Governor Carney Announces Major Child Care Investments and Initiatives

DOVER, Del. – Governor Carney on Tuesday announced the administration’s child care priorities and investments for the coming year. As outlined in last week’s State of the State address, Delaware will continue to make child care policies and investments a priority.

 

The State will be taking the following actions to support, enhance, and expand child care quality and access this year:

 

  • Invest over $10 million to increase Purchase of Care rates to 100% of the 75th percentile of the 2021 market rate, to better support programs and children in need.
  • Pursue a policy change to expand applicant eligibility for Purchase of Care to 200% of the poverty level, to reach more children.
  • Double funding going to the Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) to $12.2 million, to serve more 3- and 4-year-olds, and provide programs with more resources.
  • Allocate funding for House Bill 33, to lower preschool special education student-teacher ratios.

 

Additionally, Delaware won an $8 million federal Preschool Development Grant, which will help the state be innovative in strengthening its early childhood infrastructure. For more information on Delaware’s grant, please visit the Delaware Department of Education’s website.

 

“We know how critical the early years are to a child’s success,” said Governor Carney. “We also know how important our child care providers are to our state. Today’s significant investments in Purchase of Care, ECAP, and our youngest learners with special needs are another step forward for child care in our state. I want to thank Lt. Governor Hall-Long and others for continuing to make child care a priority. And thank you to all of our child care providers for what you do every day.”

 

“Children are born ready to learn. By investing in our youngest learners we are preparing them for the most critical years of brain development and giving families the opportunity and support they need to thrive,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “As co-chair of the Delaware Early Learning Advisory Committee, I know that these investments directly target the key recommendations that we put forth. The data are clear; critical investments early in a child’s development lead to better academic and life outcomes as they mature. Giving children the foundation they need and empowering the workforce that cares for them strengthens our state’s economy and our future.”

 

“The State’s investments, policy changes, and Preschool Development Grant, when taken together, signify a historic investment in our youngest learners and their families,” said Secretary Mark Holodick and Secretary Molly Magarik of the Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, respectively. “From increasing Purchase of Care rates and expanding applicant eligibility, to better supporting our youngest learners with special needs, to a doubling of ECAP funding, to the Preschool Development Grant, Delaware is in position to make comprehensive change for the better.”

 

“Every child deserves to have nurturing interactions with caretakers from birth to adulthood, and the first five years of life leave an often-irreversible imprint that can set a child up to realize their fullest potential or leave them struggling to catch up developmentally,” said Senator Laura Sturgeon. “These investments will help us ensure that more Delaware children are given the chance to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.”

“For our youngest and most vulnerable learners, so much of their future academic success hinges on their experience in their earliest school years. By making these meaningful investments in our early education system, we can ensure our students get the services and interventions they need to set them on the right path,” said Representative Kim Williams. “I commend Governor Carney for recognizing the importance of quality early childhood learning and care and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to make this a reality for Delaware families and students.”

“Investments in early education are necessary to support working families and to promote early learning and literacy. By ensuring our most vulnerable families have access to child care, we move closer to providing an equitable start for all Delaware’s children,” said Senator Kyle Evans Gay. “But early education is also critical infrastructure, and these investments will support our economy and workforce. I applaud the Governor for his continued commitment to local economic success and making Delaware the best state to raise kids.”

 

“These new state and federal investments create exciting opportunities for Delaware to increase access to more families and improve the state rate for early care and education,” said Delaware Early Childhood Council chair Madeleine Bayard. “The funding will advance recommendations from the Delaware Early Childhood Council, which represents parents, community organizations, early educators, schools, and state agencies. We thank the Governor for his leadership and investments in Delaware’s workforce of today and workforce of tomorrow, and we are excited to work together to better serve new parents, early educators, and young children.”

 

“The administration has shown that family child care providers are essential to the Delaware workforce. We currently work 12-14 hour days to provide high-quality care and education to our children,” said Rhondalin Cannon-Tingle, family child care business owner and educator of Rhonda’s Little Angels Daycare & Preschool and Family Child Care Educator of the Year. “We desperately need increased POC rates and this additional Preschool Development Grant funding in our programs to continue to provide high-quality educational learning environments for all of our children.”

 

“These proposed investments in our state’s early care and education supports will bring Delaware in line with the federal recommendation, will enable child care providers to compete for workforce, and will ensure our most vulnerable children and families can access care,” said Jamie Schneider, President of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children. “During the pandemic, Governor Carney recognized that child care providers were essential workers, and took swift action to ensure that families had continued access to care. With his proposed budget, Gov. Carney is proving once again that he supports our youngest learners and their families.”

 


Affordable Technology Access for Lower Income Families – May 27th

National Hearing Assessment & Management Webinar.

On Thursday, May 27th, NCHAM will be hosting the webinar: “Discovering Affordable Technology Access for Families” Presented by: Tawny Holmes and Zainab Alkebsi.

Abstract/description:

An increasing number of EHDI resources are becoming “green” (paperless) or virtual, but that means families with limited access to internet may be left in the dust. This presentation will share immediately usable information about free or affordable technology access that is available to families with lower socio-economic status. This technology access is required/funded by the federal government, and often is not common knowledge among early intervention professionals. Did you know that families may be qualified for free or $10 a month wireless internet? Did you know that parents may qualify for a $10 a month cell phone bill? Free iPads? This company-neutral presentation by a national advocacy organization is strictly focused on providing information on all major telecommunications companies’ offers as mandated/provided by federal law. Come and learn more so you can support your families with teleintervention (including virtual learning, apps, webinars) and more wonderful electronic resources out there!

Learning Objectives:

· Parents and professionals will be able to list various avenues to receive affordable technology access.

· Participants will develop strategies for families to apply for technology access.

· Participants will locate relevant websites and companies where they can proceed with applications.

Presenters:

Tawny Holmes Hlibok is the Education Policy Counsel at the National Association of the Deaf along with being Assistant Professor in the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. She graduated from University of Baltimore School of Law. In addition to her law degree with a family mediation & law certification, she has a Master of Arts in Family Centered Early Education. Ms. Holmes has worked three years in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students, mainly in the early childhood education field. As part of her position, she focuses on improving/establishing federal and state policy related to early intervention and education of deaf and hard of hearing children. Ms. Holmes strongly believes in the power of collaboration and has contributed a significant amount of her work towards this endeavor, in varying ways, from promoting parent resources to inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing adult professionals.

Zainab Alkebsi, Esq. is the Policy Counsel at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). She is responsible for providing analysis, recommendations, and counsel to the NAD on policy issues affecting people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Prior to joining the NAD, she served as Deputy Director at the Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing where she coordinated the office’s legislative and policy efforts. Licensed to practice law in Maryland, she is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. She received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She also has a B.A. in Political Science from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

Webinar date: May 27, 2021

Webinar start times (by time zone)

· 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT

· 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MT

· 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CT

· 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Where: Adobe Connect- to register click

http://infanthearing.org/webinars/2021/discovering-affordable-technology-access-for-families.html

Download the adobeconnect app.

For Windows: http://www.adobe.com/go/Connectsetup

For Mac: http://www.adobe.com/go/ConnectSetupMac

More download information is found at: https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-connect/connect-downloads-updates.html

Note: If your institution does not permit you to add the above link, you may go to the above URL directly, however, we have been advised that optimal performance is achieved via the app.

Live captioning will also be provided.

This webinar will be recorded and posted online at www.infanthearing.org about a week after the webinar. There are no CEU’s offered for the webinar.

If you have questions about this webinar, please contact Mandy Jay . For technical assistance during the webinar, please contact Daniel Ladner.


Navigating The New Normal

The Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DEAEYC) is holding a Virtual Conference June 19 – 29, 2021. This online training offers training sessions on Trauma-Informed Care, Anti-Bias in the Classroom, Conscious Discipline, Advocacy Training and so much more.

This year’s Keynote Speaker is Sonia Manzano “Maria” from Sesame Street will be speaking about “Building Resilience the Sesame Street Way.”

Pre-Admission costs (expire June 18)

Non-Member admission is $50

Admission ticket cost for NAEYC Members is $40 (Ends June 19)

Membership to the DEAEYC and Conference Admission $100  (Those who register before June 10 will receive a t-shirt).

Becoming a member of the DEAEYC allows you the ability to become part of a professional organization that promotes quality in early education for Delaware but also gives you a voice in improving early childhood education in your community, as well as around the country.

For More information https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-the-new-normal-2021-early-childhood-education-conference-tickets-153517461861 


Governor Markell Highlights Race to the Top Progress

Outlines key priorities to keep education system moving forward

Wilmington, DE – Marking the recent four year anniversary of Delaware placing first in the federal Race to the Top education funding competition, Governor Markell today detailed the impact of the state’s efforts to give students the best possible opportunity to succeed in college and career in the 21st century economy.

Additional excerpts from Markell’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are pasted below. Video will be available on the Governor’s YouTube page.

“Four years later, because of [our Race to the Top] plan, we’re making progress,” said Markell, who spoke before the state’s P-20 Council, an organization designed to align Delaware’s education efforts across all grade levels, from early childhood through higher education. “Delaware’s teachers and students are getting support to address our challenges now, and we have a built a foundation that allows our schools to continue to improve for the next generation.”

Among the trends showing recent improvements in Delaware’s schools, Markell noted that:

  • The state’s dropout rate hit a 30-year low at 2.9 percent.
  • More top teachers are staying in Delaware and remaining in schools with a high proportion of high-need students.
  • More struggling schools are showing improvement, with about one in five making double-digit gains in the percentage of students reaching their growth targets.
  • More students are taking AP courses and passing AP tests.
  • And more students are applying to college, including many who would not have considered the possibility of college in the past, despite their qualifications.

Delaware has received more than $100 million in federal grant funding as a result of the high quality plan the state submitted to U.S. Department of Education detailing ways to address key challenges. The initiatives directly supported by Race to the Top have been complemented by additional state and federal grant funding to increase access to quality early childhood programs and create world language immersion programs, while the Administration has worked with the General Assembly to pass legislation to improve teacher preparation programs.

Markell outlined ways in which teachers and students are receiving more support now than four years ago and described foundation changes to the education system that will make a difference for decades to come.

Highlights of Investments in Teachers

  • Better insight into the performance of their students through the development of a world-class data system
  • Training for educators and administrators to help them use data most effectively
  • Summer institutes programs focused on supporting teachers with Advanced Placement curriculums.
  • Support for state’s transition to Common Core Standards
  • Increased feedback through upgrades teacher evaluation system

Highlights of Investments in Students

  • Overhauled statewide assessment to better measure progress toward college and career readiness
  • Academic “interventionists” and “deans” used by Districts to provide targeted counseling to students struggling with academic and life issues that are interfering with their success in school.
  • Increased opportunities in STEM education, like in the Brandywine School District, which has renovated lab spaces
  • Special programs for freshman to help them adjust to the academic and cultural rigors of high school before integrating with older students.
  • Improved access to college through free statewide schoolday SAT and help with application process

Moving forward, Markell said effective implementation of the Common Core State Standards would be the most significant immediate work to improve opportunities for students. He said he also hoped to provide schools more flexibility to use state funding for innovative ideas and reiterated his proposal to make changes to the teacher compensation system to raise starting salaries, while rewarding educators for showing leadership, particularly in high need schools.

“Many have asked what will happen when states no longer can count on an infusion of millions of federal dollars to carry out a grand plan,” said Markell. “But that view misses the point of what this work has been all about. We have created lasting change because now that we’ve strengthened the foundation of our system, we can maintain our progress at a fraction of the cost.

“It is almost impossible to imagine how we would have given our schools the resources and opportunities to meet the increasing challenges of our world without the foundational changes that resulted from the efforts of the past four years – all driven in some way by the plan that won the Race to the Top competition. Without this work, we’d still be a generation behind.”

Additional Excerpts from Governor Markell Remarks to P-20 Council

April 7, 2014

As Prepared for Delivery

Teachers in Delaware’s schools today have resources that were not available before to help them make the biggest possible difference in the classroom. We’ve given them better insight into the performance of their students through the development of our world-class data system, and offered training to our educators and administrators to help them use it productively…

We’ve invested heavily in our teachers because we know that when they are at the top of their games, students succeed. But we’ve also supported our kids directly…

From the time they enter our public schools, our students are held to higher expectations. We overhauled our statewide assessment to better measure their progress toward college and career readiness, and we’ll take the next step in this upgrade next year, when we align our assessments to the Common Core. To reach their potential, every student can benefit from some extra help somewhere along the way. Academic and attendance “interventionists” in Capital School District, and “academic deans” in Red Clay, have provided targeted counseling to students struggling with academic and life issues that are interfering with their success in school. And we have improved afterschool and summer programs, and expanded childhood opportunities like Indian River Project V.I.L.L.A.G.E. that provides resources for E-L-L students and their families…

Districts like Caesar Rodney has established ninth Grade Success Academies where freshman attend a special “school-within-a-school” so they can adjust to the academic and cultural rigors of high school before integrating with older students. And our students have access to more advanced placement courses to challenge themselves…

Even with all of these efforts, we only fulfill our responsibility to our young people if we ensure they have the resources to transition to their next steps and to be ready for a world in which so many of the jobs they want require more than a high school education…

In partnership with the College Board, we sent packets of information to all college-ready students in Delaware.  All low-income students received application fee waivers, and high-achieving low-income students received a letter from all of the Ivy League institutions, MIT and Stanford, inviting them to apply. We followed up on those mailings with extensive outreach efforts – including opportunities for students to write essays and fill out college applications during the school day…

I have no illusions about the hard work that remains, but we should be proud of the progress we have seen so far and we have concrete signs that the policies funded by Race to the Top are working. More of our students are staying on track. This year, the state’s dropout rate hit a 30-year low at 2.9 percent. And fewer of our ninth graders are falling behind, which means they are more likely to graduate high school and persist into higher education. More of our top teachers are staying in Delaware and remaining in schools where our students need them the most. More of our struggling schools are showing improvement, with about one in five making double-digit gains in the percentage of students reaching their growth targets. More of our students are taking AP courses and passing AP tests. And more are applying to college. Many students who would not have considered the possibility of college in the past, despite their qualifications, have applied this year.

 

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Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Announcing Enhancements to Early Childhood Programs


We can’t wait for kindergarten to start preparing our children for success. Ninety percent of their brain development happens by age five and quality early care results in better educated, healthier, and more productive adults. That’s why we’ve made access to high quality early childhood programs a top priority, by setting standards for what it means to be a top program and helping our best centers serve families that can’t afford to attend. Our investments are paying off.

Last year alone, the number of low-income Delaware children attending a high quality program increased by 50 percent. That’s 2,200 more children served here at St. Michael’s and at other great centers across the state. Those kids are expanding their vocabulary, solving problems, and entering kindergarten ready to flourish. But we can do better for thousands more kids and their families.

I’m announcing enhancements that will help more early childhood programs receive high ratings and make it easier for disadvantaged kids to get the best care. Through federal grant money, four and five star programs will receive higher reimbursements for the cost of serving those kids. Recognizing our children’s development starts the day they’re born, these programs will receive additional funds for the increased staff necessary to work with infants. This funding comes with more accountability. To earn top ratings, programs will be asked to meet more specific criteria – like a high level of staff training.

We’ve heard from providers about the resources they need to meet high standards, so we’re increasing the assistance that’s most helpful. Our children are our future. By giving them the best opportunity to learn and develop from the beginning, we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.