BrightStars Reaches Milestone 50 Programs; Awards Over $50,000 in Cash Bonuses to Centers and Family Homes
Over 50 child care programs across Rhode Island now participate in BrightStars, and many more programs are in the application process.
The Rhode Island Department of Human Services supports BrightStars programs by providing cash incentives and quality bonuses for quality improvement activities. To date, over $50,000 in quality bonus funds have been awarded to BrightStars programs. Funds have been used for classroom materials, outdoor equipment, staff training and development, and more.
BrightStars is also happy to announce a new partnership with Ready to Learn Providence. R2LP is now supporting participating BrightStars programs in identifying quality improvement goals and developing action plans.
Interested in learning more about BrightStars? We're happy to answer any questions by phone at (4010) 398-7605 or email info@BrightStars.org. |
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RIAEYC Named to Rhode Island Early Learning Council
RIAEYC Director, Tammy Camillo, was appointed by Governor Carcieri to participate on the Rhode Island Early Learning Council.
The letter of invitation from Governor Carcieri explains the role of the Council.
"Rhode Island must continue to strengthen its early education system for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to better prepare them for entry to Kindergarten. I therefore am pleased to announce the establishment of the Rhode Island Early Learning Council, structured according to the provisions of the federal 2007 Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act...The Rhode Island Early Childhood Council will build on the work of the Successful Start Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Committee and will provide an important mechanism for reducing the existing fragmentation across our current early care and education systems and programs. It will seek to align resources to support high quality early care and education services to young children, and to improve coordination and collaboration among multiple agencies, organizations, and programs."
The Council will be co-chaired by Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist and Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.
The Council will meet quarterly, with its first meeting to occur later this month.
RIAEYC looks forward to sharing news and updates about the Council's work with our members and the greater early childhood community. Stay tuned! |
State Team Brings National Infant-Toddler Training to RI
RIAEYC is pleased to be a member of the RI state team trained to deliver Supporting Consultants Working with Early Care and Education Settings Serving Infants and Toddlers training.
This new resource was developed by professionals representing the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative at Zero to Three, with funding from the Child Care Bureau. It is designed for use by infant and toddler consultants and those who supervise infant and toddler care providers.
The three modules that make up the training can be read and used as an informational resource. The modules are posted on the RIAEYC website.
Directors and supervisors discuss the modules | RIAEYC, in collaboration with the RI Training and Technical Assistance Center, is hosting a 3-part reflective reading discussion group this summer. The group is comprised of directors and/or supervisors from BrightStars and Early Head Start programs. This group is reading and discussing the resource and how it relates to their practice as supervisors of infant and toddler care providers. |
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Tri-Town Community Action Gets NAEYC Accreditation
 Tri-Town CAA
Burrillville Head Start
1126 Hartford Avenue, Johnston |
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Report: Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters
On Wednesday, June 2, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, a national KIDS COUNT Special Report, at a policy roundtable attended by over 50 community leaders. The report highlights that:  millions of American children reach fourth grade without learning to read proficiently
- low state standards mask the extent of America's low reading proficiency
- getting more young children to read proficiently is no mission impossible
- this is the right time to take on the challenge of dramatically increasing the number of children who read proficiently
The report also contains state-by-state data, highlights factors that undermine reading proficiency, recognizes that gaps begin at birth and issues a call to action for government leaders, community leaders, schools and families. View photos from the event and read the article by Linda Borg in The Providence Journal. |
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Summer Safety Tip: Water Play in Child Care
Water play offers wonderful developmental learning opportunities. However, early educators must control the risks of drowning and spread of infection from contaminated water.
Preventing bad germs from spreading through contact with water requires vigilance. Recreational Water Illnesses or RWIs increase when children play in communal water. In May 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the results of pool inspections in 15 public health jurisdictions. The study found that child care pools had higher levels of pool closures than pools in any other setting.
The CDC warns against use of portable pools in child care settings: "The larger number of children from different families in child care settings and schools can increase the risk for spreading RWIs...allowing larger numbers of children from different families to use these pools is likely to increase the risk of spreading diarrheal illnesses."
Using sprinklers outdoors and free-flowing tap water in water tables reduces the risks of drowning and spread of recreational water illnesses during water play in group care settings. For more information, go to the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/topics/.
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Resources for Families: Summertime Fun & Learning
 The RI After School Plus Alliance recently published Summer Learning: Education & Fun Beyond the Classroom. The two-page guide is available in English and Spanish and includes summer activities for kids and families in the areas of reading, math, science, and nature education.
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The Summer Reading Program 2010 at the Providence Public Library will run from June 28 - August 23. This year, the library is kicking off a brand new program -- FamilyREAD -- to encourage kids of all ages and their families to read, learn and have fun together during the summer months. Sign up for this program beginning June 28 at the Library or call 455-8025 to speak with a children's librarian. In collaboration with Children's Friend, the library is hosting a Summer Reading Kickoff Event at the Knight Memorial Library on Tuesday, June 29 from 2:30-4:00pm. For more information call (401) 467-2625 ext. 3. |
Research Roundup: Nurture...Nature...Nuture...
Early Experiences, Gene Expression and Long-Term Development The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child offers a summary of recent scientific evidence and confirms the importance of early experiences in shaping developing brain architecture in a new working paper, Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development. This working paper also illustrates the gap between growing scientific research and policy decisions with four examples. It suggests the need for public policies to be informed by science in order to adequately address the needs of young children and generate long-term benefits to society.
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Study Finds Young Children with Autism Use Different Brain RegionsThe Wall Street Journal reports that researchers scanning the brains of sleeping babies say autistic children as young as 14 months of age use different brain regions than more normally developing children. In typically developing babies, both the right and left temporal areas of the brain were active but in autistic children, the left temporal area, which deals with language, was far less active. While only 43 children were in the study sample, it appears to confirm why poor language comprehension is a red flag for autism in young children. Click here to read the article.
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... Community Postings ...
Job Postings...
Brown/Fox Point ECEC Preschool Teacher
Brown/Fox Point Early Childhood Education Center, 150 Hope St., seeks to hire at least one outstanding preschool teacher to work M-F 9-5. This position is a full-time, temporary position lasting through October 29, 2010. Opportunities for extended or permanent positions may be determined in the future. The position starts immediately. Brown/Fox Point is an NAEYC-accredited, BrightStars-rated preschool and kindergarten committed to high quality education and an anti-bias emergent curriculum. Our teachers receive support for their professional advancement in a caring, diverse work environment that respects all members of our community. Applicants must read our website carefully: http://www.brownfoxpoint.org. Only those applicants who have reviewed our philosophy and mission on our website and who take children's safety, dignity, and well-being very seriously need apply. Applicants must submit a resume, three references, a BCI fingerprint letter, and a cover letter that explains why Brown/Fox Point and you are a good match. Applications can be sent to 150 Hope Street Providence RI 02906, faxed to 401.633.6265, or emailed to info@brownfoxpoint.org. No phone calls please.
Discounts...
Job Lot Educator Partnership Program
Get 30% Off Your Classroom Supplies including binders, labels, pencils easels, paper, and many more. The Educator Partnership Program participants receive 30% off the purchase of eligible classroom supplies, up to $1,000 per transaction, at all Job Lot stores between 8/8/2010 and 8/29/2010. Click here for more information about the program or call David Sarlitto at (401) 295-2672 Ext. 2884 or Jon Shaw at (401) 295-2672 Ext. 2907.
NAEYC members save 20% off all resources on the online store. Visit the online store to begin taking advantage of your member savings today!
Kaplan Early Learning Company
Kaplan is offering a 17% Discount and Free UPS Shipping on orders over $200. Please use code 18106 when placing your order. The offer expires 7/16/10. Also, please feel free to contact Dave Kulick from Kaplan, at 1-800-334-2014 ext. 5240/Cell: 860-460-2350 or dkulick@kaplanco.com for more information. ______________________________________________________________
Submit your news, announcements, and items of interest. Items received by the 10th of the month will be included in that month's publication.
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The mission of RIAEYC is to support professionals in their work by promoting quality education and the healthy development of children birth through eight. | |
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Upcoming Events
Summer Reading Kickoff Event June 29, 2:30pm
Knight Library
Providence, RI
July 4th Holiday
Monday, July 5
RIAEYC office closed
July 12, 2:30pm
State House
Providence, RI |
To view all
meetings & events, visit
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