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Program Design in a Pandemic

  • 1.  Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 09:23 AM
    Hi everyone, 

    I hope that you are managing to stay safe and sane in this strange new world. 

    This past week, I have been tasked with the responsibility of coordinating information for my home agency (Tulsa Educare) as we consider how and when to reopen our program in this new world. Many available resources are varied, confusing, and in some cases contradictory, so I sought to winnow the list to a single page of trusted, regularly updated sites.

    That list is here. It includes information for our state (Oklahoma), city, and county, but most of the resources on the first page are relevant nationally and internationally. The second page is a list of three sets of conclusions: What We Know, What We Think We Know, and So We Should.... To present that last set of design action items more clearly, I've created this online presentation: "ECE Design in a Pandemic." 

    I will keep these two resources updated as the situation changes and as new research information becomes available. If you have questions about or suggestions for either of them, please let me know. 

     Chris

    ------------------------------
    Chris Amirault
    School Director, Tulsa Educare
    Member, Affiliate Advisory Council
    Tulsa OK
    camirault@naeyc.org
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-06-2020 10:20 PM
    Our school has been closed since March 12. We have cancelled summer programming and are beginning to think through logistics for reopening this fall. As I understand current CDC guidance for child care providers that remain open, it is recommended that class sizes be kept to 10 or less. For centers that are currently open or considering reopening, are you considering 10 to be the maximum number or students or including the teachers in this number, as well? I appreciate your insights.

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    Logan Lyman
    Westminster School for Young Children
    Nashville TN
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  • 3.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 12:37 AM
    Our school is in the same situation.  Except we are still contemplating summer camp. It's a daunting. My understanding is that "less than10"  recommendation means 9 individuals total in a room. With that in mind I have been planning for 7 children plus 2 teachers in the younger children's classrooms (2-3 year olds) and probably 1 teacher and 8 children in the another room (4-5  year olds). Good luck - I think we all need it.

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    Kim Parker
    Director
    Pumpkin Patch Preschool
    Wilson WY
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  • 4.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 12:41 AM
    We've been closed since March 13. We will reopen in September. We are registering next year students under the assumption of the 10 per ROOM regulation from the licensing Office of Early Childhood. We've been told we can apply to enlarge the maximum of 10 and would have an additional inspection to assure that we can safely have more students in the spaces we offer. Unfortunately I found out today that a shared space separated by large furniture that does not go fully floor to ceiling is only one space. We've been dividing that area into two "rooms" with a very large two sided 7 foot bookcase. Our total student capacity now is much lower and we will have to readjust staff.  Our wait list now unfortunately is longer and includes some returning students who may be turned away.  The blessing is, there is a chance (small, but still there!) that the OEC will enlarge the per room allowance. It makes registration very difficult. But we understand the need to have safe practices across the board.

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    Beth Warweg
    Director
    WETHERSFIELD UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL
    Wethersfield CT
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  • 5.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 01:02 AM
    Wondering if you typically offer services throughout the summer?  Or is it a traditional school year? Sept-May/June?

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    Kim Parker
    Director
    Pumpkin Patch Preschool
    Wilson WY
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  • 6.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 01:11 AM
    Our school is traditional, September to June. Our Governor just declared schools closed for the balance of this school year yesterday. (He's been cautious, hoping to see some way clear to allow graduations to occur. But our numbers of new cases, though improving, just didn't allow a lessening of restrictions.)

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    Beth Warweg
    Director
    WETHERSFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL
    Wethersfield CT
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  • 7.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-07-2020 10:06 AM
    Thank you so much Chris - this will be so valuable to so many of us!

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    Anne Rothe
    Director
    Key Biscayne Presbyterian School
    Key Biscayne FL
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  • 8.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-08-2020 12:17 PM
    Thank you for this comprehensive information!

    As an instructor in a college ECED program trying to think about placing practicum student in the Summer and Fall (in Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas), it's good information to have on hand.

    Janeen Ward
    Southeast Community College

    Lincoln, Nebraska

    ------------------------------
    Janeen Ward
    ECED Instructor
    Southeast Community College
    Lincoln NE
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  • 9.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-08-2020 12:44 PM
    Thank you Chris for your comprehensive list and Prezi - this will really help us as we begin to consider re-opening. We're not a daycare. I am the curator of an under 5s children's gallery in a science centre but I think following ECE protocol is the right thing for us to do. I appreciate you sharing your research with us.

    ------------------------------
    Wendy Lorch
    Early Learning Specialist
    Science World
    Vancouver BC
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  • 10.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-12-2020 05:30 PM
    This is such an important visual tool for us to have when planning to reopen! Thanks Chris!!

    ------------------------------
    Best regards,

    Sandy Baba, Ph.D
    NAEYC Asian Interest Forum Co-Facilitator
    Education Researcher, Community Advocate,
    California AEYC Diversity Committee Member
    *Hello is a great platform for us to exchange our ideas and have conversations, lets keep sharing our ideas!
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-12-2020 05:46 PM
    Thanks, Sandy! 

    I'm seeing 20-ish folks in the google doc most of the workday; I can't track the prezi link in the same way. I do worry that folks aren't rethinking their basic assumptions about (re)opening -- which really isn't the right term for what we should be doing. Instead, we should be creating a very different program model, one that requires that leadership answer difficult questions about why, who, how, and so on. And if you make safety the top priority, then you have to rethink everything else, and keep rethinking it as information changes. 

    Chris

    ------------------------------
    Chris Amirault
    School Director, Tulsa Educare
    Member, Affiliate Advisory Council
    Tulsa OK
    camirault@naeyc.org
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-12-2020 06:55 PM
    I hear you, it's not "reopening".  It's operating a pandemic proof early childhood education program.

    That's why your blueprint visual is such an important tool because it allows folks to reflect on their readiness and resources needed to make it happen.

    Thanks again! I am always learning something from you!

    ------------------------------
    Best regards,

    Sandy Baba, Ph.D
    NAEYC Asian Interest Forum Co-Facilitator
    Education Researcher, Community Advocate,
    California AEYC Diversity Committee Member
    *Hello is a great platform for us to exchange our ideas and have conversations, lets keep sharing our ideas!
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-13-2020 10:28 AM
    I've been updating this listing of resources and tentative conclusions daily, and in the last few days there have been some important developments, not limited to the testimony in the Senate yesterday: a Brookings report about vulnerable populations and "essential" workers who can't work remotely; the link to type-2 diabetes; and new hotspots growing in the midwest. I'll try to post here whenever there's particularly relevant new information. 

    Here's the google doc link again. Happy to try to answer any questions if folks have 'em. 

    Stay safe and sane. 


    ------------------------------
    Chris Amirault
    School Director, Tulsa Educare
    Member, Affiliate Advisory Council
    Tulsa OK
    camirault@naeyc.org
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Program Design in a Pandemic

    Posted 05-28-2020 09:29 AM
    As we begin to create a plan to re-open our EC programs in August, I am interested in how other programs are handling teacher personal days. Are substitute teachers being allowed or are other staff members covering classes?  Your thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

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    Shannon Wright
    EC Teacher
    Virginia Chance School
    KY
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