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  • High Quality Early Learning (HQEL)

High Quality Early Learning (HQEL)

High Quality Early Learning (HQEL)

Photo of preschool age girl with pink bow

Photo of girl with a pink bow playing with play-doh

 

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Early Childhood Education (ECE) believes that every family should have an opportunity to choose a high quality early and care and education setting that promotes positive development of their child. Scientists, economists, and educators recognize research suggests early care and education beginning at birth is an investment that pays dividends as children enter kindergarten, move through the early elementary grades, transition to college or a career, and become adult citizens in their community. Families that choose early care and education programs for their children do so for a variety of reasons and should have options for programs that are high quality, are available where families live and work, and are affordable. 

HQEL Guidance Manual

ADE ECE has an opportunity to support early childhood programs in high needs communities (HNC) through the High Quality Early Learning Grant  (HQEL). The purpose of the HQEL, offered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security- Child Care Administration, is to support Arizona in developing and enhancing capacity to deliver high-quality preschool programming as well as implement and sustain quality preschool for eligible children, increasing the number of children who receive high quality early care and education services and improving young children’s success in school and beyond. High-quality early childhood services that include comprehensive services have been strongly linked to both academic and life skills success among children. Research shows children who come from families with several risk factors show the most gain from access to high quality early childhood programs. 

HQEL offers an opportunity for children and families to access high quality early childhood programs by allocating funds to programs located in HNCs. Funding will support programming for those children who may not otherwise have access to high quality early care and education prior to kindergarten entry by either increasing the number of hours that children participate in a high-quality program or by increasing the number of children who are served.

High Quality Early Learning (HQEL) Eligibility

The High Quality Early Learning Grant (HQEL) is a competitive application process open to eligible quality early learning programs. Eligibility does not automatically conclude grant award. The ADE ECE will work in collaboration with early childhood system partners to identify eligibility indicators that will be used to curate a list of early learning programs that will be eligible to apply. Eligible applicants will be determined based on a weighted measure and cut scores as determined by the ADE ECE and system partners.  

Those programs determined eligible to apply will be awarded based on a competitive application process in year one.  

Please note that early learning programs may be subject to an onsite visit prior to determining grant participation. This onsite visit may include onsite interviews with staff, review of program alignment to the Program Guidelines for High Quality Early Education (PGHQE), and a visual inspection of the HQEL classrooms.  

Those early learning programs awarded will continue with participation during the grant life cycle under the DES umbrella (obligation of funds by June 30, 2024). Once awarded, programs must be licensed, and remain “in good standing or in substantial compliance” as defined by their regulatory agency throughout their participation in the grant. A program being placed on enforcement action for any reason may result in the revocation of funding and revocation of program participation. In addition, all awarded programs must engage in authentic on-going progress monitoring and assessment using the AZ State board approved progress monitoring tool. Currently this tool is Teaching Strategies GOLD. All awarded programs must use this tool for impacted children.     

 

Sites Eligible to Apply

Sites Eligible to Apply

Informational Webinar

 

HQEL Informational Slide Deck (ENGLISH)

 

Diapositivas Informativas de HQEL (ESPAÑOL)

 

 

 

 

Payment Information

All payments for the HQEL Grant are coming directly from the Department of Economic Security (DES) Child Care Administration. These payments are allocated for the same amount each month and are based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) slots requested in the HQEL grant application.

For payment related questions, please email:  [email protected]  

 

Document Templates

HQEL Programs can use the following document templates for enrollment and monitoring.

Document Templates

 HQEL Enrollment Application FY24
Child Age Verification Form
Family Income Verification Form
Most-in-Need Form
Waitlist Sharing Protocol
Family Engagement Self-Assessment
Kindergarten Transition Plan

 

EMAC

HQEL monitoring documents will be sumitted via the EMAC platform through ADEConnect.

  • Videos:
    • How to Add ADEConnect Roles

 

  • Guidance Documents:
    • EMAC Portal User Guide
    • EMAC Administrator Guide

 

HQEL Grant Timeline:

HQEL Grant Timeline.png

High Quality Early Learning Grant Timeline
  • 2/18/2022 - Email sent to sites eligible to apply
  • 2/22/2022 - HQEL Application opens
  • 4/17/2022 - Application closes (Extended from April 8)
  • 4/11/2022 - Review of applications begins
  • 4/29/2022 - Notice of Award and Non-award. Sites must ensure that DES has an up-to-date W9.
  • May 2022 - Payments through DES begin
  • May-Aug 2022 - Onboarding Activities
  • Aug 30, 2022 - Programs must be fully operational

 

ECQUIP

One key process we have in place is the Early Childhood Quality Improvement Practices (ECQUIP) process. ECQUIP was developed by the Early Childhood Education unit as a continuous improvement process to ensure quality and accountability among schools within an Early Childhood Program receiving state funding through the ECE unit of the Arizona Department of Education. ECQUIP is a process to bring early care and education providers and stakeholders together to break down silos, improve communication, and align quality goals. ECQUIP continues to be a vehicle for all early childhood programs to partner and build quality preschool for all Arizona’s young children.  

Quality Programming

Children who participate in high quality early education programs are exposed to academics in a way that nurtures the whole child and encourages them to engage in activities with responsive, nurturing adults who promote children’s optimal development when they’re not with their families. Historically, preschool programs and elementary education have remained separate for a variety of reasons including different funding sources, infrastructures, values, and traditions. Preschool has not typically been viewed as a part of public education for two primary reasons: (1) It is not universally funded by the public; and (2) It is not a mandated grade level. Due to the now-recognized importance of the role early care and preschool play in the education of our children, there is a critical need for high quality programs that provide children with the foundational skills and knowledge they need to be successful learners.  

There are many factors that contribute to a high quality early care and education program. Some of these critical elements include:  

  • Class or group size; 
  • Child-adult ratios;  
  • Curriculum;  
  • Developmentally appropriate instructional strategies; and  
  • Interactions and relationships between staff, children, and their families.  

The level of staff preparedness and stability, the opportunity for on-going training, and the responsive supervision of staff play equally important roles in ensuring quality early learning experiences for children.  

The HQEL grant will be using the alignment to the High Program Quality Guidelines, Quality First Participation, Head Start Affiliation,  or National Accreditation to determine program quality. 

Program Guidelines for High Quality Early Education: Birth through Kindergarten (PGHQ)

  • Program Guidelines for High Quality Early Education: Birth through Kindergarten

Quality First Participation

  • Quality First AZ

National Accrediation

  • National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC)
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation
  • National Early Childhood Program (NECPA) Accreditation

Early Literacy

Arizona is committed to supporting and improving the literacy skills of all of our children. Arizona will be leveraging the HQEL Grant opportunity to provide a comprehensive and systemic approach to advancing literacy skills among disadvantaged children in early childhood, including children living in poverty, English learners, children with disabilities, and those belonging to a subgroup that is otherwise underrepresented.  

With intentional coordination and collaboration between and among early childhood education programs and system partners, targeted evidence-based strategies will be deployed at HQEL sites to produce measurable gains in language and literacy outcomes.  

These strategies may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Access to high-quality preschool programming
  • Practitioner training in the Science of Reading
  • Literacy coaches, supports, and resources
  • Research and evidence-based curricula
  • Training on the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS)

Resources:

  • Early Literacy Resource Collection

Cox Campus (FREE Training)

  • Video: Early Literacy & Cox Campus
  • Website: Cox Campus
  • Flyer: AZ Workforce Registry Cox Campus

The following sites below have been awarded the HQEL Grant.  These sites will utilize the next two years to provide high-quality preschool programing to their communities youngest learners. Congratulations to the HQEL grantees!!

Preschool Program

City

A.E.S.D.#44 -  CENTERRA MIRAGE SCHOOL
A.E.S.D.#44 -  DESERT STAR SCHOOL
A.E.S.D.#68 - ALHAMBRA HEAD START - WESTWOOD
A.E.S.D.#68 - ALHAMBRA PRESCHOOL ACADEMY
A.E.S.D.#68 - HEAD START - GRANADA PRIMARY SCHOOL
A.E.S.D.#68 - HEAD START - SEVILLA PRIMARY SCHOOL
ACORN CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL NORTH
ADVANCE U
ARCOIRIS CHILD CARE PRESCHOOL
B.C.E.S.D.#15 - BULLHEAD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL
B.U.S.D.#9 - BOBCAT CITIZEN PRESCHOOL
BIENESTAR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
BIENESTAR DEL CIELO
BUBBLES CHILDCARE & PRESCHOOL
C.E.S.D.#83 - CARTWRIGHT EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
C.E.S.D.#83 - CARTWRIGHT EMPLOYEE DAYCARE
C.U.S.D.#24 - CANYON DE CHELLY
C.U.S.D.#24 - CHINLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRE SCHOOL
C.U.S.D.#24 - MANY FARMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
C.U.S.D.#24 - TSAILE PUBLIC SCHOOL
CHILDREN'S ACHIEVEMENT CENTER
CHRIS-TOWN Y M C A
COOLIDGE HEAD START
D.V.U.S.D.#97 - HEAD START I CONSTITUTION
D.V.U.S.D.#97 - HEAD START I I VILLAGE MEADOWS
DAYCARE LEON L L C
ELOY HEAD START
ESTRELLITA CHILD CARE CENTER, L.L.C.
FAMANIA LEARNING CENTER
G.E.S.D.#32 - SAN LUIS PRESCHOOL
G.E.S.D.#40 - DESERT GARDEN COMMUNITY ED PRESCHOOL
GROWING STEPS CHILDCARE & LEARNING CENTER
HARVEST PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE CENTER
KIDS KLUB INC
KINDERTOTS
L.E.S.D.#65 - LITTLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRESCHOOL
LEARNING BEE PRESCHOOL & DAY CARE CENTER
LEARNING BEE PRESCHOOL & DAY CARE CENTER
LIL' KIDDIELAND CHILDCARE
LINCOLN FAMILY Y.M.C.A.
LITTLE HANDS BIG MINDS DAYCARE
LITTLE OWL'S DAYCARE
LITTLE SCOOTERS PRESCHOOL LLC
O.E.S.D.#8 - LONGVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
O.E.S.D.#8 - SOLANO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH
OUT OF THIS WORLD CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE, INC.
P.E.S.D.#94 - PALOMA PRESCHOOL
PAO DAY CARE
R.E.S.D.#66 - BUSH HEAD START
R.E.S.D.#66 - CESAR CHAVEZ HEAD START
R.E.S.D.#66 - DAVIS HEAD START
R.E.S.D.#66 - M L KING HEAD START
S.C.V.U.S.D.#35 - CALABASAS PRESCHOOL
ST. JOHN VIANNEY CATHOLIC PRESCHOOL
SUPERIOR HEAD START
T.E.S.D.#17 - ARIZONA DESERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
T.E.S.D.#17 - PORFIRIO H GONZALES
T.E.S.D.#17 - SHEELY FARMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TOTS UNLIMITED #26
W.A.C.O.G. - BULLHEAD CITY HEAD START
W.A.C.O.G. - CARLISLE HEAD START CENTER
W.A.C.O.G. - GWYNETH HAM EARLY LEARNING CENTER
W.A.C.O.G. - ORANGE GROVE HEAD START
W.A.C.O.G. - RANCHO VIEJO HEAD START
W.A.C.O.G. - SAN LUIS HEAD START
W.E.S.D.#7 - WILSON PRIMARY SCHOOL PRESCHOOL
Y.E.S.D.#1 - NORTHEND PRESCHOOL
Y.E.S.D.#1 - ROLLE - DISCOVERY CLUB
GOODYEAR
GOODYEAR
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
PRESCOTT VALLEY
PHOENIX
SAN LUIS
BULLHEAD CITY
BENSON
SAN LUIS
SOMERTON
YUMA
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
CHINLE
CHINLE
CHINLE
CHINLE
TUCSON
PHOENIX
COOLIDGE
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
NOGALES
ELOY
SAN LUIS
SAN LUIS
SAN LUIS
GLENDALE
TUCSON
YUMA
COOLIDGE
PHOENIX
AVONDALE
TUCSON
TUCSON
COOLIDGE
PHOENIX
SAN LUIS
SAN LUIS
BULLHEAD CITY
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
GLENDALE
PHOENIX
GILA BEND
SAN LUIS
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
PHOENIX
RIO RICO
GOODYEAR
SUPERIOR
TOLLESON
TOLLESON
PHOENIX
GLENDALE
BULLHEAD CITY
SOMERTON
YUMA
SOMERTON
YUMA
SAN LUIS
PHOENIX
YUMA
YUMA

Targeted Office Hour Sessions & Resources

 

Welcome Session

  • Welcome Session Slides

 

HQEL Guidance Manual Session

  • HQEL Guidance Manual Slides

 

High Quality Classrooms & Materials

  • Video: Recorded Meeting with Lakeshore Learning
  • Visual Representation: Lakeshore HQEL Classroom - Visual Representation
  • Price Sheet: Lakeshore HQEL Classroom - Price Sheet
  • AZELS Catalog: Lakeshore Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS) Catalog

 

Early Literacy & Cox Campus

  • Video: Early Literacy & Cox Campus
  • Website: Cox Campus
  • Flyer: AZ Workforce Registry Cox Campus

 

HQEL Monitoring

  • Video: HQEL Monitoring Recorded Session
  • Video: HQEL Monitoring Recorded PowerPoint Slides
  • Slides: HQEL Monitoring PPT Slides (pdf)

 

EMAC (Education Monitoring and Compliance)

 

  • HQEL EMAC Guidance Recorded Session

 

Getting Access to EMAC:

  • How to Get Access to EMAC Flowchart

 

EMAC User Guides:

  • EMAC Portal User Guide (pdf)
  • EMAC Administrator Guide (pdf)

 

EMAC Help Videos:

  • How to Add ADEConnect Roles
  • Finding a Monitoring Task Assigned to Me
  • Overview of the Monitoring Task Details Page
  • Complete and Submit an Online Form
  • Upload Evidential Documents to a Monitoring Task
  • Start to Finish Monitoring Task Completion Workflow

 

Teaching Strategies GOLD

  • How to Create AZED ID Numbers
  • Teaching Strategies GOLD Overview & Resources

 

Child Find

  • Video: Introduction to Child Find (Recorded Session)
  • Slides: Introduction to Child Find (pdf)

 

Early Childhood Education Funding

Additional resources related to funding Early Childhood Care and Education:

  • DES Child Care Administration
  • DES Child Care Grants and Scholarships 
  • Quality First (now enrolling providers)
  • Supporting and Sustaining Early Learning: Funding Options for Early Childhood Education in Arizona

 

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