| |  | Alliance Equity Discussion - Considering Equity and Inclusion in your Organizational Holiday/Leave Policy - 5/26 Join a group of peers and colleagues from the early childhood community to engage in sustained learning about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. The Alliance hosts a monthly, salon-style Equity Discussion Group via Zoom, and the next session is coming up on Friday, May 26, at 1:00 pm. Inspired by the state and federal designation of the Juneteenth holiday, this session will be a discussion about how to develop an organizational staff holiday and leave policy that is equitable and inclusive. To start our discussion, Katherine Nelson, Director of Finance and Administration at the Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF), will present the newly revised policy that the Alliance’s parent organization put into place this year. Click to register on Zoom and receive the meeting link. | | | |  | Alliance Annual Membership Meeting next week – 5/30 Join advocates from around the state on May 30 at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich to celebrate early childhood advocacy, hear from Administration and philanthropic leaders, elect members to the Alliance Steering Committee, and network with colleagues during a social hour. More information about our Annual Membership Meeting can be found on the Alliance website. If you have any questions, reach out to Taylor Hughey, Alliance Outreach Manager, at taylor@vecaa.org. | | | |  | 7th Annual Early Childhood Educators Institute – First Session 7/25 Registration for the 2023 Early Childhood Educators Institute is now open for teachers, staff, and supervisors supporting children from birth through third grade. Sessions are available for college credit or training hours. Sessions will be held online in real-time on July 25 and 27, and August 1 and 3. For more information and to register, visit the Castleton University website. | | | |  | VTAEYC to Manage New System for Program Access to Resources for Quality Supports (SPARQS) Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) is facilitating a Child Development Division initiative, System for Program Access to Resources for Quality Supports (SPARQS), that will provide consultation, coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, and program quality assessment. Access to these resources will begin rolling out as early as July.
SPARQS will guide programs’ participation in the updated Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) with continued support as programs work to reach their quality goals. Changes to STARS, Vermont’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS), are expected to go into effect starting on July 1, 2023, with full implementation on July 1, 2024. In addition, SPARQS will also provide support and resources for the Vermont Early Childhood Networks.
The SPARQS model is still taking shape, and more information about its resources and timeline will be posted on the STARS Revision Project webpage. | | | | | | | | | | The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals, parents, organizations, businesses, and strategic partners committed to improving public policies that impact young children between birth and age eight in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process. | | | | 7 School Street | Montpelier , Vermont 05602 vecaa.org The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. | | | | | | | | | |
