RI Early Learning Standards Technical Assistance Initiative

The Rhode Island Department of Education’s Early Learning Standards Project began its Technical Assistance Initiative in August, 2008 to support the development of high quality, inclusive, early education programs throughout Rhode Island. 

Each year, a new cohort of administrators and educators receive one year of targeted, individualized training and technical assistance from expert trainers and consultants to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to support full implementation of Standards-based programming. 

Eligibility

School districts and community early care and education programs who have demonstrated commitment to implementing a Standards-based program and who are operating inclusive programs are eligible for participation in the Initiative. 

In order to participate, programs must:

• Demonstrate that administrators have completed the RI Early Learning Standards Training at the administrator level (Level III) and that a Program Portfolio has been developed
• Form a program team that includes key early childhood administrators and managers, the public school liaison for accessing services for children with disabilities, and two classroom teachers who have completed Level II training and have made significant progress implementing the Standards to improve classroom practice
• Agree to measure child outcomes throughout their participation in the Initiative
• Ensure that members of the program team are available to fully participate in on-site TA activities and statewide cluster trainings that are a part of the program’s Quality Improvement Plan

• On-site technical assistance to assist the team in developing a program improvement plan that addresses next steps in implementing Standards-based, inclusive practice
• Ongoing training and technical assistance both individually and in clusters for one year to support program improvement efforts
• Resources and materials to support their program improvement efforts

• Visits by the classroom consultant to support them in their future role as mentor teachers
• Ongoing training at the program-level and in clusters across the state to support them in gaining new levels of competency to implement Standards-based practice in the areas of curriculum, child assessment, differentiated teaching and learning, and family engagement
• Resources and materials to support them in achieving their professional development goals

• Support their cohort teachers in becoming mentor teachers within their program
• Provide information and feedback to ELS Project leaders regarding their T/TA experiences
• Collect and report child outcome data
• Be willing to share information and expertise with other programs by:
  • inviting programs to visit, tour, and talk with staff
  • participating in meetings sponsored by the RI ELS project

• Aligning Curriculum (program-wide and/or classroom- based) with the Standards
• Improving skills related to implementing a quality curriculum (i.e.: teaching and facilitating)
• Authentic Assessment aligned w/Standards
• Differentiated Teaching and Learning
• Designing Learning Environments
• Building a system of mentoring to support implementation of Standards
• Developing IEPs aligned with the Standards
• Accommodations and modifications for children with disabilities