By Sharron Harrington
Dear colleagues,
I know many of you are concerned with torrential rain coming later today—on the anniversary of last year’s flood. Please stay safe, and take care of yourselves and each other.
You may notice our newsletter is a little late this month. Several of us took vacations over the first week of July—some much needed R&R to refresh before our big summer activities, including VTAEYC member registration for the Annual Conference starting August 1, and our plenary talk at the Early Childhood Educators Institute on August 6.
On the topic of feeling refreshed: family child care home-based early childhood educators had such a great time at our Wellness Institute in Montpelier last month! I want to thank all participants, and Scott Noyes and Ellen Drolette for facilitating. Here’s what some participants said:
I had forgotten how energizing an in person training (especially with Scott!) can be.
I knew that I missed the old CCR trainings but today I realized just how much
because that’s what this felt like and I LOVED it!
Thank you for doing this. I’m so glad I came down.
Great conference, really enjoyed being with all home providers,
as we can relate to each other.
You can count on VTAEYC’s great program staff to keep listening to you and putting together resources and events, like the Wellness Institute for FCCH early childhood educators, to meet your needs.
There are some big financial deadlines coming up very soon. By July 15, apply for student loan repayment assistance (to access a $4,000 supplemental payment), grace period grants and bonuses, and fall semester T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Vermont scholarships.
We distributed more than $75,000 in grants and bonuses just last quarter. And we’ve distributed more than $250,000 in supplemental payments linked to student loan repayment assistance during this window of availability. This means a LOT of Vermont early childhood educators are seeing real financial incentives for advancing your educations and careers. I’m so proud to recognize your commitment.
We have the Child Development Division to thank for this funding. I’m so proud to work in a state that values and invests in early childhood educators as they advance their qualifications.
Finally, remember to join or renew this month! You’ll need an active VTAEYC membership for early access to conference registration on August 1.
Checklist: Due by July 15
Apply for student loan repayment assistance—and a $4,000 supplemental payment: vtaeyc.org/slrap
Apply for a grace period recognition bonus: vtaeyc.org/grants-bonuses
Apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Vermont scholarship for the fall semester: vtaeyc.org/teach
Due August 15:
Apply for a VTAEYC Exchange Fellowship
Apply for the VTAEYC 2024 Exchange Program!
Are you ready to make a difference? VTAEYC’s 2024 Exchange Program is now accepting applications! This year’s theme is Action Through Advocacy, and we’re looking for fellows who are passionate about community, equity, the planet, or creative arts.
Stipend: $1,200 for the 9-month fellowship (October 2024 – June 2025)
Focus Areas: Community, Equity, Planet, Creative Arts
Application Deadline: August 15, 2024
Learn more and apply: vtaeyc.org/exchange
Due August 1:
Nominate for VTAEYC Annual Awards
Each year, VTAEYC honors exceptional early childhood educators and allied professionals for their commitment to children, families, and early childhood education. We present these awards during the VTAEYC Annual Early Childhood Education Conference. VTAEYC seeks nominations for these five awards:
Children’s Champion Award
Distinguished Service to Children Award
Emerging Leader Award
Outstanding Member Award(s)
Vermont ECE Student of the Year
Nominations for the 2024 Annual Awards are due on August 1, 2024. You may submit multiple nominations for more than one award. Vermont ECE Student of the Year nominations are accepted from non-members. All other award nominations are accepted only from members of VTAEYC+NAEYC.
Learn more and nominate for Annual Awards
NAEYC Annual Conference Registration is Open
November 6-9
Anaheim, CA
Registration and housing for NAEYC’s 2024 Annual Conference is now open!
NAEYC’s Annual Conference is November 6-9 in Anaheim, CA. Join VTAEYC and colleagues from NAEYC affiliates around the country for the largest early childhood education conference in the world!
Learn more and register for NAEYC’s Annual Conference
Bank Street Apprenticeship Survey
Bank Street Education Center is completing an evaluation of Vermont’s Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program. They are interested in feedback from throughout Vermont’s early childhood education system, whether you’ve participated in an Apprenticeship program or whether you’re just learning about it now. Your feedback and insights are critical in helping improve the quality and effectiveness of the Vermont Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program.
Take the Bank Street Vermont Apprenticeship Survey
July 23: The Early Childhood Education Profession: Roundtable Update
The Advancing as a Profession initiative continues our monthly leadership roundtable update calls for Vermont early childhood educators and stakeholders engaged in the design of a future early childhood education profession!
Note: the next Roundtable Update is July 23 at 12:30. We will discuss our steps toward getting early childhood education recognized as a profession by the State of Vermont.
This is a big topic, so we will schedule more than one session. Family home-based early childhood educators and others who prefer an evening session, stay tuned for an evening date in August.
Register for the July 23 Roundtable Update
Learn more about the ECE Profession
July 11: Dept. of Health Q&A for Early Childhood Educators
Thursday, July 11
1:00 PM
Do you have health-related questions? The Vermont Department of Health has answers.
Join us on Thursday, July 11 at 1:00 PM to receive seasonal health updates and submit your own questions to the experts!
Register for the Dept. of Health Q&A
New STARS Resource Bundle from the CDD
The Child Development Division just announced its newly revised STARS program! This revision to Vermont’s child care quality recognition and improvement system puts the spotlight on interactions that support Vermont’s children and families to thrive.
To promote the revised model and help your program continuously strengthen quality, the STARS team designed 17 different resource bundles filled with books and materials for your programs.
Depending on your license type, you may choose between three and five bundles for your program. Only one submission per license number will be accepted.
Learn more about STARS and resources
View resource bundles here
Make bundle selections here
View VTAEYC’s SPARQS page for continuous quality improvement supports
VTAEYC Recognized in National Newsletters
We are proud to be featured in two national newsletters this summer!
Find an article by Sharron Harrington and Brenda Schramm about the impact of Act 76 (the Child Care Law) in the summer issue of T.E.A.C.H. Times on page 5.
The first-ever newsletter from the national Commission on Excellence in Early Childhood Education opens with a quote and link to Vermont early childhood educator and Advancing as a Profession Task Force member Jen Olson’s op-ed “Giving Voice to our Educator Identity.”
Read the T.E.A.C.H. Times (p.5)
Read the Commission Newsletter
More Upcoming Dates from VTAEYC and Partners
Registration closed: Early Childhood Educators Institute, virtual, July 30 + August 1, 6, 8
Save the Date:Â Vermont Child Care Providers Association Annual Conference, September 21
Save the Date:Â Vermont Afterschool Annual Conference, October 24+25
Save the Date:Â VTAEYC Annual Conference, October 28+29