1. WV Pre-k and Child Care Partnerships
WV DHHR, Division of Early Care & Education

2. Timelines 2012-2013 full implementation
Full participation is estimated to be between 75-80% of the eligible children

3. Why Consider Participation?
Statewide
’05-’06 enrollment – 8,942
projected four year old population – 21,106
Unmet need at 80%- 9,744

4. Why Consider Participation?
Where are those children now?
Where will they be?
What impact will there be on your center?

5. What can child care offer?
Inclusive of all children
Facilities/equipment/expertise for young children
Continuity of care, extended day/ year care for families

6. What can child care offer?
Families and children are already connected and have relationships
Expanded period of time for learning
Food service
Transportation does not need to be provided

7. What can child care offer?
With help of LEA, a qualified staff can be hired through the child care center, without factoring into professional positions for LEA
Parental choice

8. Benefits of Child Care Involvement
Raises credibility and provides validation for the child care center
Opportunity to enhance quality programming
Access to additional resources
Provides access to additional professional development
Opportunity to increase teacher salaries

9. Think Strategically
What does it mean to child care to be involved in the WV Pre-k?

10. Programmatic Differences
Structural Orientations –
Child care provides education as well as care but on an extended and more flexible schedule
Public education is oriented to “education” with a consistent schedule, they provide care also but is not the main focus

11. WVBE Policy 2525
All pre-k programs in public schools, including preschool special needs, and any contracted community program must follow this policy

12. Policy 2525
First in effect Feb. 12, 2003
Revised and adopted Aug. 14, 2005
Several revisions with input from a large collaborative group
Revisions this fall/winter

13. §126-28-4 Parents as Partners
Two Face to face conferences
Documented methods of communication
Meaningful involvement
Transition and inclusion supports
Decision-making

14. §126-28-5 Attendance Enrollment is voluntary
Children can only be dis-enrolled with the consent of parent, teacher, and principal if deemed in the best interest of the child
Once enrolled children follow attendance polices
Attendance is not part of the LEA’s OEPA Monitoring

15. §126-28-5 Attendance- Implications
County collaborative policy on procedures for attendance/ tardiness/ dis-enrollment
Must follow WV Code § for removal from classroom ( IE- financial or behavior)
Options
Advance discussions/ contractual agreement on how to handle

16. §126-28-5 Attendance- Implications
Expectation that children attend consistently and on time
Increased expectations from child care attendance that may vary from parent work schedules

17. §126-28-6 Collaboration and the County Plan
All counties must submit a plan for approval
Review team; makes approval recommendation; and provides county specific feedback

18. §126-28-6 Collaboration and the County Plan
Secretary of WV DHHR receives the approval/non-approval recommendations and accepts or rejects
WV State Board of Education reviews the Secretary's actions and the recommendations for approval/non-approval

19. County Collaborative Planning Team
The county plan is to be developed by a team that includes core partners:
Public School Preschool
Public School Preschool Special Needs
Licensed Child Care Center(s)
Head Start
Local DHHR
Parent

20. County Collaborative Planning Team
The county planning team can also include:
WV Birth to Three
CCR&R’s
FRN’s
ACDS
Starting Points
Business

21. Child Care Core Partner
Elected by the licensed child care in county
Core partner is designated in order to have one person sign
Represent all child care interests
Encourage other centers to attend in addition to core partner
Critical to attend meetings

22. Child Care Core Partner
Seek out CCR & R and local WV DHHR CSM or representative for support
Questions or problems contact ECE Division WV DHHR
Sign plan to indicate agreement – feel comfortable that child care was adequately supported and is involved
State in letter concerns

23. Maximization of Resources
Must collaborate with existing community programs within the county before opening new LEA only classrooms- unless partners do not exist or choose not to participate
50% of classrooms in community programs
Counties must explore all feasible supports to enable child care to participate

24. Maximization of Resources
Impact Study
Purpose to determine impact on community programs for any proposed classroom
Preference of personal contact to complete – during a team meeting; individual or phone contact

25. Changes to Plan
All changes of substance must be submitted with signatures of all the collaborative partners for approval to the Secretary of the WVDHHR and WVBE 30 days prior to implementation of changes.

26. Contractual Agreements
Contract and budget must be submitted for each collaborative community classroom to WVDE Early Childhood Coordinator by July 15 of each year.
Negotiate and analyze each area of policy to establish expectations between the partners – resources, oversight, and how the quality standards will be managed.

27. Contracts- Implications
Be sure you are clear on all aspects
What oversight activities will there be?
How will resources be distributed and who decides how they will be spent?
If an LEA teacher is placed in the center what on-site oversight is there?
What happens when a teacher is ill or needs to be out?

28. §126-28-8 Personnel Standards
Qualifying certification/ endorsement
Early education
Prek-K endorsement
Birth to Five
Preschool Special Needs

29. §126-28-8 Personnel Standards Teacher Permits
Individuals without qualifying certification/ endorsement may be eligible for a permit up to five years, annual renewal:
Educational requirements per § plus 25% of required coursework for qualifying certification as defined by the higher education institution in which they are enrolled.
Annual minimum of 6 credit hours towards qualifying certification/endorsement

30. §126-28-8 Personnel Standards Teacher Permits
Annual Permit for up to five years for persons with degrees in:
Elementary Education
Child and Family Studies/Early Childhood or Child Development

31. §126-28-8 Personnel Standards Teachers – Community Programs
Community Programs can allow for following degrees to work towards certification:
Board of Regents
Specialization in Early Childhood
Associate on Child Development & 1 yr experience
Associate in Occupational Development & 1 yr experience
Emphasis on Child Development

32. Assistance in Obtaining Permit
WV Department of Education
Nathan Estel
Verification of 25% Coursework or enrollment in college – Higher Education Institution
County Board of Education

33. §126-28-8 Personnel Standards Implications
Options in Community Programs-
Center may employ a teacher with qualifying certification – consider salary enhancement
Center may employ a “permitable” teacher
LEA may place a teacher in the center
Clarify in contract how qualifying teacher absences will be covered

34. §126-28-9 Regulation of Facilities
Core set of health and safety standards that align with the child care licensing and Head Start Performance Standards are imbedded in WVBE Policy 2525
Differing governance
Child care centers must be licensed; private preschools must meet licensing standards

35. §126-28-9 Regulation of Facilities
No more than 20 children enrolled per classroom
1 adult : 10 children

36. §126-28-9 Regulation of Facilities Implications
Enrollment of Pre-k classroom cannot exceed 20 children
Enrollment must be stable for designated WV Pre-k hours
Financial implications should be considered when negotiating contract

37. §126-28-10 Standards for Preparing Students - Early Learning Standards Framework (ELSF)
ELSF provides the content standards and objectives for pre-k classrooms( WVBE Policy )
ELSF effective June 1, 2004
ELSF part of President Bush’s Good Start, Grow Smart program (CCDF Funds)

38. §126-28-11 Curricular Frameworks and Assessments
Requires Approved Curricular Framework and Assessment systems be used in WV Pre-k classrooms

39. §126-28-11 Curricular Frameworks and Assessments
Creating Child-Centered Classrooms: 3-5 Yr Olds (1997; 2000 reprint)
Assessment system under development
The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool (2002) Fourth Edition
The Creative Curriculum Developmental Assessment System (2001)
Educating Young Children (2002), Second Edition
Preschool Child Observation Record COR 2nd Edition (2003)

40. §126-28-11 Curricular Frameworks and Assessments
Required Companion Resources
Creating Inclusive Classrooms (1999)
Learning to Read and Write Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children (2000)

41. §126-28-11 Curricular Frameworks and Assessments- Implications
Every WV Pre-k Classroom:
Must be using an approved curricular framework and accompanying assessment
Curriculum and Assessment is time consuming – teachers need planning time
Teacher time considered in planning/ negotiations

42. §126-28-12 Transition and Continuity
The goal is high quality care and education in every setting
It is important to consider the child within the family context
Minimize the number of settings in which a child receives care and education

43. §126-28-12 Transition and Continuity- Implications
Intention is that children being served naturally in the child care should continue at the child care and receive quality WV Pre-k in their regular classroom to minimize transition and provide continuity.

44. §126-28-13 Inclusive Environments
No segregation on the basis of socioeconomic level, ability, and/or funding streams
Fully inclusive classrooms provide individual services and programming for all children.

45. §126-28-14 Staff Development and Training
15 hours annually on high quality programming for four year olds; 6 on inclusive environments
Follow the WV STARS process
30 hrs of curriculum training over a 24 month period.
Participation with county collaborative to receive

46. § Program Oversight
Local oversight designed through county planning teams
Part of collaborative contracts
Be very clear and upfront with the LEA on classroom oversight
Clear on oversight of LEA employed teacher

47. § Financing
16.2 If programs are part of the collaborative county plan and provide education services to eligible children that can be counted in the county school aid funding formula, those services must be provided at no cost to the parent/guardian of the children. In collaborative settings, WV Pre-k is considered an enhancement to the program and parents shall not be charged additional costs for the enhanced services.

48. §126-28-16 Financing- Implications
Operating Expenses for WV Pre-K
Parent Tuition
Tuition reduction based on supporting LEA resources
Payment of set rate per child/ per day by LEA
Resources that offset other costs
Tuition charges for before and after based on supporting LEA resources
Judy Olson and Lynn Wallace

49. §126-28-16 Financing- Implications
Operating Expenses for WV Pre-K
Parent Tuition
Tuition policy of full day/week payment with Pre-k being an enhancement to the existing program

50. §126-28-16 Financing- Implications
Options for Operating Expenses for WV Pre-K- Child Care Subsidy
May continue to receive subsidy payment based on defined conditions:
Licensed child care center; at least 10 hours per day
Child must be eligible and only for approved hours

51. §126-28-16 Financing- Implications
Options for Operating Expenses for WV Pre-K- Child Care Subsidy
Payments received from LEA are to be considered as support to enhancement of program, and not to cover basic cost of care.
Parents cannot be charged the fee during WV Pre-k hours
Use center to maximum extent possible
Process to insure sign in/out procedures alert the center to times child may attend Pre-k but not eligible for subsidy

52. § Financing
Children in a contractual classroom in a child care center are enrolled in WVDE WVEIS system and are counted for the LEA to receive school aid funding formula.
School aid funding formula is generally paid a year behind.
Counties considered “growth” counties can receive a % of the funding during the school year

53. § Financing
Centers and LEA work collaboratively to determine what resources each will provide
Approach collaboration with what center has to offer vs what will center gain
Budgets are reflected on the WV Pre-k Contractual Community Programs FTE Calculations Form
FTE for school aid funding formula is determined by the budget
FTE adjustment can be made by WVDE to cover cost of teacher

54. §126-28-17 Program Evaluation
Annual evaluation of each classroom based on the ECERS-R assessment
Due annually by July 15
Must use the ECERS-R ADF
Classroom reviews conducted by a county level team with at least one administrator
Center Directors should participate on the ECERS-R evaluation teams

55. Technical Assistance Website
County Plan format
Request Assistance
Guidance Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Curriculum
WV Early Learning Standards Framework

56. Contact Information WV DHHR – ECE Division
Kay Tilton
(304)
Melanie Clark
(304)
Ann Nutt
(304)

57. Contact Information WV Pre-k Team
Cathy Jones, WVDE
(304)
Lena Rapp, Head Start State Collaboration
(304)