For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• Governor Baker issued Executive Order 49 which directed EEC to:
  •  Expand access to children ages 6-14 through EEC licensed preschool programs;
  • Allow non-EEC licensed programs to create Remote Learning Enrichment Programs for school-age children;
  • Allow parents to form Learning Parent Cooperatives not subject to EEC licensing requirements for up to 5 families.
    
• As a result, EEC and DESE issued Care Options for Hybrid and Remote Learning Models. Below is a quick summary of the above mentioned models (note: contact your licensor to get answers to questions or clarification before applying for number 1 below). 
  
• Info on Expanded Access
  • Interested community organization with space may partner with an existing EEC licensed provider to expand access to care for children ages 6-14; or age 16 if the child has special needs;
  • Expedited EEC approval process for additional space will take place if the EEC program is in good standing and operating under Minimum Health and Safety Requirements;
  • Interested community partners are subject to EEC regulations and monitoring;
  • Applications are submitted through program's LEAD Portal.
    
• Info on Remote Learning Enrichment Programs
  •  Programs can apply to EEC for this license exemption if they are not already licensed by EEC or are licensed-exempt.
  • Exemption allows the applicant to provided regular and drop-in care during school hours (based on the first part of the 2019-2020 school schedule) only, not before or after school hours.
  • To qualify for a licensure exemption, programs must first be approved by a municipal authority [such as a school board or local board of health] before applying to EEC for an exemption.
  • Municipal authority must provide written attestation that the following criteria are being met:
    – Ratio: 1:13;
    – CORI, SORI, and DCF welfare check has been done on adults who will be around children;
    – Facility used has an up-to-date fire, lead paint, and building inspection;
    – Children attending are between the ages of 5 (are able to enter first grade the school following year) and 14 (or 16 if the child has special needs) and are enrolled in public or private school in Cambridge;
    – Applicant has provided a self-attestation stating it will follow EEC or DESE health and safety guidelines.
  • To apply for this EEC license exemption, the applicant must submit the following documentation:
    – Approval letter and signed attestation from the local municipal authority;
    – EEC exemption application.
  • Municipality must monitor program on an on-going basis and notify EEC of any non-compliance with the above criteria
    
• Info on Remote Learning Parent Cooperatives
  • Families or guardians may share supervision of remote learning activities during the school week.
  • They are not subject to EEC licensure, approval, or exemption if:
    – A maximum of five participating families are involved;
    – Children are enrolled in school (i.e., does not include home schooled children);
    –A parent or guardian is on site at all times;
    – No parent is compensated except to cover the cost of food, materials, or supplies.
  • If a Remote Learning Parent Cooperatives does not abide by above, it is subject to regulation by EEC.
    
• EEC released the COVID-19 Child Care Playbook. This document combines the latest Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety with operational guidance and best practices.
  
• The next Cambridge Directors Support Zoom meeting, led by Bess Emanuel and Polly Smith, will be held on Friday from 10 to 11AM. Check your email inbox every Friday morning for the Zoom link.
  
• The last weekly Cambridge Directors' Meeting will be on September 11th. Meetings will continue with a frequency and facilitation plan yet to be determined. Please take a minute to complete the short survey you received to provide data and input to inform the decision about the future of the meetings. If you did not receive the survey, please check your spam folder.
  

• B3 has posted EEC’s COVID-19 Positive Reporting Form on its website (under EEC Reopening Guidelines and Forms).
  
• Dominique Jean, a school nurse, will answer your urgent COVID-19 symptom questions (Is this dry cough from COVID-19 or due to allergies?). She can be reached at: 781.803.0766.
  
• For non-urgent COVID-19 related calls, please call 617.665.3648. One of two nurses will reply to all hotline phone calls and emails after they have checked the phone line or email account.
  
• For more complex medically related questions, Directors should contact MA Dept. of Public Health’s epidemiologist Dr. Katherine Hsu at 617.983.6948 or [email protected].
  
• EEC’s Reopening Plan requires programs to provide contact information for their local Board of Health.
  • This information should now be:
    Address: 119 Windsor St., Cambridge, MA 02139
    Phone: 617.665.3648
    Email: [email protected] 

For Teachers

Curriculum Support & Professional Development

• Click here to see B3’s Online Training Resources for the Early Childhood Workforce dated August 11th.
  
  
  

For Families

Activities for Families

• Click here for WGBH’s Family Fun at Home that has activities for children ages 3 to 5.
• Find It Cambridge is regularly updating its Virtual Activities at Home category with online and at-home activities for all ages of children and adults to enjoy.
• Check out the Cambridge Public Library website for fun virtual events.

Resources for Families

• Parents and caregivers who are experiencing any kinds of problems related to their children can call the Parental Stress Line for support: 1.800.623.8188. The Parental Stress Line is staffed by volunteer counselors who are sympathetic and nonjudgmental and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.