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The Massachusetts Early Learning

Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

The Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

Drafting the Guidelines:Research, Development, Review and Finalization

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The Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: The Grant Award

ARRA funded Grant awarded to MassAEYC & partners on March 22, 2010:

Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children• Marcia Farris • Marie Enochty

Institute for Education and Professional Development• Jody Figuerido • Linda Schumacher• Marcella Simpson

Marilyn Favreau Consulting• Marilyn Favreau

Quinisigamond Community College• Meghan Martin• Charlene Mara

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Research

Review of Infant and Toddler Guidelines from States that already have them:

0-33 Months: 0-5 Years: Maine New Hampshire

Pennsylvania Virginia

Michigan Tennessee Ohio Alabama Kentucky Indiana North Carolina Wisconsin

Georgia Iowa Florida Kansas Mississippi Idaho Arkansas Oregon Louisiana Washington Nebraska Alaska North Dakota California

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The Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Consultation

Consultation for Massachusetts was obtained through the Administration of Children and Families Region I Office

Provided expertise, resources as well as perspective of other state guidelines

Came to Massachusetts twice Consultation by phone as needed Communication through email as

needed

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The Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Consultation and Review

Review DPH Early Intervention Competencies

Head Start Performance Standards Early Learning Guidelines for Preschool

Learning Experiences NAEYC Accreditation Standards for Infants

and Toddlers EEC regulations for infants and toddlers WIC to obtain current information on

feeding and nutrition for infants and toddlers

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The Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Meetings with National and State Experts

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MassAEYC and EEC held meeting in April to gather initial input from Infant and Toddler Experts National Experts:

• Linda Gillespie, Gwen Morgan, Betty Bardige

State Experts:• DPH, Head Start, Head Start T&TA, Early

Intervention, and others

MassAEYC and EEC held weekly meetings by phone or in person and communicated by email as needed

The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Review and Comment Phase

Internal EEC staff including licensing staff gave comment

7 Focus groups across the state were jointly facilitated by MassAEYC and EEC

Draft guidelines posted online with a survey from August 22nd to September 21st

Over 350 people reviewed and commented on the Guidelines

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Focus Groups

7 Focus groups across the state were jointly facilitated by MassAEYC and EEC including: MassAEYC family child care conference A focus group in Springfield for Spanish speaking family child care

educators

Over 260 educators were reached and gave comment Family child care educators Center based directors Infant and toddler educators Higher Education Early Intervention Head Start Other community organizations

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Online Survey

Survey posted online with guidelines from August 24 – September 25th

6 demographic questions and 15 content questions

Sample Question:

The guidelines are responsive to children with differing abilities

AgreeDisagreeComment

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Online Survey

75 people responded to the survey

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Content Area Expansion

Based on comments guidelines were expanded the content in the areas of:

Dual language learners Supporting family culture Inclusion and Special needs Home visiting Integration between domains Partnerships with families Biting and Behavior Management Men as teachers

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Issues from the Field

The document is comprehensive, but educators may not use the document because it is voluminous

The document is meant to be a resource to the field, but educators may see it as another requirement

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Next Steps

Incorporating Board Comments

Resolving format issues

Assuring final document is user friendly and companion to preschool guidelines

Providing training to the field

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: Intent of Guidelines:

Serve as a resource

A common tool for discussion, dialogue and sharing between parents, early childhood professionals, and community members about reasonable expectations and practical strategies for all adults who care for and teach young children

Contribute to a unified vision for early education and care

Create a continuum of learning that links early care and development to later success in school and in life by aligning with the preschool guidelines, proposed common core standards, and K-12 academic standards and grade expectations

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The Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: The Vote

To achieve the desired alignment and support high quality early education and care, the Department of Early Education and Care recommends that the board approve the proposed Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

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