CRESC WEEKLY UPDATE

Teaching young children takes immense patience, creativity, and heart. This Labor Day, we want to honor your hard work as an educator shaping the minds and futures of our youngest learners. Thank you for creating safe, joyful spaces for children to discover the world and for the countless hours you invest in their growth. We hope you take a well-deserved break this weekend to recharge.

Happy Labor Day!

Informational Provider Call- Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 @ 12:00

The Monthly Provider Calls are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to provide announcements, updates, Provider highlights, etc. To attend these meetings, please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ezj991LVT_GR2x9JRt0X4w After you register, a link to join the meeting will be emailed to you.

Providers,

This week, I will be reaching out to those who expressed interest in receiving Brightwheel for FREE for one year!

As a reminder, the Center for Early Learning Solutions (CELS) at Forward Arkansas has partnered with Brightwheel, the leading early childhood platform used nationwide to support family engagement, attendance, billing, and daily communication. Through this partnership, eligible programs receive Brightwheel at no cost, helping you simplify administrative tasks, improve communication with families, and centralize key program functions.

Key benefits include:

- Secure real-time updates for families with messaging, photos, and daily reports

- Simplified billing and easy on-time payments

- Attendance tracking, reporting, and documentation tools for compliance

- Everything for your business organized in one system

If you are not currently on my list but are now interested in taking advantage of this free year of Brightwheel, please reach out to me directly at wgreen@crmail.k12.ar.us so I can make sure you're included.

You can also schedule a demo and learn more about how Brightwheel can support your program here: https://info.mybrightwheel.com/forward-ar

For additional questions, you may also contact Brightwheel directly at arkansas@mybrightwheel.com.

Thank you for your continued commitment to children and families in our state.

Best regards,

Wendy Green

Dear Providers,

I am reaching out to let you know that I am attaching and sending out a survey to gather information about your needs for the 2026-27 school year.

I am not able to move the waiting list. With that in mind, I ask that you think about your current reality and identify the top three needs for your situation right now.

My team and I will use this information to guide how we provide support moving forward, so your input directly shapes what that support looks like.

The survey will only take about 5 minutes to complete, and it is vital that everyone responds so no one is left out or unheard. Please make sure to fill it out so we have an accurate picture of what our support should look like for the coming year.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. If you would rather reach out to me personally instead of completing the survey, please feel free to contact me directly at wgreen@crmail.k12.ar.us.

Be well,

Wendy Green

FILL OUT THE LINK

CLASS Observers,

We are reaching out to share an important policy update regarding CLASS observer recertifications moving forward.

1. Recertification Expiration Tracking

Please complete the form linked below as soon as possible so we can update our records with your current certification status and expiration date:

FILL OUT THE 👉 LINK

2. Submit Your Certification Directly to Me

In addition to completing the form, you MUST send me a copy of your current CLASS Observation Certification along with its expiration date. If I do not have this information on file, I will not be able to arrange a code for you. Please make sure I have your information — this step is required.

3. Updated Funding & Cost Responsibility Policy

Please be aware that the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is no longer funding CLASS recertifications. Moving forward, funding for recertification will depend on your observation area and role:

- Local Lead Funding Eligibility: Local Leads are only able to cover recertification costs for observers who actively conduct CLASS observations WITHIN and ONLY CRESC service area.

- Out-of-Area Observers & Individual Responsibility: If you are conducting observations outside the CRESC area,

or if you are not currently actively observing, you will be responsible for covering your own recertification fees.

Please fill out the form above and send me your certification information so we can verify your status and determine if your recertification is eligible for coverage.

Please note: I will take this message/form down in two weeks, so please respond as soon as possible to ensure your information is on file.

If you have any questions regarding your observer status or coverage eligibility, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your continued dedication to supporting quality early childhood experiences, and for your support with this process!

Best regards,

Wendy Green

Now Scheduling: CLASS Observations!

It’s that time of year again! We are officially booking CLASS observations for the upcoming school year. Please take a moment to check your inbox and reply to any scheduling emails so we can coordinate the best dates for you and your team. We appreciate your prompt responses!

See the information below for details about this upcoming "Learning Year" (2026-27) at CRESC!

Dear Providers,

As we step together into the CLASS® "Learning Year," the Crowley's Ridge Educational Service Cooperative (CRESC) catchment area is launching a structured rollout designed to guide and assist you every step of the way.

Please review the three-part rollout process below, which outlines exactly how we will work alongside your facility moving forward.

Part 1: Initial Local Lead Facility Visits & Reliability Setup

• Step 1: Contact & Scheduling – A member of the CRESC Local Lead team will contact you directly by phone or email to schedule an in-person facility visit. Please note: No CLASS observer will begin conducting official observations until the Local Lead team contacts you to confirm your facility is fully ready.

• Step 2: Dual Coding & Observations – During this scheduled visit, the Local Lead team will sit down with your facility's certified observer to "double-code" side-by-side. Together, we will code all four 20-minute observation sessions.

• Step 3: The NICE Process – Following the observations, our team will remain on-site to walk through and complete the NICE process for one full cycle.

• Step 4: Supporting Independence – Once reliability is confirmed and we have completed our post-observation conversation, the Local Lead team will determine the next steps. We may schedule follow-up visits to support additional observations, or we may hand over the official CLASS booklets so your certified observer can independently conduct CLASS observations within your facility.

Part 2: Data Collection & Portal Uploads

• Step 1: Data Collection – The Local Lead team will meet with your CLASS observer or pick up completed observation data to collect the entire facility's observation records.

• Step 2: Teachstone Portal Management – To maintain consistency and reduce administrative burdens on your staff, no individual inside the CRESC catchment area will have direct portal access to upload their own data. The Local Lead team will personally enter and manage all facility observations within the Teachstone portal.

Part 3: Feedback Meetings

• Step 1: Afternoon Next-Step Meetings – Once the data is securely logged in the Teachstone portal, the Local Lead team will schedule an afternoon meeting with your CLASS Observer (Director/Owner). Note: Each facility has the complete choice to include their classroom teachers in this meeting or keep it administrative. During this time, we will collaboratively review the data and map out a next-step action plan for your staff.

• Step 2: Sign-Off & Documentation – At the conclusion of this afternoon's meeting, the CLASS Observer (Director/Owner) will sign our completion form to confirm that our team has fulfilled this task. You will receive a physical copy of this documentation for your records.

❤️ We Are Here to Support You

As you can clearly see from this structured rollout, your Local Leads are here to serve as your support system. Our entire focus is on uplifting, assisting, and protecting everyone through this process moving forward.

We truly cannot wait to work directly alongside you to do what is best for your staff, your centers, and the children of our CRESC catchment area!

Warmly,

Wendy Green

Local Lead Captain

Starting July 2028 school year, Arkansas will require all publicly funded early childhood programs to use a curriculum from the state’s official Approved Curriculum List. The goal is to ensure every classroom has high-quality materials that support great teaching, and the state is even working to find free or low-cost options to help make this change easier for everyone.

I am more than happy to support any provider as you begin to do your research on what HQIM is best for YOUR facility!

Click on link https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/Final_Approved_List_OEC.pdf IMPORTANT: Once you click the link, you can select the underlined curriculum within each box to view a breakdown of why it was chosen.

For more information, here is a helpful website: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-early-childhood/content--development/curriculum

Your Local Lead Team is working to get vendor information to you.

Thank you for your patience

Celebrate upcoming Labor Day with Family Fun & Gratitude!

Check out this week’s Families in the Know featured resource: a Labor Day guide filled with simple ways to celebrate togetherness, show appreciation to local community helpers, and build early learning experiences right at home.

• Community Helper Appreciation: Simple craft ideas to draw cards or write thank-you notes for local heroes (mail carriers, firefighters, teachers, librarians).

• Hands-on Teamwork: Fun activities like neighborhood walks, family picnics, or simple home projects that get everyone working together.

https://canva.link/5ys1n8eryekpavl

As we look ahead to a fantastic school year, I want to remind you that I would love to support your upcoming community events, school Literacy Nights, or Math Nights!

CRESC will be represented at these events by your Local Lead.. My goal is to be there to support birth through Pre-K in our community with families and to help you promote the importance of early childhood education.

If you have any events or special nights coming up, please reach out and let me know the details. You can send all information directly to me at wgreen@crmail.k12.ar.us.

I can't wait to see what other amazing events you have planned!

Wendy Green