MECA Conference February 17, 2018 (6 Hours Plus Meal) $25
Posted: January 9, 2018 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Kellogg Foundation, MLICCI, Uncategorized | Tags: CCPP-approved Provider, DECCD-MDHS, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi School Readiness Leave a commentMECA Conference February 17, 2018 (6 Hours Plus Meal)
$25 per person, $15 for students!
Registration coming soon!
SECAC Meeting Cancelled! MLICCI says DHS has Put the “Cart before the Horse”!
Posted: May 24, 2017 Filed under: CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, MLICCI, MS Department of Human Services, NAEYC, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness Mississippi, SECAC Mississippi, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: 2007 Market Survey Rates, Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, equal access, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi School Readiness, Quality Rating System; DECCD-MDHS; CCDF Quality Improvement, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentSECAC Meeting Cancelled! MLICCI says
DHS has Put the “Cart before the Horse”!
The May 25, 2017 SECAC meeting has been cancelled.
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What does APL stand for?
Posted: April 30, 2017 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, General, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi Health Department, MLICCI, MS Department of Health, MS Department of Human Services, NAEYC, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness, School Readiness Mississippi, SECAC Mississippi, Suel v MDHS, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), equal access, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi School Readiness, Quality Rating System, Quality Rating System; DECCD-MDHS; CCDF Quality Improvement, SECAC Mississippi Leave a comment
NAEYC Accreditation Nationwide
Posted: March 27, 2017 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), Excel by 5, Head Start, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Building Blocks, MLICCI, MS Department of Education, MS Department of Human Services, NAEYC, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness Mississippi, SECAC, SECAC Mississippi, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: 2007 Market Survey Rates, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), equal access, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi early learning system, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi School Readiness, Quality Rating System; DECCD-MDHS; CCDF Quality Improvement, SECAC, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentNAEYC Accreditation Nationwide
NAEYC Criteria as a Strategy for Improving Child Care
As you know, child care providers asked to review the Draft Standard Application on March 15, 2017, were presented self-assessment mirroring NAEYC criteria (which is closely aligned with ECERS) including a “required personnel registry”.
While it is the duty of DHS to carry out the implementation of the CCDF State Plan, the policy-makers and individuals responsible for sweeping change for disadvantaged child care small businesses are the members of the Governor’s SECAC. (Click here to review limited contact info and identification of State Early Childhood Advisory Council members. SECAC Committee members making the recommendations determining whether or not you will have the privilege to continue to serve low-income children for less than market rate – on a year by year basis based on assessment scores – are not listed.) Please do not contact me for telephone numbers. I have no such information I am willing to share. Thanks!
At the SECAC meeting held on March 23, 2017, I incorrectly reported only 2 NAEYC accredited child care centers in Mississippi – there are actually, currently 30 and most represent more stable sources of funding than the CCDF. Check it out! Hover your mouse over each blue balloon. (Click here.)
That is also a gain of 1 since 2007. See the 2007 NAEYC graphic below.
Ten percent, (10%) of child care programs across the nation hold NAEYC accreditation.
HHS has decided the government-child-care-market it created through the Child Care Development Fund over a period of two decades is no longer solely a work support system. It must be redesigned to demonstrate, and qualify (with degrees), and operate (equal) to Head Start and Title I Preschool programs without parity and without sufficient CCDF funding.
SECAC announced Mississippi’s CCDF State Plan was being carried out with NO REQUEST for additional CCDF funding.
Reprinted from Accreditation Update, Fall 2007, a publication of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
Building on Families: the New Early Childhood System
Posted: December 11, 2016 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, Clarion-Ledger, DECCD-MDHS, Mississippi Legislature, MLICCI, MS Department of Human Services, SECAC Mississippi, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: 2007 Market Survey Rates, Administration for Children and Families, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Market Survey Rates, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi early learning system, Mississippi School Readiness, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentOn Wednesday, December 7, 2016, the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC) and the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) presented a very rigorous process of maximizing funding and services to families and child care programs by utilizing existing resources through the reauthorization of the CCDBG Act of 2014
Building on Families: the New Early Childhood System
Dec. 7, Jackson, MS – Governor Phil Bryant listens to Dr. Laurie Smith’s SECAC presentation of Mississippi’s New Family-Based Early Childhood System.
‘If a man is laid off and loses his job, he is going to be eligible for work force training. His children are going to be eligible for Medicaid and mental health services. Good nutrition and early learning practices will be introduced to strengthen his home and high quality child care services, Head Start and Pre-K will be available to his family. We are going to build on his family and better equip him, because he seeks the American Dream too.’
Governor Phil Bryant
MDHS Executive Director John Davis expresses his faith in federal and state partners including CCPP Child Care Providers. Certificates for New Enrollment will be issued in January.
‘We have met with our partners: Work Force Development, state agencies, the Mississippi Community College System and child care providers. We are positioned, now, not to provide isolated services as before, but to maximize our resources and integrate our efforts through common case management, a collaborative referral process, and an integrated data system unlike any other in the country. We can do great and wonderful things!’
MDHS Executive Director John Davis
Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative Executive Director Carol Burnett and Cassandra Welchlin intently follow Dr. Smith’s presentation of Standard Child Care and Comprehensive Child Care. MLICCI led a state-wide provider Vote of No Confidence for Mississippi’s Quality Stars.
“This is an answer to prayer. Dr. Laurie Smith’s name will be lifted up high by our church congregation on Sunday!” Patricia Young, Bountiful Blessings, Itta Bena, MS
A corrective action plan will be developed by an external evaluator in consultation with the child care center director and technical assistance coach.
(Scores will not be used to rank or grade centers.)‘
SECAC Executive Director Laurie Smith
“To pay for the new federal requirements, state officials had to make cuts elsewhere in the budget. We worked to make sure we are spending as we need to, to make sure we have money to fund everything that we need to fund.” Cathy Sykes, MDHS Deputy Administrator of Federal Programs
MDHS, in collaboration with federal partners, the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Community College Board, successfully trained a CCPP workforce of 6500! Other like/needed trainings are to be announced as we move forward. Further, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) will be responsible for managing local early childhood academies. These academies will provide technical assistance, coaching, and training and provide management for the resource and referral offices. Federal partners are requiring that new market rates only begin upon completion of all redeterminations and all enrollment of CCPP child care providers as either Standard Care or Comprehensive Care facilities. The decision as to what the increased market rates will be are almost complete. The new rates are scheduled to begin July 1, 2017. (Current Quality Stars Bonus Payments will continue and remain the same until July 1, 2017.) Certificates for new enrollment may be issued in January, 2017, but for the current rate.’
MDHS Deputy Director of Federal Programs Cathy Sykes
New market rates increases will begin July 1, 2017.
‘We are working to provide a rates increase that will allow low-income child care providers to be able to afford to engage in quality initiatives.’
NSPARC Executive Director Mimmo Parisi
‘Thank you for listening to child care providers and for developing technical assistance and training at the Community Colleges.’
Childcare Directors Network Alliance President Deloris Suel
‘Thank you for extending and continuing Resource and Referral. I cannot wait to share this news with Excel by 5 communities.’
Excel by 5 Executive Director Eileen Beazley
For questions that arise during this period of transition, call the MDHS Help Desk at 800-345-6347.
The Mississippi Department of Education Offers September Professional Development
Posted: September 1, 2016 Filed under: CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, MS Department of Education, Uncategorized | Tags: CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi School Readiness, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentThe Mississippi Department of Education Offers September Professional Development
(This professional development is NOT to be confused for the REQUIRED DHS September Child Care Provider Payment training NEEDED TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATES. Click here for the proper Child Care Provider Payment training link. )
The Mississippi Department of Education would like to remind you about its professional development opportunities available in September:
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Trainings are offered at no-cost to participants.
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All trainings are offered to public school district and early learning collaborative early childhood staff.
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The September session of LETRS training is also open to child care, Part C and Head Start staff.
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Approximately 0.6 CEUs, 5 SEMIs, and/or 6 contact hours will be awarded to participants.
Registration is through the North Mississippi Education Consortium. (Click here.)
September
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7th – Integrating Early Learning Standards into Activities: Approaches to Learning and Instructional Technology in Tupelo for pre-k staff
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7th and 8th – Pre-K LETRS in Oxford for pre-k staff
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13th (and 14th if the training demand is high enough) – A Day in the Early Childhood Classroom in Hattiesburg for pre-k and kindergarten staff as well as administrators
Additional trainings for pre-k and kindergarten staff may be requested through the Technical Assistance Request form at the following link: (Click here.)
You may also visit MDE’s Professional Development Calendar to view the above trainings and additional offerings. (Click here.)
These sessions will also be available in the spring. An announcement with the spring dates and locations will be sent later in the fall semester.
The Patriots Musical (The Learning Tree Kindergarten 2007)
Posted: July 1, 2016 Filed under: Child Care Licensing, Child Care Mississippi, General, School Readiness, School Readiness Mississippi, Uncategorized | Tags: Child Care Licensing, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, equal access, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi School Readiness Leave a commentThe Patriots Musical
The Learning Tree Kindergarten 2007
July fourth has always been one of my favorite holidays.
Maybe it is due to the music and fireworks.
Maybe it is due to the grand displays of the Stars and Stripes.
Lately, it is also due to the memory of one favorite class of children beginning a collection of Presidential coins.
While I do believe the Presidents on our currency intrigued my students, it was the “demonstration” of one word on their reading lists that really got them – tax!
From that exercise, they learned about the Magna Carta, King George, III and tea. (They even learned to make tea and loved to drink it often – decaf that is – and tossed their collection of used tea bags into the Yazoo River afterwards.)
In fact, they even learned how to start a little revolution of their own!
We only practice two afternoons at the church for our kindergarten graduation programs, so you can imagine my alarm when, after singing the first song once through at our very last practice, George Washington just sat down and refused to sing anything further.
Soon after, he was joined on the front line by his troops, Benjamin Franklin and even Betsy Ross!
The General was the spokesperson for the group. He represented all cast members who DID NOT HAVE A GUN from wardrobe.
It seemed that the props these children had selected initially – swords and flags – could NOT measure up to “the shot heard around the world”, and somehow, I understood that.
Immediately, I was on the telephone with the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis!
I announced they would have guns waiting on stage for them the next day during the actual performance.
They rose to their feet and we carried on with practice.
The next day, all additional muskets were placed by staff on stage as promised, but the General’s was placed on the wrong side of where he would be standing.
He didn’t know it was there, so he just devoted his energy to the outstanding and proper care of our flag. (What honest to goodness leadership he demonstrated! He wore that uniform well!)
Watch the video to see what happened once I figured out where his musket was.
I was proud of them all when their caps didn’t fire – they just kept it together knowing they would get to reenact and revolt again when next returning to school.
The video is best on full screen and with closed caption turned on so that you can understand what the children are singing.
Happy Fourth of July, everybody.
The Patriots: Heroes of the War of Independence (Musical)
Roll Back the Years
Minuteman Minute Song
She Made Our Nation´s Flag!
Drummer Rode His Drum The
Green Mountain Boys The
Do You Know What Ben Franklin Said?
Roll Back the Years (reprise)
Music by Mary Lynn Lightfoot ; script & lyrics by Lee Brandon.
Heritage Music Press
Juvenile audiences (Grades 3 -9)
1993
https://www.lorenz.com/search-results?q=The+Patriots
Clarion-Ledger – Early education programs, including Building Blocks took a beating…
Posted: April 26, 2016 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Mississippi, Clarion-Ledger, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Education, School Readiness Mississippi, SECAC Mississippi, Uncategorized | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, child care Mississippi, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi School Readiness Leave a commentClarion-Ledger – Early education programs, including Building Blocks took a beating…
Education policy had an interesting time of it this legislative session under the Republican supermajority’s leadership, leaving a legacy of charter school expansion, appointed superintendents and more school district consolidations.
Early education programs, including Building Blocks, took a beating, though funding for reading coaches and other resources for the third grade reading gate was kept at the same level as last year.
http://www.clarionledger.com/…/more-charter-schoo…/83299958/
More charters, fewer districts 2016 education legacy
Charter school expansion, appointed superintendents and district consolidations will be the legacy of the 2016 legislative session.
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