6.4 Early Learning and Developmental Guidelines

Lead Agencies must develop, maintain, or implement early learning and developmental guidelines appropriate for children from birth to kindergarten entry. Early learning and developmental guidelines should describe what children should know and be able to do at different ages and cover the essential domains of early childhood development, which at a minimum includes cognition, including language arts and mathematics; social, emotional, and physical development; and approaches toward learning. 6.4.1 Early learning and developmental guidelines a. Check the boxes below to certify the Lead Agency’s early learning and developmental guidelines are: i. [x] Research-based. ii. [x] Developmentally appropriate. iii. [x] Culturally and linguistically appropriate. iv. [x] Aligned with kindergarten entry. v. [x] Appropriate for all children from birth to kindergarten entry. vi. [x] Implemented in consultation with the educational agency and the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body. vii. If any components above are not checked, describe: b. Check the boxes below to certify that the required domains are included in the Lead Agency’s early learning and developmental guidelines. i. [x] Cognition, including language arts and mathematics. ii. [x] Social development. iii. [x] Emotional development. iv. [x] Physical development. v. [x] Approaches toward learning. vi. [x] Other optional domains. Describe any optional domains: Engineering and Technology; Science; Social Studies and Creative and Expressive Arts vii. If any components above are not checked, describe: c. When were the Lead Agency’s early learning and developmental guidelines most recently updated and for what reason? Early learning guidelines (ELGs) were updated through a stakeholder group process and approved in November 2022 by the State Board of Education. They were updated to reflect the latest research and to move to a birth to kindergarten model in one set of standards vs. having two sets--one for infants and toddlers and one for preschoolers. The purpose of these Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Birth to Kindergarten is to support the growth and development of these children throughout the state; to support early childhood professionals in recognizing individual developmental trajectories and expressions of learning; and to guide programs toward the highest quality in their operations. The standards are organized into 17 sections that define a cohesive and research-based foundation for all early childhood professionals as these professionals use a wide variety of curricula, methodologies, and implementation strategies to meet the individual and collective needs of all children across the full range of backgrounds and experiences. In June of FY23, an online training to support the new ELGs: Introduction to Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Birth - Kindergarten was developed and launched. State leaders have also been sharing the new standards through statewide conference presentations and partner meetings to raise awareness. d. Provide the Web link to the Lead Agency's early learning and developmental guidelines. https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/-/media/Project/Websites/mileap/Documents/Early- Childhood-Education/gsrp/standards/ECSQ-B-K_Final.pdf https://www.miafterschool.org/stds-quality 6.4.2 Use of early learning and developmental guidelines 7 a. Describe how the Lead Agency uses its early learning and developmental guidelines. Our state ELGs and Out of School Time Standards are the foundation from which Michigan’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System, Great Start to Quality (GSQ), is built. The Early Childhood Standards of Quality Birth to Kindergarten and the Michigan Out of School Time Standards inform the GSQ indicator structure and quality levels. They are required to be used and adhered to within Michigan’s state preK-Program, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), as well as within Michigan’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Title IV, Part B). b. Check the boxes below to certify that CCDF funds are not used to develop or implement an assessment for children that: i. [x] Will be the primary or sole basis to determine a child care provider ineligible to participate in the CCDF. ii. [x] Will be used as the primary or sole basis to provide a reward or sanction for an individual provider. iii. [x] Will be used as the primary or sole method for assessing program effectiveness. iv. [x] Will be used to deny children eligibility to participate in CCDF. v. If any components above are not checked, describe: Quality Improvement Activities The quality of child care directly affects children’s safety and healthy development while in care settings, and high-quality child care can be foundational across the lifespan. Lead Agencies may use CCDF for quality improvement activities for all children in care, not just those receiving child care subsidies. OCC will collect the most detailed Lead Agency information about quality improvement activities in annual reports instead of this Plan. Lead Agencies must report on CCDF child care quality improvement investments in three ways: 1. In this Plan, Lead Agencies will describe the types of activities supported by quality investments over the 3-year period. 2. An annual expenditure report (the ACF-696). Lead Agencies will provide data on how much CCDF funding is spent on quality activities. This report will be used to determine compliance with the required quality and infant and toddler spending requirements. 3. An annual Quality Progress Report (the ACF-218). Lead Agencies will provide a description of activities funded by quality expenditures, the measures used to evaluate its progress in improving the quality of child care programs and services within the State/Territory, and progress or barriers encountered on those measures. In this section of the Plan, Lead Agencies will describe their quality activities needs assessment and identify the types of quality improvement activities where CCDF investments are being made using quality set-aside funds.