From Lei-Anne Ellis: B-3 Update June 10, 2020
Published on Jun 10, 2020 11:21

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June 10, 2020

For Directors 

exclamation pointDirectors Alerts

  • Programs must submit their Intent to Open Form to EEC by Friday, June 12th. If you are unable to submit form, contact your EEC Licensor for help.
  • On June 8th, EEC released its Updated Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety. Edits for preschool programs are in green print (see pages 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 20, 24).
  • On EEC website are two other documents
    – First is the Child and Youth Serving Programs Reopen Approach that states EEC will provide plan templates, guidance, and self-attestation forms for providers to review and prepare during the week of June 8th.
    – The second is a 15-page updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
  • On page 12 of newly released FAQs, EEC addresses the tension between social distancing and children’s social-emotional and attachment needs by saying, “EEC will rely on the expertise of educators to ensure daily schedules and activities are designed to foster physical distancing in the most effective ways they can imagine to mitigate virus spread—while continuing to help children enjoy their day and foster learning!”
  • Worries about how we support Infant and early childhood mental-health in our programs is the focus of this document, Reopening Child Care & Early Education Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Focused Best Practice Recommendations.
  • Child Trends article, Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic recommends programs include a healthy dose of the 3 R’s – Reassurance, Routines, and Regulation – in their daily programming.
  • Child Care Exchange website has two 23-minute From Surviving to Thriving video series:
    Rebuilding Your Child Care Organization goes over seven key financial considerations facing childcare programs;
    Engaging, Assuring and Re-Enrolling Parents offers ideas to promote a program’s reopening such as a banner that can be seen from the street.
  • Click here to learn about Families First Coronavirus Response Act extended family and sick leave for employees caring for a child because the child’s school or childcare provider is closed due to Coronavirus.
  • B3 is still hoping to interview both directors and teachers regarding physical activity and nutrition policies. If you willing to be interviewed, please contact: Julia DeAngelo, Research Coordinator at [email protected] or by phone (203.962.5550).
  • B-3 Mentors, Bess Emanuel and Polly Smith, are facilitating Cambridge Directors Support meetings on Zoom every Friday at 2PM (open to all Cambridge directors). Check your email inbox every Friday morning for the Zoom link.
dollar graphicFunding
  • As of June 5th, Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (H. R. 7010). This new act modifies the former PPP loan program by offering borrowers the following flexibility:
    – lowers payroll expenditure requirements to 60% from 75% (however Congress must resolve whether or not loan forgiveness is given if borrower does not meet 60% threshold);
    – extends the 8-week period funds must be used to 24-weeks;
    – two new exceptions allowing borrowers to achieve full PPP loan forgiveness even if they don’t fully restore their workforce;
    – delay payment of their payroll taxes which was prohibited under the CARES Act;
    – have five years to repay the loan instead of two if the lender and borrower agree.
  • New Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications are being accepted as approximately $130 billion of the $320 billion second round funding has not been distributed. The term of the loan repayment is set at 5 years and interest remains at 1%. Click here for more information on PPP.
  • Many US Representatives and Senators have cosponsored new legislation, the Child Care Is Essential Act, to create a $50 B child care stabilization fund within the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CBDG) program. Funding would: provide grants to support provider’s operating expenses; keep staff on payroll; offer working families tuition and copayment relief, and promote health and safety through compliance with public health guidance. Contact your congressional delegation to express your support of this legislation.

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For Teachers

pushpinsCurriculum Support & Professional Development

  • The last of the Back to the Future Workshops, entitled Community Connections, and Transitions, will be held on June 17th. If you are not already registered to attend and would like to, please contact Danielle Pazos at [email protected]. Here are the links to all three age-based sessions:
    Infants: 9:30-11AM | Join Zoom Meeting
    Toddlers: 12:30-2PM | Join Zoom Meeting
    PreK: 2:30-4PM | Join Zoom Meeting  
     

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For Families

happy faceActivities for Families

  • To help a young child develop fine motor skills, punch holes in a tall yogurt container lid. Have the child slide crayons through the holes.
  • Tape a rectangle-shape wax paper on a window. Let your child glue or tape pieces of colored paper on it to create a work of art.
  • Listen to stories read aloud by WBUR hosts and reporters. Hip Cat is a treat as it is lyrical – jazzy just like Hip Cat!
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Birth to 3rd Grade Partnership

135 Berkshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
www.cpsd.us • 617.349.6554




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