Early Childhood Resource Centers

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Created in 1991 – lead agencies were originally public schools, community agencies and libraries.

FY09 Competitive Bid – only public libraries were eligible to apply. Goal was to leverage existing capacity of libraries to disseminate resources statewide at no additional cost to EEC.

PurposeProvide access to materials and resources for early education and care programs and families statewide;

Provide EEC educators/providers with professional development opportunities, and

Offer programming that supports parents in the role of their child’s first teacher.

Background

Leveraging the Massachusetts Library Networks

Current Early Childhood Resource Center sites: Cambridge Public Library Falmouth Public Library Haverhill Public Library Norfolk Public Library Springfield Public Library

Every library is part of a network. Networks include morethan 300 public libraries, 38 academic libraries, and asmall number of school libraries.

Thousands of ECRC materials have been loaned throughthese networks.

ECRCs create broader access to early childhood resourcesfor parents, schools, and for all EEC initiatives.

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Early Childhood Resource Centers Activities Provided

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End of Year Data: FY09  Events Offered Number of Participants     

Parent/Teacher/Provider Workshops 18 518     

Child/Family Presentations 81 658 Children  615 Adults   

Number of Resource Materials Loaned 4,151     

Number of Outreach Activities Preformed 46    

End of Year Data: FY10  Events Offered Number of Participants     

Parent/Teacher/Provider Workshops 55 800     

Child/Family Presentations 78 944 Children  597 Adults   

Number of Resource Materials Loaned 6,807     

Number of Outreach Activities Preformed 39    

What We Know About Early Language andLiteracy Development 1

Early language and literacy (reading and writing) development begins in the first three years of life and is closely linked to a child's earliest experiences with books and stories.

The interactions that young children have with such literacy materials as books, paper, and crayons, and with the adults in their lives are the building blocks for language, reading and writing development.

Children learn to talk, read, and write through such social literacy experiences as adults or older children interacting with them using books and other literacy materials, including magazines, markers, and paper.

Language, reading, and writing skills develop at the same time and are intimately linked.

Early literacy development is a continuous developmental process that begins in the first years of life.

Early literacy skills develop in real life settings through positive interactions with literacy materials and other people.

1 retrieved from Zero to Three, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/early-language-literacy/earlyliteracy2pagehandout.pdf, April 28, 2011

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Aligning Focus of ECRCs with Research Findings and Early Literacy Action Steps 2

Families play an active role in language and literacy development and are supported in developing necessary skills.

Develop a framework for effective support of family engagement around language and literacy;

Provide families with information about supporting their children’s language and literacy development and the availability of community resources.

2 Governor Patrick has convened a Joint Departmental Committee for Early Literacy comprised of members of the Boards and the

Commissioners of Early Education and Care, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Higher Education. The Committee has

developed several action steps including the one noted above to engage families.

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FY12 Proposed Services

Primary Focus: Early and Family Literacy

Early Childhood Resource Centers will: Provide child/family interactive events/activities that strengthen the literacy

focus within the parent child relationship. At least 24 hours of activities should be provided over 12 months;

Provide opportunities to engage the dual language learner in literacy rich activities;

Promote awareness of free book programs in the community, and Connect parents to adult literacy programs.

Early Childhood Resources Centers will continue to: Catalogue, house and maintain an established collection of early childhood

resources; Purchase appropriate early childhood materials as allowed in budget to keep

resources current (include curriculum, parenting support, children’s books, teacher/provider books);

Maintain relationships with the coordinators of local public pre-schools and EEC initiatives, including CFCE Programs, CCR&Rs, Head Start, and FCC systems to close the proficiency gap, and

Promote awareness of family-friendly books, videos, and theme kits available for loan to parents/children/families.

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FY12 ECRC Competitive Request for Proposal

Seeks Bids to fund up to five ECRC contracts to public libraries:

• Annual funding allocation of $7,000 per ECRC

• Total annual funding of $35,000.00

• Total 3 year contract award of $105,000.00

RFR timeline

• Board vote on RFR criteria and budget: May 10, 2011• RFR posted: May/June (Tentatively)• Funds awarded: July/August (Tentatively)