Statewide Voluntary Preschool Legislation Proposal

Here is what the govenor is proposing:
A $3,000 annual Iowa Preschool Scholarship will be available to eligible 4-year-olds to attend preschool for a minimum 10 hours of preschool a week. All families of eligible 4-year-olds contribute to tuition with sliding scale fees based on federal poverty guidelines up to 300 percent of poverty.

Parents will choose which private or public preschool they want their child to attend, provided there is space available. For convenience, an Iowa Department of Education website will allow parents to enter their Zip code to find a participating program near their home or work.

Parents may use pre-tax dollars to pay for their child's preschool. The state appropriation is $43.6 million, plus parent contributions. Part of the funding will pay for three oversight positions, the statewide assessment and, the state website that promotes Iowa Preschool Scholarships and the promotion of preschool in general.

More to come... as final decisions are being made

Dates to Remember

Here are some important dates (some may be changes) for you to add to your calendar/planner.

Friday, Feb. 25 - Department Meeting, Pocahontas (3-5)
Friday, Mar. 18 - cancel (1/2 day dept mtg)
Monday, Mar. 21 - Department Meeting, Pocahontas (0-3)
Thursday, March 31 - Child Find Training, Ft. Dodge (choose one)
or
Friday, Apr. 8 - Child Find Training - Pocahontas (choose one)
Friday, Apr. 15 - cancel (1/2 day dept. mtg)
Monday, Apr. 18 - Joint Dept. Mtg with OT,PT and Gloria
instead of
Friday, Apr. 29 - cancel Joint dept. mtg with OT,PT, and Gloria
Monday, May 16 - Department Meeting, Pocahontas (Pat's retirement)
Aug. 18 & 19 - Child Find Training - Fort Dodge (choose one)
or
Aug. 22 & 23 - Child Find Training - Storm Lake (choose one)

Mastery Monitoring Example

Gloria Frolek Clark has sent a mastery monitoring example that reviews the 6 step process for developing a mastery monitoring outcome/goal. She has included visual documentation of the subskills, quarter stars, and mastery criteria. Please print the information and use it to help you develop your example of mastery monitoring.

So, you might wonder...really, is this progress and mastery monitoring idea here to stay? Guess what is on the Early ACCESS state meeting agenda for this Thursday? Dr. Gayle Luze, Associate Professor for Iowa State University will be providing professional development, "Data-Informed decision-making for child and program outcomes." Topics include: overview of progress and mastery monitoring, resources, implications for providers, Regions/Signatory Agencies and State.

Hmm... seems like we may be ahead of the 8 ball!

PD Committee

Deb Bennett, Tammy Berger, Randi Black, Gale and I met last week to discuss 2011-12 professional development plans for our department and how those plans relate to the agency goals. A summary of our priority recommendation follows:

AEA direct service providers that serve 0-3, 3-5, or 0-5 as part of their caseload, along with LEA ECSE teachers responsible for IEPs, and triad/dyad members responsible for assisting ECSE preschool teachers with IEP decision making attend 2 days of training on the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for Infants and Children (AEPS). AEPS is more than an assessment/evaluation measure and more than a curriculum. It is a comprehensive system that ties together assessment, goal development, intervention and ongoing monitoring and evaluation to formulate appropriate IFSP/IEP outcomes/goals. The group recommended that the training be set up for licensure renewal credit and be offered in the fall of 2011.

Using a team approach to training will eliminate the redundancy and inconsistency that often occur when professionals complete separate assessments as well as reduce confusion for families. Cross disciplinary discussions result in mutual learning by team members and encourages ongoing team collaboration - getting all team members on the "same page."

We value INPUT into this draft plan. Please feel free to contact one or any of the above members to make our plan even better!

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day in the U.S., the day when men are expected to demonstrate their love by sharing heart-shaped boxes of candy or jewelry with their significant other. Now research is showing us that all this lovey-dovey stuff may have health benefits. Ode Magazine (June 2005) reported on research on the role of the heart being performed at the Institute of HeartMath in Boulder Creek, California. [Researcher Rollin] McCraty explains, “With every heartbeat, information is supplied that affects our emotions, our physical health, and the quality of our lives.” This means that feelings of compassion, love, care, and appreciation produce a smoothly rolling... heart rhythm...

Please know that your work within this agency and within the department is appreciated. You are important! Welcome back to Lynn Eby!