California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD)

California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD)

On September 18, 2018 the California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division (CDE/ELCD), formerly the Early Education and Support Division, announced its new name and the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan (PDF). The new name captures their role in supporting a mixed-delivery system that incorporates multiple funding streams and supports children birth through age 12. The ELCD’s vision is that, “All California’s children have a strong early learning and care foundation, supporting the whole child and school and lifelong success.” Its mission is to “Lead an innovative, inclusive, and high-performing early learning and care system by advancing equitable opportunities that optimize thriving children, families, and communities.”

Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) Resources page on the CDE Website

Re-Opening: Updated Guidance for Child Care Programs and Providers

• Updated Guidance for Child Care Programs and Providers (PDF) June 2020
  On June 5, 2020, the California Department of Public Health issued Updated Guidance for Child Care Programs and Providers that aims to support child care providers and programs as they begin to reopen and other programs transition from emergency childcare for essential workers to enhanced regular operations.
• Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools (PDF) June 2020
  On June 8, 2020, the CDE released a guidance document that includes a section on school-based early learning and care programs, “Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools.” A web version of the guidance document can now be found on the CDE Stronger Together webpage.

• Additional Resources from ELCD
  • Access to Inclusive Early Learning and Care Programs for Students with Disabilities May 2019
    This letter from the California Department of Education reaffirms expectations for access to inclusive early learning and care programs for students with disabilities in California. As California continues to pursue a system of education that adequately addresses the needs of each and every student in the least restrictive environment (LRE), providing access to inclusive early learning opportunities for students with disabilities is fundamental.
  • California Department of Education Streaming Video Collection May 2019
    The Early Learning and Care Division launched the California Department of Education Streaming Video Collection, an online streaming video subscription service. Users may now access the companion videos for California’s educational resources on one simple platform.
  • Resources for Homeless Children and Youths
    Resources related to homeless students’ rights to enroll and participate fully in school.
  • Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant Implementation (RTT-ELC)
  • Child Care Funding Testimony by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
  • California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan Resources (CCELP)
  • California’s Early Care and Education Training Portal
    Assists you to locate:
    • Professional development programs funded by California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division
    • Some ECE and child development public college online coursework
    • Health and safety trainings.
  • California Early Childhood Online (CECO)
    To support early childhood teachers, the California Early Learning and Development System provides an integrated set of resources based on state-of-the-art information for early learning and development and best practices in early education. The courses provided on the California Early Childhood Online (CECO) Web site enable teachers to increase content knowledge and ability to provide developmentally appropriate experiences for children in their care. Meeting the developmental needs of young children and their families requires a comprehensive approach. CECO provides access to comprehensive resources and courses in one centralized location to meet the ever-changing needs of the early childhood field.
  • All About Young Children
    The ELCD is pleased to announce the online publication All About Young Children: Information for Families on Children’s Early Development. This publication provides resources for families based on the California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations and the California Preschool Learning Foundations. It is now available at http://allaboutyoungchildren.org. This website presents information for families that focuses on key infant/toddler learning and development foundations and preschool learning foundations and includes discussion about those foundations by groups of parents.
  • Early Childhood Educator Competencies Videos
    The California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies describe the knowledge, skills and dispositions that early childhood educators need in order to provide high quality care and education to young children and their families.
  • Family Engagement Framework
  • Bridges 2014 E-Journal
    This issue of Bridges will focus on the California Collaborative on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CA CSEFEL), which promotes the social–emotional development and school readiness of young children from birth to age five.
  • Seeds of Partnership
    Seeds of Partnership assists special educators, administrators, staff, and families involved in programs for children with disabilities. We aim to create or provide avenues and tools to increase improvement of partnerships, provide professional development resources, and tools that will assist LEAs seeking to improve their family engagement program practices and educational outcomes. This project is funded by the California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED) and is under the auspices of the Sacramento County Office of Education.

Inclusion Works! Creating Child Care Programs That Promote Belonging for Children with Disabilities

The book is described and explored as part of the Inclusion Works! Training PowerPoint™.

• Inclusion Works! (PPTX)
• Inclusion Works! Participant Handout (PDF)

Edutopia: Unspeakable Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School

Provides links to various media including videos from NBC news, Common Sense Media and articles in the New York Times Learning Network about how to talk to your kids about news how to help kids cope with trauma.

• Empathy In the Classroom: Why Should I Care?
• The Long Game: 4 Essentials for a Successful Mindfulness Program
• Social Emotional Learning: A Schoolwide Approach
  Strategies like mindfulness, emotional regulation, and supportive small groups help Symonds meet the academic and social needs of their students.

• Additional Edutopia Resources
  • Helping Students Who Experienced Trauma
  • There’s no such thing as a bad kid in these six Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools
  • “It’s Not What’s Wrong with the Children, It’s What’s Happened to Them”

Child Care Aware: Crisis and Disaster Resources

Child Care Aware® of America is proud to work with the Partnership for Disaster Preparedness, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Save the Children to protect children before, during and after an emergency — including traumatic events or natural disasters. Resources are available specific to families, caregivers, school professionals and resource and referral agencies.

• Tip Sheet: Supporting Children Who Are Experiencing Stress (PDF) Added: Feb 2017

National Association of School Psychologists: Coping with Crisis: Helping Children with Special Needs: Tips for School Personnel and Parents

This resource addresses the need for schools and parents to work together and gives tips for children with specific types of needs.

American Psychological Association: Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting

Brief practical advice available in English and Spanish.

Accessible Playgrounds

An accessible playground means it is as easy as possible for everyone to play, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Now, more than ever, to meet ADA and due to community pressure, playgrounds are being built with an eye towards accessibility and usability. Let Kid’s Play is thrilled to offer Accessibleplayground.net, the website and home for everything about accessible playgrounds. Here you will be able to:

• Search for playgrounds in our directory
• Educate yourself about accessible play
• Read amazing stories of how others built their playground
• Find resources on all aspects of designing and building a playground in your community, going beyond ADA
• See pictures of recommended playgrounds in our Featured Playground area
• Locate just the right vendors to help you design and build your playground
• Discovery Playground

Benefits of Yoga for Children with Special Needs

An article from the Special Education Advisor.

California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2

California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2 (PDF; 11MB) includes the domains of visual and performing arts, physical development, and health. This companion publication to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2, gives guidance to teachers about strategies for arranging the environment, selecting materials, and planning adult-led and child-initiated learning experiences that optimize children’s development, learning, and overall well-being. The document is also available on the CDE website.