu cuenta en RISES.
Comprender el Impacto del Trauma en los Niños Pequeños – Serie en Línea
Las experiencias dolorosas y estresantes tempranas en la vida pueden tener un efecto duradero en el crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños. Esta serie proporciona una visión general completa del impacto de estas experiencias en los niños pequeños e introduce estrategias efectivas para trabajar con estos niños en un entorno de cuidado infantil. Las sesiones destacarán la importancia de construir relaciones de confianza y reconocer señales y desencadenantes mientras se apoya a los niños con antecedentes de trauma. Esta serie está diseñada para educadores que poseen una sólida comprensión de los fundamentos del desarrollo social y emocional saludable para niños pequeños. Empieza jueves, 14 de marzo.
DP en tu horario
Tenemos desarrollo profesional grabado que puedes tomar cuando te conviene. Hay cursos sobre temas de importancia para educadores de bebes y niños pequeños. Puedes seguir creciendo en tu profesión y profundizar tu conocimiento en un area nuevo o revisar un tema que ya conoces.
Noticias de DHS:
Información sobre el sistema RISES
El sistema RISES está activo y listo para que usted lo visite y cree su Workforce ID. Acuérdase de registrarse para su Workforce ID en RISES para poder registrarse para DP.
Aquí hay algunos enlaces útiles que puede consultar:
- Página de información sobre RISES (DHS)
- Preguntas y respuestas del CELP
¡Estén atentos para más actualizaciones! Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita ayuda con respecto al sistema RISES, no dude en comunicarse con el correo electrónico de Licencias de cuidado infantil en DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre su cuenta CELP, envíe un correo electrónico a info@center-elp.org.
Noticias de DHS:
Verificaciones de antecedentes integrales
El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Rhode Island está emitiendo la siguiente nota para proporcionar una actualización con respecto a las verificaciones exhaustivas de antecedentes.
Como usted sabe, a partir de 2015, según la ley federal CCDF, todos los empleados contratados por un proveedor de cuidado infantil con licencia del DHS deben completar una verificación de antecedentes integral antes de ser contratados. Desde que se implemento este requisito federal en RI, el DHS continúa trabajando para centralizar las verificaciones de antecedentes en la Oficina del Fiscal General de RI. El costo para completar y procesar estas verificaciones de antecedentes integrales es de $45 por persona ($40 por persona para una huella digital integral y $5 por persona para el BCI). Debido a la COVID-19, la industria del cuidado infantil ha experimentado enormes dificultades para conseguir personal que apoye los servicios de cuidado infantil en persona para los estudiantes más pequeños de RI. Con el fin de ayudar a los centros de cuidado infantil y hogares de cuidado infantil familiar a reclutar e incorporar personal de tiempo completo, el DHS ha estado trabajando con RIAG para eliminar las tarifas de verificación integral de huellas dactilares que se realizan en la oficina de RIAG en Cranston, Rhode Island. Esta exención comenzó en mayo de 2021 y estaba programada para el 30 de abril de 2023.
Seguimos entendiendo verdaderamente la crisis de personal en el sector del cuidado infantil y queremos asegurarnos de que no existan barreras importantes en materia de costos para la contratación de personal. RIAG continuará renunciando a todas las tarifas asociadas con la verificación integral de antecedentes del personal de cuidado infantil y redirigirá esos costos al DHS para reembolsarlos mediante facturas trimestrales durante 60 dias adicionales, hasta el 30 de juno de 2024.
El personal del centro de cuidado infantil, los proveedores de cuidado infantil familiar y los miembros del hogar aún deberán presentar una declaración jurada firmada por su empleador con licencia del DHS que valide su empleo antes de que RIAG procese la verificación integral de antecedentes. La declaración jurada firmada será la forma en que puede recibir una huella dactilar completa sin costo alguno. Si no tiene la declaración jurada, la oficina de RIAG no puede confirmar que usted es un empleado de cuidado infantil.
Un recordatorio importante sobre este proceso es que cuando complete sus huellas dactilares integrales sin costo en la oficina del AG, recibirá dos documentos separados que cuentan como parte de sus huellas dactilares integrales.
- Se le proporcionará su BCI local en tiempo real, que es una de las partes de su verificación de antecedentes completa y completa. Usted es responsable de asegurarse de que su empleador reciba una copia de este documento.
- Su verificación integral de antecedentes penales se proporcionará dentro de las 48 horas posteriores a su visita a la oficina del Fiscal General. Se enviará por correo electrónico a la dirección de correo electrónico que figura en la parte inferior de su declaración jurada y, si proporcionó un correo electrónico, también se lo enviaremos a usted. Esto abarca los elementos restantes para su completa autorización de antecedentes.
La tarifa por la exención de huellas dactilares solo se aplica en la oficina del Fiscal General. La policía local, a su discreción, continúa proporcionando huellas dactilares completas, pero esta exención de tarifa solo está disponible en la oficina de RIAG en Cranston, Rhode Island.
Como siempre, si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse con el Equipo de Licencias de Cuidado infantil al 401-462-3009 y al DHS.Childcarelicensing@dhs.ri.gov.
Gracias por su arduo trabajo continuo,
Nicole Chiello, Subdirectora, Oficina de Cuidado Infantil
Sarah Nardolillo, Administradora Asistente, Licencias de Cuidado Infantil
Noticias de RIDE
El formulario de interés de la lotería de prekínder de RI para 2024-25 ya está disponible. Los niños de RI que cumplan 4 años antes del 1 de septiembre de 2024 pueden ser elegibles para un asiento de prekínder GRATUITO. Regístrate para recibir una notificación cuando esté abierta la lotería de RI Pre-K.
RIDE anunció nuevos entrenamientos de RIELDS. Los entrenamientos en español empiezan este mes y los puedes encontrar en esta página.
Encuesta para proveedores de cuidado infantil familiar
DHS se está asociando con el Education Development Center (EDC) en un estudio de investigación que examina cómo los/as proveedores/as de cuidado infantil familiar (FCC) utilizan los fondos y otros apoyos del DHS y sus socios. El estudio también explora las experiencias generales de los/as proveedores/as de FCC en el manejo de sus programas. Como parte del estudio, el equipo de investigación creó esta encuesta para capturar las experiencias de los proveedores de FCC. Las respuestas a la encuesta se mantendrán confidenciales y solo se compartirán resúmenes con el DHS.
Responda esta encuesta para ayudar al equipo de investigación a comprender cómo ha utilizado estos apoyos y su experiencia como proveedor/a de la FCC. Quienes completen la encuesta recibirán una tarjeta de regalo de Amazon de $25 como agradecimiento.
Haga clic aquí para comenzar la encuesta a continuación: https://go.edc.org/FCC-Encuesta
Recursos para ti
- ¡Nuevo! Programa de Subvenciones para la Planificación de Instalaciones de Cuidado Infantil de LISC en 2024. Los solicitantes elegibles deben tener un registro activo en SAM.gov. Estas subvenciones de planificación son limitadas y se otorgarán en orden de llegada y de forma continua a los proyectos que califiquen. Si tiene interés en obtener una subvención de planificación, complete una solicitud de asistencia técnica para analizar más a fondo las necesidades de planificación de su instalación y su elegibilidad para este programa.
- El Gensis Center esta ofreciendo un curso gratis de ingles para proveedores de cuidado de niños. Para mas información y como aplicar: visite gencenter.org o envié un correo: info@gencenter.org, mbonilla@gencenter.org & ccuevas@gencenter.org; tel: (401) 781-6110.
- ¡Nuevo! Recursos en español • Multilingual Learning Toolkit – Kit de Herramientas de Aprendizaje Multilingüe.
- CCRI esta ofreciendo una Capacitación de aprendices del idioma inglés para futuros educadores de la primera infancia. Las clases empiezan el 24 de febrero.
- Empoderarla a Través de la Tecnología- CWE RI – En Persona: un taller de alfabetización digital diseñado para empoderar a las mujeres empresarias en su viaje digital. Adquiere las habilidades y herramientas necesarias para prosperar en la era digital, con orientación personalizada adaptada a tus necesidades empresariales.
- WhatsApp Business Para Su Negocio – CWE RI -Virtual: un taller sobre: Manejo de Whatsapp Business: instalación y herramientas; Marketing en Whatsapp Business: cómo crear tu propia estrategia; y Venta con Whatsapp Business: ejemplos de campañas, trucos y consejos.
- Un recurso para familias para interesar a los niños y sus familias en ciencias naturales: First 8 Studios: Ciencia Prescolar: Diviértete Aprendiendo Ciencia.
- Módulo de PBS Kids en español: Enseñando Ciencia temprana con la colección Changing Seasons (pbskids.org)
- LA FUERZA STEM – La Fuerza de Familias Latinas – un programa para fomentar la confianza entre los cuidadores de habla hispana que apoyan el aprendizaje de las ciencias en sus niños. También puede ver el video en YouTube: La Fuerza de Familias Latinas – YouTube.
- CELP ha preparado una Lista de verificación para un ambiente de descanso seguro para bebés.
- El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Rhode Island (DHS) está aceptando aplicaciones para el programa piloto de asistencia para cuidado infantil (CCAP) para el personal de cuidado infantil. Este es un programa piloto de un año que ofrece beneficios CCAP para subsidiar el costo del cuidado infantil para educadores y personal de educación infantil elegibles que trabajan en un programa de cuidado infantil con licencia del DHS. Se aceptarán solicitudes hasta el 31 de julio de 2024. Esta página de DHS tiene mas información: CCAP for Child Care Staff Pilot | RI Department of Human Services.
