- Website Update
- Support During COVID-19 for On-Site Assessment
- CLASS Updates
- Finding Success in PQA and CLASS
- What to Expect During the Rating Process
- Meet Our Team
- Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Procurement Pilot Mini-Grant
|
|
Great Start to Quality Website Update |
|
In August, the Great Start to Quality website will get a makeover. We are working to refresh the images, content, and make navigation a bit easier and more accessible based on your feedback. We are also working to improve the child care search function for families. Look forward to seeing our new site next month!
|
|
Support During COVID-19 for On-Site Assessment |
|
Many adjustments have been made to the on-site assessment process to better support the program’s needs and maintain safety during observations since the COIVD-19 pandemic began. Throughout the process our top priority has been to ensure the children and staff we visit in child care programs across the state, and our Assessors, stay safe and limit the potential spread of COVID-19. As such, we continue to follow guidance from public health officials which includes but is not limited to the following procedures.
- Assessors will sanitize all materials brought into the program, wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, and sit or stand away from children and staff as much as possible.
- Wearing a mask is optional for Assessors, whether they are vaccinated or not. As a visitor in your program, the Assessor is happy to follow the policies you have in place related to COVID-19, such as wearing a mask or completing a health screening.
- Assessors who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated and are showing no symptoms.
- Assessors will ask additional questions about what has changed in the program or routine and will take this into account while scoring rows in the Program Quality Assessment (PQA).
-
These scoring accommodations will be in effect until September 30, 2021. Beginning on October 1, 2021, all programs will need to meet the rows in the PQA in order to earn credit as scoring accommodations will no longer be made unless stricter guidance is issued prior to that time.
|
|
As a reminder, registration for both training options for our upcoming GSQ and CLASS Overview is occurring. Please use the links below to select your training preference and register in MiRegistry. Please send forward any questions to assessment@ecic4kids.org
Both sessions are the same, please select one that works best for your schedule.
Be sure to continue to check our “CLASS will Replace PQA” webpage for the latest information and resources. We recently shared a link to a useful document to share with families in your setting to help explain CLASS.
|
|
Finding Success in PQA and CLASS |
|
As we prepare for the transition to CLASS, you may be wondering, how can I do well on the PQA now but still prepare for CLASS? One of the best ways to do this is to think about where the tools align which happens with adult-child interactions. You can think about the items in the adult-child interactions section of the PQA as a foundation for interactions and CLASS will build on those concepts and encourage you to improve them even more.
One of the most important adult-child interactions we see in PQA and CLASS is related to having conversations with children and asking open-ended questions. To help you do well on these items in the PQA and to begin to prepare for CLASS, you can access the E-book: All About Open-Ended Questions. This is a free resource from Teachstone about generating meaningful conversations and asking children to reflect and respond. In this e-book, you will learn how to ask open-ended questions, tips to help children answer these questions, and other important aspects of the CLASS tool.
Have questions? We are here to help! Reach out to the Assessment Team any time at assessment@ecic4kids.org for additional support and guidance.
|
|
What to Expect During the Rating Process |
|
Over the years, we have had providers and programs tell us that they are nervous to experience the validation call and on-site assessment. Below you will find some helpful information about both processes.
-
Before submitting the Self-Assessment Survey, review the Employees Tab to see that all staff have connected to the Organization Profile and have submitted for MiRegistry Membership.
-
Only Qualifications and Professional Development verified through the MiRegistry membership process will count towards the Self-Assessment Survey for Great Start to Quality beginning January 1, 2022.
- Ensure that all staff have connected to the Organization Profile with the correct position title, it is important to note that if the individual has more than one role (i.e. Director and Lead Teacher) each role must be added separately.
- Organizations can begin working on the Self-Assessment Survey while the MiRegistry membership process is taking place.
- Programs hesitant to have an on-site assessment should move forward because they have nothing to lose but a lot to gain.
- If a program does not have an on-site assessment, they will publish at a 3 Star. If they have an on-site assessment and don’t do well, they will publish at a 3 Star. Since it cannot lower the rating to move forward, programs might as well move forward.
- Most programs are a 4 Star (many a 5 Star) the very first time they have an on-site assessment.
- Following the on-site assessment, programs received an action-oriented summary report as a guide for improving quality. The summary report lists the requirements needed to achieve a high-quality score as well as examples of how to meet those requirements.
|
|
Get to Know the Validators and Assessors |
|
Over the next few issues, we will introduce you to one team member from both the Validation and Assessment Teams. |
|
Angeliek Lopez, Validator |
Angeliek F. Lopez became a Great Start to Quality Validator in 2017 where she focuses on ensuring the integrity of the Great Start to Quality rating system by reviewing the evidence submitted by programs and providers as a part of their Self-Assessment Survey.
Ms. Lopez has worked in the early childhood field since 2003 and previously owned a Licensed Group Child Care, a Spanish Immersion, Reggio Emilia program.
Ms. Lopez received her Bachelor of Arts in Family Community Services specializing in development from conception until 18 years of age and a Health Specialization from Michigan State University.
|
|
|
|
|
Lisa Bremer became a Great Start to Quality Assessor in January 2017. Her current work is focused on conducting on-site observations based on the Program Quality Assessment (PQA) tools for the Great Start to Quality rating system.
Ms. Bremer has worked in the education field on and off for the past 22 years.
Ms. Bremer received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education specializing in Early Childhood Education from Western Michigan University, graduating with honors. Ms. Bremer is a certified reliable Assessor.
|
|
Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Procurement Pilot Mini-Grant |
|
Looking to continue or expand farm to ECE at your site? Apply for a farm to ECE Procurement Pilot grant!
PURPOSE of Procurement Pilots
Farm to ECE procurement pilots will help ECE staff obtain locally-grown, healthy foods from a variety of sources – farmers, farmers markets, food hubs and/or distributors - to serve in meals, snacks, and/or educational activities. Through these pilots, we seek to develop collective local food sourcing solutions driven by the unique needs and goals of each community. One example of this is creating clusters of institutional buyers to increase buying power, in part for the benefit of smaller ECE sites. MSU Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) will support procurement pilots in W.K. Kellogg Foundation priority communities of Battle Creek, Detroit, and Grand Rapids.
BENEFITS of Participating
Staff from ECE sites (partners) who choose to engage in these procurement pilots will receive:
- Up to $1000 mini-grant (see specific funding parameters with application)
- Access to online self-assessments using Go NAP SACC and the opportunity to set and track goals for their site;
- Farm to ECE training on local food procurement, with professional development credits available through the MI Registry;
- Technical assistance from a team comprised of community and state partners;
- Invitations to networking events and community meetings; and
- Farm to ECE resources, including a local food procurement guide.
ELIGIBILITY and EXPECTATIONS of Participating
Eligible ECE sites include family-based sites, child care centers, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Early Head Start, Head Start, private preschools and/or public preschools within a school district. Funding priority will go towards sites located in Battle Creek, Detroit, and Grand Rapids. Sites must provide care for children ages birth through age five. Sites may not be limited to after school care. Programs do not have to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) but may receive training and technical assistance to do so as part of the participation in the pilot.
|
|
Great Start to Quality on Facebook |
|
Great Start to Quality is on Facebook! Like and follow our page to get the latest updates for you and resources to share with your colleagues and families.
|
|
Like Us on Facebook for More Updates: |
|
If you are thinking about how to maintain or continue making quality improvements, or if you’re ready to learn more and need help, contact your local Great Start to Quality Resource Center by calling 1-877-614-7328 or visit www.greatstarttoquality.org.
|
|
Funding from the Office of Great Start within the Michigan Department of Education supports the implementation of Great Start. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
