Category: Engagement

Child Care Rules Update: June 22, 2018

The Office of Child Care received substantial feedback on proposed rule changes for all child care settings during the public comment period that closed May 21, 2018 and has continued to receive questions and feedback. In an effort to allow more time for public comment, as well as offer additional guidance and opportunities to answer questions from providers, the Office of Child Care will suspend the rulemaking process for the majority of proposed rule changes and move forward in two phases.

Phase 1: A narrow set of the existing proposed rule changes will move forward for adoption in the late summer or early fall. This subset will include rules required to remain in compliance with new federal Child Care Development Fund requirements, state requirements from HB 4065 (2018), and to address standards related to the unique needs of infants. These rules will be open for public comment on July 1, 2018. They will be available on the Secretary of State’s website in the July Bulletin: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/displayBulletins.action as well as on our website at: https://oregonearlylearning.com/proposed-child-care-rules/. These rules will be effective September 30, 2018.

Phase 2: The remaining proposed changes for permanent rule consideration will reopen for public comment in the fall. The Office of Child Care will conduct a series of engagement sessions with child care providers throughout the state this summer and continue to accept questions and feedback via email at early.learning@state.or.us.

Supporting documents, including a Frequently Asked Questions page, will continue to be posted on our website at: https://oregonearlylearning.com/childcare-rules/.

In addition to these rules, the Early Learning Council will consider new rules for temporary adoption on June 28, 2018. These rules will require providers to provide parents a copy of the program’s current child care license certificate and to post any serious valid complaint and non-compliance letters. These proposed rules will be effective July 1, 2018 in an effort to improve communication with parents.

The proposed temporary rule language for Registered Family, Certified Family and Certified Center providers can be found here: https://oregonearlylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Draft-Rules-6-22-18-effective-7-1-18.pdf

Thank you for your continued feedback as we work to refine these rules to better promote the health and safety of children in care throughout Oregon.

UPDATED: Child Care and Development Fund State Plan 2019-2021 Open for Public Comment

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment:

The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and assurance about, the State’s child care program and services available to eligible families.

The Early Learning Division welcomes your comments on the draft state plan, which can be found by clicking on this link.

The federal Office of Child Care postposed the due date for the state plan until August 31, 2018. The plan is open for public comment until the public hearing.

You may provide comments by email early.learning@state.or.us or by mail:

CCDF State Plan Public Comment
700 Summer St. NE, Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

A public hearing for the plan is scheduled for July 19, 2018:

Thursday, July 19, 2018
10:00am

Veterans’ Affairs Building – Early Learning Division
700 Summer St NE
Grand Ronde Room, 3rd Floor
Salem, OR 97301

Thank you,

Miriam Calderon, Early Learning System Director
Dawn Woods, Child Care Director, Early Learning Division

Child Care and Development Fund State Plan 2019-2021 Open for Public Comment

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment:

The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and assurance about, the State’s child care program and services available to eligible families.

The Early Learning Division welcomes your comments on the draft state plan, which can be found by clicking on this link.

The plan is open for public comment for 20 days.

You may provide comments by email early.learning@state.or.us or by mail:

CCDF State Plan Public Comment
700 Summer St. NE, Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

A public hearing for the plan is scheduled for June 13, 2018:

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
9:00am

Veterans’ Affairs Building – Early Learning Division
700 Summer St NE
Grand Ronde Room, 3rd Floor
Salem, OR 97301

Thank you,

Miriam Calderon, Early Learning System Director
Dawn Woods, Child Care Director, Early Learning Division

Public Comment Closing: Licensed Child Care & Regulated Child Care Facilities

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:

The extended the public comment period for permanent administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities is closing on Monday, May 21, 2018

Registered Family 414-205 (5.1.18 Update)

Registered Family Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Certified Family 414-350 (5.1.18 Update)

Certified Family Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Certified Center 414-300 (5.1.18 Update)

Certified Center Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Regulated Subsidy 414-180 (5.1.18 Update)

Regulated Subsidy Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

LAST DAY AND TIME TO OFFER COMMENT TO AGENCY: 05/21/2018 5:00 PM

Comments can be sent to

early.learning@state.or.us

700 Summer Street NE
Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

 

Public Hearing Scheduled & Public Comment Extended: Licensed Child Care & Regulated Child Care Facilities

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Public Hearing:

The Early Learning Council has extended the public comment period until May 21, 2018 for permanent administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities.

A public hearing has been scheduled for May 15, 2018:

Tuesday, May 15, 2018
6:00pm (members of the public who wish to provide testimony are limited to 5 minutes per group and must sign-up for testimony by 6:15pm)

Veteran’s Affairs Auditorium
700 Summer St NE
First Floor
Salem, OR 97301

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and proposed revisions to OAR Chapter 414 Divisions 180, 205, 300 and 350 are available at the Secretary of State’s online database. Clean versions (without track changes) are provided below.

Registered Family 414-205 (5.1.18 Update)

Registered Family Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Certified Family 414-350 (5.1.18 Update)

Certified Family Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Certified Center 414-300 (5.1.18 Update)

Certified Center Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

Regulated Subsidy 414-180 (5.1.18 Update)

Regulated Subsidy Rulebook Draft (Tables Included)

LAST DAY AND TIME TO OFFER COMMENT TO AGENCY EXTENDED: 05/21/2018 5:00 PM

Comments can be sent to

early.learning@state.or.us

700 Summer Street NE
Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

 

Rule Revision: Licensed Child Care & Regulated Child Care Facilities

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:

The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to adopt permanent administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities.

ORS 329A directs the Early Learning Council to adopt administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities to ensure the health and safety of children in care.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and proposed revisions to OAR Chapter 414 Divisions 180, 205, 300 and 350 are available at the Secretary of State’s online database.

Registered Family 414-205

Certified Family 414-350

Certified Center 414-300

Regulated Subsidy 414-180

LAST DAY AND TIME TO OFFER COMMENT TO AGENCY: 04/21/2018 5:00 PM

Comments can be sent to

early.learning@state.or.us

700 Summer Street NE
Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

 

Rule Revision: Repeal Special Populations & Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers Programs

Oregon Administrative Rules – Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division

OAR Chapter 414, Division 150 Special Populations Program

OAR Chapter 414, Division 400 Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Child Care Program

The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to repeal rules for the Special Populations and Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Child Care programs as these programs have been transferred to the Department of Human Services.

Public Comment Closes April 23, 2018 at 5pm.

View Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

CONTACT:
Alyssa Chatterjee
971-701-1535
alyssa.chatterjee@state.or.us
700 Summer St NE
Suite 350
Salem, OR 97301

Emergency Preparedness Survey

The Early Learning Division is working with a group to create a statewide Early Learning Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Plan for child care facilities. Emergency management personnel, early learning educators, and other disaster preparedness, tribal representatives, and agency staff have a goal to develop a plan that provides value to child care providers and stakeholders and meets federal requirements of the Office of Child Care.

We would like you to share some of your ideas with the work group. Your responses will inform the work of the group and help create the best plan possible for children and families in Oregon. Please follow the links below to take and/or share the survey in English or Spanish. Thank you for your time.

ENGLISH
SPANISH

ODE Seeking Director of Communications

The Oregon Department of Education is seeking an innovative and dynamic executive to lead our Communication’s Office. This position is a Principal Executive/Manager F, full-time, and serves on the agency’s management team. The purpose of this position is to provide agency leadership with a comprehensive public affairs program.  To accomplish this, the Director of Communications oversees the development and implementation of internal and external communication plans that aligns with ODE’s strategic direction.

This position serves on the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction’s management team and works closely with the Deputy Superintendent, Chief of Staff and ODE’s assistant superintendents to develop and implement strategic communications internally and externally for the agency and provide public affairs expertise and recommendations.

Learn more about the position and how to apply here. Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity.

2017-18 Preliminary Kindergarten Assessment Results

2017-18 preliminary kindergarten assessment results show correlation with 3rd grade skills

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Early Learning Division (ELD) today jointly released results from the 2017-18 kindergarten assessment. This year, for the first time, there is a cohort of students who have taken both the kindergarten assessment and the 3rd grade assessment – providing more information for the state and local communities to use to target resources for young children.

“Although we only have one year of comparison data, there is a clear correlation between kindergarten assessment and third-grade assessment results. This confirms what we have always known: if we can support children to be ready for success when they enter kindergarten, they are more likely to be on track in 3rd grade,” said Miriam Calderon, Oregon’s early learning system director.

The kindergarten assessment is given each fall to entering kindergartners and provides a snapshot of students’ foundational skills in three core areas of learning and development: early literacy, early math and interpersonal/self-regulation skills.

2017-18 kindergarten assessment results

  • Early literacy skills remained about the same: Oregon kindergartners recognized 8.2 letter sounds, compared with 8.9 letter sounds in the 2016-17 school year; 14.4 uppercase letters, compared with 14.8 last year, and 12.1 lowercase letters, compared with 12.5 last year.
  • Early math scores showed an uptick, as students correctly answered 11.2 out of 16 simple math questions, compared with 8.5 of 16 last year. However, these changes may be due to changes to this portion of the assessment last year.
  • The interpersonal and self-regulation ratings were unchanged from last year.

Additional analyses will be released in the spring that provide disaggregated data by socio-demographic characteristics.  In addition, ODE and ELD will conduct more detailed analysis on students’ progression from kindergarten to third grade.

“Oregon made some important investments in early learning programs in recent years, but there is more work to do to reach all our children,” said Acting Deputy Superintendent Colt Gill. “We know quality early learning sets students on the path for success from kindergarten on through to graduation.”

Oregon’s 16 regional Early Learning Hubs, which work across education, health, human services, and businesses to support families with young children, use the assessment data to prioritize investments, such as Kindergarten Readiness Partnership and Innovation Funds (KRPI).

“As a community, this information provides us the opportunity to look at where and how to invest in services and early learning programs,” said Lisa Harnisch, executive director of the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub.

Kindergarten assessment results, including district-specific data, are available here: http://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment/Pages/Kindergarten-Assessment.aspx.The initial analysis on the correlation between the kindergarten and third-grade assessments is available under “2017-18 Interpretive Guidance.”

Questions about the assessment can be referred to Brett Walker at Brett.Walker@ode.oregon.gov or 503.378.5160.

Media Contact: Lisa Morawski, lisa.morawski@ode.oregon.gov, 503.510.5576.