What's New
Stay current with what's happening in Early Childhood Education! News headlines and upcoming conferences/workshop listings to keep you 'in the know'. Contact us to list your Headline or Conference/Event!
Headlines
Revisions to Article 47 Have Been Approved
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Bureau of Day Care regulates public and private child care centers operating in New York City through enforcement of Article 47 (Child Care Services) of the Health Code. After a series of public hearings last year, the code was amended and the changes will go into effect on September 1, 2008. Some important modifications include:
- All centers must now have a written health and safety plan that describes standard policies and procedures for the safe operation of child care facilities.
- The requirement that new staff be tested for tuberculosis infection has been eliminated .
- A new provision has been added to maintain all medical information confidential .
- All employees and any volunteers that have unsupervised contact with children must have two hours of training on child abuse and maltreatment identification, reporting and prevention within the first six months of employment.
- All teachers are now required to receive training in infection control and reporting infectious diseases.
- Assistant teachers are required to receive 15 hours of training every two years, including the mandatory child abuse courses and other subjects related to child health and safety, and early childhood development.
- Infant/toddler teachers are required to have an associate's degree in early childhood education or a CDA or GED and experience in the field as well as a study plan leading to an associate's degree in early childhood education within seven years.
- Infant/toddler programs are restricted to the first (ground) floor and one level below the floor to facilitate the evacuation of the youngest children during emergencies. Child care services for older children will be restricted to the third or lower floors and window guards will be required on all windows.
To assist centers in the compliance with the new regulations, the Bureau of Day care will hold a number of informational city-wide forums to discuss the revisions. During the forums, information about the “Tune in for Child Safety” child abuse prevention initiative will be provided. Download the documents below for more information and visit http://www.tuneinforchildsafety.org/ to register for the forums. You can also email Juanita Wilson at jwilson4@health.nyc.gov if you have any questions.
New Article 47
Letter from DOHMH DOHMH Forum Registration Form Tune in For Child Safety Flyer
New Local Child Care Tax Credit
New York City families with low incomes can now access the local Child Care Tax Credit to help them with the cost of child care for children under the age of four. Up to 49,000 families can benefit from this tax credit and have the opportunity to work while they receive pay for child care expenses. To find out how families can take advantage of this tax credit and earn up to $1,733, download the NYC Child Care Tax Credit Fast Facts or contact the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance for additional information.
New Early Childhood Magazine from NAEYC
The National Association for the Education of Young children (NAEYC) recently launched a new magazine especially designed for early childhood educators. Teaching Young Children highlights best practices, innovations and research in the field, and offers interesting ideas for people working with our youngest.
Find Out More About the Magazine and Subscribe
Learning About the Workforce: A Profile of Early Childhood Educators in New York City’s Community- and School-Based Centers
A collaboration of the NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute and the Cornell University Early Childhood Program, Learning About the Workforce (November, 2007), provides the first in-depth profile of early childhood educators in the city’s community- and school-based centers. The study was designed to examine the characteristics of the workforce that have been linked to quality, including levels of education and certification, program tenure, compensation, and participation in professional development. It offers a blueprint for the city and state as we continue to plan and build a comprehensive system of training and professional development that supports high-quality services for all children and families
Announcing Learning About The Learners: A New Publication From the NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
The NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute is pleased to announce the release on December 12, 2006 of its latest publication, Learning About The Learners, prepared by Susan Blank, Cynthia Centeno, Barbara Coccodrilli Carlson and Maria Garcia and shared by Sherry M. Cleary, Executive Director for the Institute.
Learning About The Learners gives us a clear snapshot of the current landscape of professional development for early childhood educators in New York City, and more importantly, provides a compass to help us navigate towards a comprehensive model of professional development for our future.
Conferences and Events
- June 16-20, 2008
- Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY - Read More About It
- Download the Application Form
- Call 914-365-2630, email cdi@slc.edu or visit http://www.sarahlawrence.edu/cdi/Summer_Program.php for more information
- June 17-19, 2008
- New York, NY
- Get More Information
- June 24, 2008
- Baruch College
Room 14-220
55 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY - For more information contact The Committee for Hispanich Children and Families, Inc at 212-206-1090 or kreyes@chcfinc.org
- July 17-19, 2008
- Chicago, IL
- Read More About It
- July 21-23, 2008
- Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE
- Get More Information
Online and Ongoing Events
- Offers free evaluations and teachers for children with:
- Speech delays
- Learning disabilities
- Social problems
- Behavior problems
- Physical development delays
- Other
- Bilingual Seit personnel speak Chinese/English, Korean/English, and Spanish/English
- Call (718)353-2330 or call Barbara at Day Care Council (212) 206-7818 for free brochures
- Call Ms Madge at (201) 461-6032 for Bilingual Seit in Bengali/English for free special instructions and evaluations
- For new AND experienced teachers working in a child care center/day care center: new, uncertified teachers who are working towards their initial certification in New York State AND experienced, certified teachers interested in becoming a trained Mentor.
- Experienced early childhood teachers are offered the opportunity to become trained mentors and pass on their expertise and guidance to beginning teachers.
- New teachers are offered access to a skilled role model and colleague who will help them to learn more about working effectively with children, staff, and families.
- Educational Directors are invited to participate in their own seminars, as they are engaged in this process of mentorship and professional development.
- FREE for all participants
- Even though the application deadline was November 30, 2005 please call Meredith Lewis at : 212-961-3412 if you need more information about the program.
- Email: mlewis@bankstreet.edu
- Visit them
- This Series features workshops for Early Child Educators, Parents and Caregivers.
- All programs are FREE of charge, but you must register in advance.
- To register, call the Branch that is hosting the Workshop you are interested
- List of Library Branches
- Provide effective strategies to target professional development priorities and reach all individuals.
- Self-paced courses available anytime from any computer.
- Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion of each course
- These are some of the courses and seminars offered:
- Adapting Language Arts, Social Studies and Science Materials for the Inclusive Classroom
- Adapting Reading and Math Materials for the Inclusive Classroom
- Educational Assessment Principles and Practices
- English Language Learners with Language and/or Learning Disabilities: Is it a Language Difference or Is It a Disability?
- ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS - EC-TIIS: Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System at Western Illinois University
- The Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System (EC-TIIS) is a FREE online training program.
- This site provides nine high quality online workshops which focus on the use of technology as a tool to assist young children with disabilities in achieving developmental goals.
- Topics include Adaptations; Curriculum Integration; Computer Environment; Expressive Arts; Emergent Literacy; Math, Science, and Social Studies; Technology Assessment; Software Evaluation; and Family Participation.
- Each workshop contains written information, graphics, links to outside resources, and downloadable curriculum activities and articles.
- Participation in the workshops is FREE. There is no charge for use of this site.
- You will need to register and complete a technology survey, a preschool educator or family survey, and a short pre-assessment before reviewing the workshops.
- You can view sample workshops before registering.
- Requirements for receiving CPDUs, CEUs, graduate credit, or a certificate of completion will be provided upon request.
- The online workshops are ongoing and always available.
- Learn More
- For questions, email EC-TIIS Co-Director, Linda Robinson at: L-Robinson1@wiu.edu
or call (309)298-1634 ext.250.
- TEACHER-LEADER INSTITUTE- Bank Street College
- Focuses on creating program-wide change by involving teams of teachers and Directors in a series of participatory seminars that center on developing effective early childhood program environments and strategies that promote teamwork and cooperation. The Institute offers these director-teacher pairs an opportunity to interface outside of their centers, in order to accomplish the challenging task of operating a child care center effectively.
- The Goals of the Institute:
- Strengthen understandings of early education and developmentally appropriate practices
- Develop knowledge of activities and strategies that promote cooperation, mutual sharing and team building
- Develop and engage teacher and leader teams in mentoring relationships
- Create a peer support network for program leadership teams
- Support knowledge and use of a variety of tools to assess professional development growth as a means of documenting continuous improvement and quality
- For more information, contact Tracey-Lee Lucas at 212.961.3414 or tldlucas@bankstreet.edu
Special Study Opportunities
- Graduate Course in Early Childhood Offered in Italy: 10 Pacini Scholarships Available
- The School of Education at St. John´s University is again offering the three credit graduate program in Early Childhood Education in Italy this summer. 10 Pacini scholarships are being offered. The program gives graduate students the opportunity to explore the relationships between italian culture, history, art and their influence on early childhood education.
- All early childhood teachers and administrators are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a bachelor´s degree in Education or related field.
- Get More Information
- Facilitating Play for Young Children
- Sarah Lawrence College is offering a new program on the overaching importance of play in the life of the child
- Participants will explore uses of play in learning and therapeutic contexts. Session on campus will be completemented by field observations of children at play
- The program is designed for professionals serving young children
- Students will read a set of articles in advance to the program (provided) and prepare for seminar and workshop activities. Participants will receive a letter of attendance.
- The cost for the week is $750, including lunch and materials
- Apply Here