Early Childhood Digest
The Latest Early Childhood Developments by Wayne RESA
June 7, 2024
2023/2024 School Year Program Survey
Submit: 24/25 SY Hub Contacts
Fiscal Reminders
Budget and Contract Amendments
Programs who failed to meet their full enrollment have had their GSRP Main Budget updated with the new allocation. Contract amendments will be sent by email to the program's HUB contact by NOON, Friday, June 14, 2024. Programs with contract amendments will be asked to sign and return the document electronically using Adobe signature not later than NOON, Friday, June 28, 2024.
Allocation Planning for 2024-2025
The Great Start Readiness Program team at WCRESA has been working diligently to review, categorize, and discuss the allocation requests made by our current program partners. We expect to be able to provide an update regarding program allocation requests soon, and we appreciate your patience with us. Current programs will receive notice prior to new programs being considered for GSRP 24/25 SY. Funding decisions will go out the week of June 10th for current programs.
Accounting Software
For the 24/25 SY accounting software will be a requirement for all programs. If you have questions regarding this requirement, please join fiscal for office hours. Office hours can be found below.
Billing Reminder – Transportation Costs
A friendly reminder to programs who provide transportation, particularly Districts/LEAs: Please remember to bill your transportation costs for the school year before the end of June, if your program has not been regularly submitted for reimbursement. As a reminder, all transportation billing is reimbursement-based and processed through E-TIME and there is no program carryover for transportation funding.
Completing Program Budget Ledgers
Please remember that ledgers are due to be completed by the 15th of the month following for each monthly ledger. Please only add actual expenses to your program ledger that have been fully paid. Please note that the ledgers are what we use to track and evaluate program spending. Failure to complete program ledgers correctly and on time may result in payments being held until documentation is completed.
Topic: 6208 Office Hours: GSRP Fiscal Reporting
This is a series being held on the following dates:
6/12/2024, 7/10/2024
Join Zoom Meeting
https://resa-net.zoom.us/j/83173019577
Meeting ID: 831 7301 9577
Enrollment - LEAs and PSAs
We remain under the 23/24 SY Enrollment Guidance at this time.
While we await official guidance from the legislature regarding updated income information for 24-25SY, please defer to the 23-24SY guidance. It is not too early for families to submit applications for enrollment staff to review eligibility and accept children based on the previous 23-24SY thresholds. The guidance document from 23-24 is attached, for reference.
As you begin accepting families into your GSRP classrooms, you must continue to uphold prioritization standards by enrolling/accepting those families with the greatest need first.
Applications for window babies (turning 4 years old between 09/01 and 12/01) and over-income families should be collected and completed with the necessary documentation but cannot be enrolled until we release enrollment for OI and window babies (usually, 09/01). We heard your input/feedback and anticipate announcing a date sooner than September for this release. The release of this information will depend on information received on the new ‘over-income’ level.
PreK for All Office Hours
Please join Elizabeth Grace, Interim Executive Director of Early Childhood Services, Wayne RESA Early Childhood Education Department, for virtual open office hours on the topic of PreK For All. The drop in sessions are available biweekly and are one of the ways Wayne RESA is supporting our partners as PreK For All is implemented in Michigan.
Social Emotional Support
If you are seeking support for an individual student with challenging behaviors, please contact your ECS or PCC to complete a referral. Dr. Anderson will continue to consult with programs all the way through the last day of school. If you would like support in writing transition plans for kindergarten, she is available to consult on that as well.
SEL To Go
Social Emotional Learning Resource Library
Please help me develop our social emotional resource library by filling out this form with ideas and topics for us to develop professional resources for your teaching teams.
Reminder: Teaching Strategies Update
My TS is becoming SmartTeach
No impact to Teach or Assess
When SmartTeach launches this summer, it will replace the MyTeachingStrategies (MyTS) platform, but this will not impact or change anything about your experience with Teach or Assess. The platform will be temporarily unavailable during the weekend of the switch.
Access new resources to learn more
Get acquainted with the new SmartTeach platform including Quick Hit videos, webinars, and more. You can access these resources and register for the “Getting to Know SmartTeach” webinars on the new landing page in The Hub.
Meet Up and Eat Up!
2024 Summer Food Service Program Offers Free Meal Options for Children
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will again offer free and nutritious summer meal options for children ages 18 and under from low-income families with its popular Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Meet Up and Eat Up program is a great way for kids to continue eating healthy meals during summer break.
To find a Summer Food Service Program site in their community, people can visit the Meet Up and Eat Up locator map at www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup. All information, including meal service times and serving dates, will be available once school is out for summer recess. The locator map website is updated regularly throughout the summer months.
Great Start Collaborative - Wayne County
Great Start Detroit / Wayne County is dedicated to ensuring every child has a strong start in life by collaborating with families and community partners. We help you stay connected with Free to low-cost Events, Help & Fun in Detroit & Wayne County!
On our Find Help page, you will find resources for shelters, food, diapers, finance, and so much more.
Looking for free or low-cost Family Fun? We also work hard to find all the local activities, festivals, reading fun, arts and crafts, and more! Check out our Find Fun Page.
Take a look at our June Newsletter! To sign up for our monthly newsletter, Click Here.
Lastly, Check out our updated Out and About Resource Guide! These are hot off the press and shipping out now. If you have received copies and need more, or if you would like to order a case of 100 copies to share with families, simply fill out the form in the link, and they will be shipped to you at no cost. We can not split cases or send individual copies. Out & About Order Form.
Elaine Koons presented Talking in Teaching at the Wayne RESA Advisory Meeting, and many have expressed interest in hosting a Talking is Teaching session at their site. Click here to complete the Talking is Teaching Interest Survey
The program will be contacted by Ms. Koons regarding offering Talking is Teaching following the completion of the survey. The survey will be accessible in the Digest.
Talking is Teaching questions may be sent to EarlyChildhood@resa.net (Subject line: Talking is Teaching) for monthly answers/updates from Elaine Koons and Elizabeth Grace.
1. Complete the 2023/2024 School Year Program Survey
2. Submit 2024/2025 SY Hub Contacts
Professional Learning
2024-2025 Course Catalog NOW AVAILABLE!
Kristy Carmichael
Navigator - Our Strong Start, Child Care Licensing Bureau
Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
Phone: 517-643-0553
Child Care Licensing Child Care Licensing (michigan.gov)
Our Strong Start (connecting with a navigator) Our Strong Start (michigan.gov)
CCHIRP Technical Assistance CCHIRP (michigan.gov)
ASQ Support
Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®) provides reliable, accurate developmental and social-emotional screening for children.
ASQ Technical Assistance is available! If your program needs ASQ Online training, login or password info, or access to the Help Me Grow partner Google Drive please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amber Anderson at Help Me Grow. All GSRP programs should be a Help Me Grow partner to receive their ASQ Online Account.
Amber Anderson
Care Coordinator/Technical Assistance
Help Me Grow Michigan
Great Start Collaborative Detroit-Wayne
313-410-5235
Open office hours are available on Thursdays at 2:00 P.M.
Zoom link for our GSRP working hours: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5969353317
Google form link: GSRP Partner Intake Form
Booking link: Everybody Ready (zohobookings.com)
Looking for updates on what is going on in your child care licensing region?
Please join the CCLB Regional Office Hours hosted by the CCLB area managers! This is an opportunity to stay informed, connected, and engaged within your child care licensing region. These sessions are a great opportunity for conversation and connection.
LARA Office Hours (see link below):
Wayne County with LaTanya Ellington
Great Start to Quality Job Board
Do you have openings in your program? Great Start to Quality can help you find qualified candidates!
Early Childhood Job Board - Great Start to Quality
Job postings are good for 60 days and can be renewed, if needed.
Send the jobs description(s), program location and submission contact information to jobs@ecic4kids.org
Once a candidate submits a resume or cover letter, Great Start to Quality sends them directly to the program.