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Greetings!
Welcome to the May issue of the ECAC Updates. May brings flowers, and the ECAC's work to advance and support early childhood is blossoming with new publications and activities. Whether you have been a subscriber from the beginning, or are receiving this newsletter for the first time, we look forward to having you as our reader. As always, please send comments and concerns to ecac@ccf.ny.gov. |
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ECAC Releases Core Body of Knowledge and Early Learning Guidelines
The ECAC is pleased to announce two new publications to guide the learning and development of young children in New York State and support the professionals who work with them: the revised Core Body of Knowledge(CBK) and the Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs). A great number of early childhood faculty, directors, and teachers across the state of New York helped to write and review these publications. The ECAC is deeply grateful for the expertise, passion, and wisdom each person contributed to this work!
The two publications were celebrated at this year's NYS Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC) conference. Amy Laura Dombro, who wrote the Introduction to the Early Learning Guidelines with the help of several teachers, spoke at the Plenary Session, where every conference attendee received copies of both books. Additional copies are being disseminated throughout the state now.
Together with the QUALITYstarsNY standards, these two publications advance the early childhood agenda by providing a comprehensive framework to ensure positive early experiences for young children. The three encompass: what developmental milestones children are expected to attain from birth to five (the ELGs), what teachers need to know and do to support young children's development (the CBK), and what programs need to do to provide quality experiences that promote children's development (QUALITYstarsNY).
The ECAC is planning to promote the early childhood field's understanding and use of the Core Body of Knowledge and the Early Learning Guidelines by developing:
- An online tool that will allow early learning and development trainers and providers to locate resources (video, websites, PDFs, etc.) that align with the CBK, the ELGs, and QUALITYstarsNY.
- A web-based tutorial for early childhood professionals to use as they further their ability to incorporate the content of the CBK and ELGs into their practice.
- A series of face-to-face learning modules for early learning and development professionals on using the CBK and ELGs.
In addition, the ECAC will be developing a parent version of the Early Learning Guidelines, thereby promoting a consistent understanding of children's development among all the important adults responsible for children's development and across all the settings in which children spend their time from birth to five. |
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QUALITYstarsNY Point System Now Available
The ECAC has begun implementation of QUALITYstarsNY, and has put another piece of the process in place. QUALITYstarsNY has now developed and published a point system which will be used to determine a participating program's rating. Programs receive points for meeting standards in four categories: Learning Environment, Family Engagement, Qualifications and Experience, Management and Leadership, with the maximum number of points for programs being 360.
For more information about the point structure, and examples of how points will be calculated, click here.
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Children's Mental Health Awareness Events Planned for Albany and Across New York State
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, May 7th - 11th, is a project of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to focus the nation's attention on the importance of children's positive mental health. To that end, SAMHSA is encouraging communities and states to create their own celebrations.
At the state level, the ECAC is a co-sponsor of: What's Great in Our State: A Celebration of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, scheduled for May 7th and 8th. Other co-sponsors include the Office of Mental Health, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - New York, Families Together in New York State, Early Care and Learning Council, and the Council on Children and Families. Events include:
- The national Invest in Us interactive exhibit - on display May 7th-8th on the first floor of the Legislative Office Building, and on Tuesday evening at the New York State Museum.
- Reception- Tuesday, May 8th, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the New York State Museum in Albany to celebrate and thank all in our State who support children's social-emotional health and well-being. Registration deadline has been extended to May 3rd. Click here to register.
- A press conference - scheduled for Tuesday, May 8th at 11 am in the LCA Room of the Legislative Office Building
For more information contact Jenn O'Connor at joconnor@scaany.org.
For more information on Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, and to view other activities occurring throughout the State, click here. |
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ECAC Members Corner
ECAC member Dr. Donna Noyes, along with Dr. Judith Lucas, a developmental pediatrician at Albany Medical Center, participated in a Public Health Live broadcast on Thursday, April 19, 2012 about early childhood development, developmental screening, and resources in New York State for referral if there is a concern. In case you missed it, the broadcast has been archived and is available here. |
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Thank you for your interest in the Early Childhood Advisory Council. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact me at: ecac@ccf.ny.gov.
Sincerely, |
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Regina Canuso
Project Manager
NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council
View our ECAC e-mail Newsletter Archive |
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