Scholarly Views and News Children at Little Lambs Learning Center
Volume V, Issue III
Winter Newsletter January 2011
Washington Scholarships News and Highlights
Look for us on FACEBOOK! WA Scholarships for Child Care Professionals is now on Facebook! Connect with your statewide community of WA Scholars! Stay current on all program updates. Start conversations, ask questions and share stories with fellow child care providers!
Fall conferences have recently given us the opportunity to travel to both the east and west sides of the state. We presented with local partners on higher education opportunities at the WAEYC Conference in Spokane and then travelled to Vancouver to participate in School’s Out Washington’s Bridges conference. It is always good to see statewide scholars and partners at these events! We made stops in Ellensburg at Creative Kids Learning Center to meet CDA Assessment scholars Amanda Gibson, Jessica Ferrell, Tavi Chan and director Mechelle Moran. In Spokane, we made a visit to Little Lambs Learning Center to visit scholar Elizabeth McBride and director Lori Crull. Thank you all for welcoming us into your programs! In this newsletter we discuss how you can get involved in supporting the WA Scholarships and early childhood programs and how the scholarship program may be forced to cut our current number of scholarships. Next spring will be our first big campaign for donations to show support for our program. Look out for more information about how you can help our program in the spring newsletter!
2011 Legislative Session The 2011 Washington State Legislative Session is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in history for those who serve children and families. The 2010 midterm election delivered one clear message to the legislature: no new taxes. While the pros and cons of such a message will be debated across the state, one thing is becoming clear - this session will produce an all-cuts budget (a budget balance only with program reductions, rather than a combination of cuts and new revenue).
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Inside this issue: WA Scholarships News & Highlights
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Legislative Session
1
WA Scholar Feature
2
WA Scholarships Funding
2
Early Learning Plan 2 Resources & Information
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WA Scholarship Program Updates & Reminders
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Already the Governor has made cuts to state government across the board. These cuts dramatically lower eligibility levels for the state’s child care subsidy program (WCCC) and eliminated the Career & Wage Ladder (a program that provided greater pay for center providers who obtained degrees and credentials), all seasonal child care subsidy program for migrant workers, and early learning supports for parents and Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers. Additionally the Governor proposed a budget for the 2011-2013 budget that would all but eliminate ECEAP for 3 year olds, end state funding for home visiting programs, end the Reach Out & Read program, and reduce funding for all-day kindergarten. Legislators will have to make extremely difficult choices regarding the priorities of government, which means now more than ever they need to hear from you about what those priorities should be. We at the CCR&R Network have served as a conduit of information and communication between the child care industry and the state’s elected officials for over 20 years. The CCR&R Network offers various supports that make communicating with elected officials easy and effective. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any and all help. Together we WILL get through this tough time! Be sure to stay informed via the online Child Care Policy Forum (http://capwiz.com/naccrra/wa/home/).
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Congratulations to our graduates this quarter:
CDA Credential Shannon Benn Candace Blackman Beverly Ann Burr Andrea Dayley Mary Fitzgerald April Hellman Cynthia Hendrix Ashley Hill Farzana Iyaz Heather Lemery Yumi Lin Deborah Machen Lynette Morrison Laura Peralta-Flores Barbara Pollard Erendira Quintero Stephany Roberts Maria Rodriquez Maria Romero Michelle Simpson Marisa Soto Fouzia Tahir Angelina Thayer Naomi Warren Karla Weeks
Featured WA Scholar - Elizabeth McBride Elizabeth is extremely motivated and passionate about children and child development. “I’m doing what I can with what I have!” she says. Her goal is to be the best possible mom to her two young children. Part of that involves increasing her education and working in a field she enjoys that benefits both children and their families. Elizabeth’s commitment to her goals is evident by her busy schedule involving her work, school and child care needs. Elizabeth is particularly grateful for the WA Scholarships program and the Little Lambs Learning Center that supports her in these goals. Director Lori Crull feels that due to the scholarship program, “Elizabeth has brought in so much in so little time, in terms of age-appropriate curriculum, working with parents, bringing in new materials and a higher level of confidence.” It is Elizabeth McBride collaboration such as this that allows WA Scholarships to serve Little Lambs Learning each student’s needs as a whole and ensure their success as Center child care providers! Spokane, WA
WA Scholarships Funding Outlook WA Scholarships is funded by both public and private funding sources. These funding sources, like many funders and organizations, are going through challenging times. As we look to 2011-2012 year, we are unclear about funding situation since all of our private funding ends. Because of our situation, we are likely to reduce our number of scholarships statewide staring Spring 2010. Those cuts may be based on participation from scholars. Scholars that are underperforming, inactive or delinquent with paperwork will most likely be the first to be cut. We wanted to be sure you were aware of our challenges and will communicate with you as we continue to secure additional funding where possible.
ECE Certificate Colleen Werner
AA Degree Elisabeth Blasco Tabitha Byrne Nora Duarte-Ardon Autumn Linn Leslie MacDonald Traci Park Colleen Werner If your name is missing from our list of recent graduates please send us documentation so we can include you in our annual report. Thanks!
Early Learning Plan (ELP) Available! For the last year, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) has been gathering input from early learning professionals, child care providers, parents and community members to create the Washington State Early Learning Plan (ELP). The full document was released in September and is available on the DEL website (www.del.wa.gov/plan). The overall goal of the plan is to build a statewide system that supports school readiness for children in Washington. It focuses on children ages birth through third grade. Along with the Early Learning Advisory Council, DEL partnered with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington (Thrive), the state’s public-private partnership for early learning, to create the plan. Implementation of the plan will be begin soon and will be prioritized according to need and resources available. DEL, OSPI and Thrive plan to issue annual progress updates on how our state is implementing the plan. You can learn more about the ELP, and all of the work being done by DEL, at their website (www.del.wa.gov).
“Children are our most valuable natural resource.”
Herbert Hoover
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Volume V, Issue III
Resources and Information Early Childhood Education Websites and Resources: Materials and Supplies Creation Station Innovative craft store and arts studio, supplying surplus and recycled materials to all those who love to create and dream. www.creationstationinc.com Curriculum and Activity Ideas Circletime Kids Circletime Kids is a free multicultural world library of bilingual children's resources designed to help parents, caregivers and teachers introduce their children to the cultures and languages of the world. www.circletimekids.com
“You have to really love it to work with children.” Amanda Gibson Creative Kids Learning Center Ellensburg, WA
Information and Research Economic Opportunity Institute Our mission is to forge new public policies that promote long-term economic security and opportunity for Washington's middle-class and low-income workers and families, and ensure the benefits of prosperity are broadly available to all those who contribute to it. www.eoionline.org
Please contact us if you have any great Early Childhood Education resources you would like us to share!
WA Scholarships Program Updates and Reminders Staffing Updates As most of you have likely observed by now, we have had a change of staffing. Isabelle Mora left WA Scholarships to pursue work in the financial aid field. Upon her departure, we were fortunate to be able to rehire our previous scholarship counselor, Colette Adams. Colette worked with the program from 2005-2008. We wish Isabelle well in her new adventures and welcome Colette back as a valuable asset to our team! We have also recently hired a new Program Support Assistant! Nannette Ward comes to us from the University of Washington. She brings a wide range of skills and enthusiasm to the WA State CCR&R Network and WA Scholarships.
“I received my AA [Degree] with the financial support of Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals. I am now more knowledgeable and understand child development better. As a result, the children in my care benefit greatly.” - Alma Marines Alma’s Daycare Toppenish, WA
New Policy on Reimbursements We have recently decided to not process reimbursements or payments that are under $1. If you have questions about your reimbursements, please contact Colette Adams at 253-383-1735 x20 or Colette@childcarenet.org. BA Scholarships Awarded WA Scholarships recently received funding through the Department of Early Learning to offer BA scholarships to a limited number of providers in our state. These scholarships will offer scholars an opportunity to obtain a four year degree at a Washington State accredited college or university. We were able to award two scholarships, one on the west side of the state and one on the east. The recipients for the BA Scholarships are Courtney Nolen, from the YMCA of Tacoma/Pierce County in Tacoma, and Alma Marines, a FCC Provider from Toppenish. Congratulations to Courtney and Alma and thank you to our funder, the Department of Early Learning (DEL), for this opportunity! If you wish to be contacted if we receive additional funding for BA scholarships, or if you have any questions regarding the scholarship process or paperwork, please call us at (866) 308-3224, or email us at scholarships@childcarenet.org.
Center child at Little Lambs Learning Center Spokane, WA
The Washington Scholarships Program is generously supported by:
Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals Feel free to contact us for more information about Washington Scholarships by phone, email or through our website:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Child Care Resources First 5 FUNdamentals The Bamford Family Foundation Thrive by Five Washington
1-866-308-3224 scholarships@childcarenet.org www.childcarenet.org
Washington State Department of Early Learning
WA Scholarships Staff (left to right): Susan Yang Affolter, Professional Development Director Mandy Aaberg, Professional Development Program Manager Colette Adams, Scholarship Counselor Nannette Ward, Program Support Assistant
Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network WA Scholarships for Child Care Professionals 1551 Broadway, Suite 300 Tacoma, WA 98402
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TACOMA, WA PERMIT NO. 732