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What Are You Looking for in 2017?
We want to hear your voice! Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey, and be entered to win an Amazon gift card! Your responses are anonymous and will help us bring you professional development opportunities that meet your needs.
The survey will take less than 5 minutes, and you could be the lucky winner!
Survey link is here.
New Guidelines for Children's Media Use
Today, parents and educators are searching to provide the right balance when it comes to the role of screen technology in children's lives. This Fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics adjusted their recommendations for how to strike that healthy balance. In a nutshell:
- For children under 18 months, avoiding all screens is still the best - except for video chatting with family!
- Children ages 2-5 can be exposed to limited media, with an adult present. Think of screen time like engaging with books - kids this age will get the most out of the experience with an adult nearby. However, limit usage to one hour.
To see the full list of recommendations for young children from the AAP, click here. IEPD offers support to educators with incorporating digital technology in healthy ways. Contact us to learn more. |
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A Raise for Educators
On November 25th, EEC Commissioner Tom Weber announced that educators around the state would be getting a raise. In a network-wide email, Weber announced a "3.6% rate increase for center-based programs and family child care systems that provide state-subsidized early education and care. The increase will support educator salaries, benefits and stipends, workforce professional development and other program quality improvements." This raise is retroactive to July 1, 2016.
We at IEPD are glad to see this recognition of the hard work of educators around the commonwealth!
You can see Tom Weber's full announcement, plus other news from IEPD at our Facebook page. |
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Looking Forward with NAEYC
In a letter to NAEYC members following the November 8th presidential election, association CEO Rhian Evans Allvin issued a call to action to early childhood educators across the nation. In it, she said "...we, who hold a key to [children's] future, are bound by a professional code of ethics that fights bias and respects the dignity, worth and uniqueness of all individuals, regardless of the color of their skin, the place in which they worship, the people they love, or the candidates for whom they voted."
Allvin urged educators to come together and to "support for all of our nation’s children and families".
What will you be doing to support all children, and where do you need support? |
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Navigating QRIS
Is your program working it's way through the QRIS process? Has your staff attended the QRIS trainings, but needs more support?
IEPD is running a series of meetings to dive deeper into the QRIS subjects, forming Communities of Practice to give educators a forum to raise questions, troubleshoot problems, and grow professionally. These meetings are taking place all over the state and focus on individual QRIS topics. Click here for a list of upcoming meetings and let us know if you'd like to join us! |
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