Human Services Designing Early Learning Guidelines and Retooling Regulations in a Bid to Improve Childcare

Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. said Wednesday that the Department of Human Services is in the final stages of completing initiatives to design early learning guidelines and revamp rules and regulations to improve quality childcare. 

“In January 2010 parents, educators and childcare providers will have access to early learning guidelines to prepare children age three through five for kindergarten. New rules and regulations for the establishment and management of a childcare facility will also be enforced for childcare providers after a public review and hearing in December and January, respectively,” de Jongh said. 

The governor pointed out that for approximately two years a steering committee of childcare and early education entities worked cohesively to provide a document that addresses all aspects of a child’s early learning development and the importance of preparedness for success in school. “Workshops pertaining to the guidelines for parents, childcare providers and educators will be held in early January 2010,” de Jongh said. 

Members of the steering committee include DHS Division of Child Care and Regulatory Services and Head Start, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, The Family Connection, Caribbean Literacy Network, Department of Education Division of Instruction, Technology, and Assessment, University of the Virgin Islands Division of Teacher Education and other Early Childhood Educational professionals. DHS also exercised its authority to promulgate policy for operating childcare facilities by revamping the rules and regulations. With growing national health and safety standards and research on early learning development in children, DHS raised the minimum standards that child care facilitators must obey. Comprehensive revisions will permit childcare providers to have more accountability of how childcare facilities are administered. Some revisions to the regulations for new childcare providers offering services for children from birth to 14 years include having an educational background conducive to childcare, and compliance with new standards for the physical layout of a facility to foster an optimal learning environment. Current childcare providers will have a two year time limit to comply with the new regulations. DHS will offer fiscal assistance via grants for providers who need monetary support to change the structure of their facility. 

The new rules and regulations will be available for comment and review on December 9th at DHS main offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix, the Family Connection on St Thomas, the UVI libraries and all public libraries and on the web at www.dhs.gov.vi. Public hearings to discuss the changes will be held starting the week of January 19th on each island. 

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