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CQEL will testify at the California Senate's Senate Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response at 9am on 2/27/21. See the agenda 

CQEL Testifies at Senate Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response 

Avoid employee issues, protect your organization, and get clear on what you need to know to get 2021 going smoothly!

 for an in-depth Q&A on what to consider and include in your employee handbook in 2021.

This event is free for all CQEL members! Get your free event code here: 

https://my.caqualityearlylearning.org/cqel-event-discount-codes

Not a member? Join right now and get the free code instantly:

https://my.caqualityearlylearning.org/cqel-event-discount-codes/#/portal/signup

Employee Handbooks: what to include in 2021

We've endured a pandemic and now it's time to encourage families back to our schools. This webinar will offer reflection on your current marketing strategy and tips to adjust your traditional and digital marketing strategies.

How to Update Your Marketing to Boost Enrollment in 2021

With Covid-19 and FFRCA, the world of time off policies has changed. Join HR expert Dmae Shanon of MobileHRNow for an in-depth Q&A on what to consider for employee time off requests. Learn how to give your employees what they need and protect your organization.

Time off and Covid-19: what you need to know to avoid issues in 2021

Employers are taking advantage of tax credits such as WOTC to save up to $9,600 over 1-2 years, and up to $87,000 over 5 years with the California Hiring Credits.

Theres a lot to learn, and Uri Carrazco will walk us through the basics of these credits, as well as others, and how to go about obtaining them.

Carrazco Innovative Tax Solutions is a California-based firm providing comprehensive tax solutions for businesses in California and throughout the country. The firm assists clients to establish their eligibility for state and federal business tax incentives and to obtain the maximum tax benefit to which they are entitled.

Employment Tax Credits 101: Save Tens of Thousands Per Employee

Hiring in child care is so challenging right now. Even seasoned hiring managers are struggling to find great candidates.

This seminar addressing hiring head-on, training you to use the latest hiring technologies, find candidates where others aren’t looking, and ultimately hire great staff.

Note: this cohort-based training is limited to 200 attendees to keep the quality top-notch. Reserve your seat now.

This training is designed for child care managers who have hired before and need to make at least one critical hire in the next 6 months.

We know sometimes hiring can’t wait, so we’re making the whole Hiring Up training available on day one, July 8th. You can watch all of the training in one sitting and get a major boost in your hiring.

You’ll also be teamed up with a cohort group of child care managers, who will be your “team”. You’ll develop & share your hiring goals in the first week, then meet weekly to discuss your progress, that weeks’ on-demand training, and share helpful tips and tricks.

- Use new hiring technologies to find candidates where few are looking 

- Build hiring ads that attract more candidates

- Develop staffing plans so you’re not stuck short-handed

- Create simple systems to reduce time spent on repetitive hiring tasks 

Participating in the weekly cohort sessions is now optional, but encouraged. These discussions are designed to dive deeper into the training content, ask questions, and share resources with peers. Even if you can’t attend, we’ll share the resources.

If you attend Hiring Up, you'll take away new skills and knowledge that will save your organization thousands of dollars and many hours of work. 

At just $119 for members (discount code here) and $219 for non-members, this training is a no-brainer.  

Ticket prices go up $20 on Friday at 5pm - reserve your spot now!

Hiring Up Summer Seminar

Transitional Kindergarten is coming, and your program needs to start preparing now. Those that do not prepare their programs will be at a major deficit in 2-3 years.

 If you're not a CQEL member, sign up here before registering for the briefing: 

Join this CQEL member briefing to learn the latest on the TK legislation, how to start preparing, and what you can do to help build a TK that works for our programs. The briefing will be recorded and sent to CQEL members who can't attend in person.

Member Briefing: How to Prepare for Transitional Kindergarten

​Learn what's coming with Transitional Kindergarten in 2022 and how you can advocate for mixed delivery, a better model for children, families, and providers.

You'll walk away with a clear playbook you can use right now to advocate for a mixed delivery care system could transform California early care and education to work for all communities and child care providers.

This event is the beginning of the conversation, and an introduction to advocacy for anyone impacted by child care legislation (providers, teachers, families, foundations).

With the expansion of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) coming to California in 2022, many families will have a new opportunity to access an additional year of free school. 

But many will be left behind because of the way TK is delivered. 

TK is only offered through public schools, with limited hours (many are just offering 3 hours), inappropriate staff training and curriculums, and inconvenient locations. So the families with the least resources (supplemental care, transportation) will struggle to utilize these new services. 

Allowing all ​child care providers to participate in TK enables families to choose which program best fits their needs.

​This is called "mixed delivery" and community-based child care programs are a key to this system. In a mixed delivery system, both public and private programs utilize public funds to build a seamless early care and education system designed around the needs of children and families. It's the future of equitable, affordable child care, and we desperately need it in California.

This call is for anyone working, being served by, or funding child care and early learning:

Building Child Care for All Communities: Learn how to advocate for mixed delivery in California

Join mixed delivery advocacy advisors to ask any questions about how to advocate for mixed delivery with your local legislators. 

Join anytime from 12pm - 1:30pm PST to ask questions and get help. 

Already had a visit? Be sure to log it here:

Office Hours: Get Help Inviting Legislators To Your Site

​​We're so excited to host you on Saturday at Renew & Rebuild! The event starts at 10:30am online via Zoom (which you can find 

). For online attendees, you'll want to be ready to attend from 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:15pm-3:00pm. Yoga is from 2pm-3pm and is optional.

​There are two important things you need to do now to prepare:

Open and Group Roundtable: Key Licensing Updates and How to Get Prepared - Gary Andary, Jennifer Carter, and Dave Esbin

Marketing to Recruit and Retain a Fantastic Team of Teachers - Molly Hitchens, HINGE Brokers

​Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Renew and Rebuild/ Online Version

This is for an in-person ticket, book an online/virtual attendee ticket 

We're starting small and safe here: we're requiring C-19 vaccinations for all attendees, optimizing the schedule to maximize time outdoors, and masking and socially distanced inside. We're also capping attendance to keep this event smaller than usual. 

Marketing to Recruit and Retain a Fantastic Team of Teachers  - Molly Hitchens, HINGE Brokers

If you're staying the night(s), take time by your hotel pool and a myriad of outdoor activities, like taking the rotating Aerial Tramway up to the San Jacinto Peak

Renew and Rebuild/ Palm Springs

Discuss and navigate through the challenges so many of us are experiencing, plus get practical ideas to improve your site and staff morale. This is like a reset button for you and your organization!  

Join us on March 22nd for the acclaimed CQEL Spring Conference, full of insightful, reparative, and engaging sessions- all live online from the comfort of your office. 

Then pair up with CQEL friends to advocate for private child cares with state leaders on March 23rd to ask for the support we all need.

Here's a sneak peek at the schedule (it's likely to change and get even better):

 -Adam Moskowitz, Mindfulness & Meditation Facilitator

What does this next year hold for COVID-19 and child cares? Q&A with E.R. Doctor/CDPH leader about the pandemic today and its future for child cares. 

Join Dr. Jill Marek in discussing the current state of COVID-19, the science behind CDPH guidance, and what’s to come in the future. -Dr. Jill Marek, CDPH

How to build a pandemic-resilient program budget that increased your program value. 

Learn how to analyze and modify your budget to account for new pandemic-related expenses and seek out new ways, including grants, to amplify your program value. -Kathe Petchel, HINGE Advisors and Childcare Owner

Lunch Break and Director's Coffee Break (open to all CQEL members and Spring Conference attendees)

Pick the roundtable discussion that interests you:

Budget-friendly ideas to appreciate yourself and your staff so you can build or repair relationships and build a happier, more resilient staff culture. -Molly Hichens, HINGE Advisors and Childcare Leader & Jamie Sanbonmatsu, Director, Valley View Children's Center [Roundtable]

​Negotiating challenging parent conversations:

 Steer heated parent conversations and complaints back to productive dialogue. -Jennifer S. Carter, Executive Director, Oak Tree Learning Center [Roundtable] 

Covid-19 may have the spotlight, but there are many other common infectious diseases to protect against

. Learn about mitigation strategies within the childcare setting, so we can all stay healthier together. - Bobbie Rose RN PHN, Program Director, California Childcare Health Program, UCSF

stop paying Indeed for unqualified applicants!

 In this micro-session, learn easy-to-implement strategies to hire better staff faster. -Dave, CQEL's Executive Director

Event wrap-up and planning for Advocacy Day

9am-3pm Meet with legislators! We'll be inviting all attendees to meet with at least one legislator or legislative aide to discuss child care issues.

10:30am-11:30am Legislative Update and How to Advocate Training

CQEL Spring Conference and Advocacy Day

Meeting with legislator or staff of Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes

Legislative Meeting - Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes [AD-47]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Senator Eggman

Legislative Meeting - Senator Eggman [SD-05]

This is to hold the time and give you the Zoom link for the March 23rd 10:30am session: Legislative Update and How to Advocate Training. Please accept the invitation. 

Advocacy Day - Legislative Update and How to Advocate Training  [Important to Attend]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Senator Atkins

Legislative Meeting - Senator Toni Atkins [SD-39]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Assemblymember Boerner Horvath 

Legislative Meeting - Assemblymember Boerner Horvath [AD-76]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Bauer-Kahan

Legislative Meeting - Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan [AD-16]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Senator Patricia C. Bates

Legislative Meeting - Senator Bates [SD-36]

Meeting with legislator or staff of Senator Monique Limón

Legislative Meeting - Senator Limon [SD-19]

The Universal Preschool bill is in the Assembly Human Services Committee today and 

Call into the committee hearing today and express your support for SB 976. The bill will be heard right at 1:30 pm﻿.

You will only be allowed to say your name, the organization you represent, and that you are in support of SB 976.

Call in to Support Universal Preschool

This seminar addresses hiring head-on, training you to use the latest hiring technologies, finding candidates where others aren’t looking, and ultimately hiring great staff.

Note: this cohort-based training series is limited to 200 attendees to keep the quality top-notch. Reserve your seat now.

This training series is designed for child care managers who have hired before and need to make at least one critical hire in the next 6 months.

We know sometimes hiring can’t wait, so we’re making the whole Hiring Up training available on day one, July 7th. You can watch all of the training in one sitting and get a major boost in your hiring.

You’ll also be teamed up with a cohort group of child care managers, who will be your “team”.  You’ll develop & share your hiring goals in the first week, then meet weekly to discuss your progress, that weeks’ on-demand training, and share helpful tips and tricks.

At just $185 for members and just $205 for non-members, this training series is a no-brainer.  

Hiring Up: 2022

Last chance to register and new Licensing and discussion sessions announced!

Join CA ECE leaders for the renowned CQEL Fall Conference, starting November 3rd at 10am.

Walk away with strategies to enroll more children, hire staff, and increase your family sanctification rating.

Note: this event includes a 2-hour Licensing Update session: Guardian, Lead Testing, etc., on 12/6/22. You'll be added to that event for free when it is arranged. 

CQEL Fall Conference: Focus on Success

Ensure you're in compliance and up-to-date on the latest licensing changes. Join   Licensing Advocates for a special 2-hour event focusing specifically on childcare centers.

Book your spot early! Ticket prices gradually rise as we approach the event*:

*Some sponsorships are available for individuals that cannot afford to pay. Please inquire at 

Special Event: Licensing Update for Childcare Centers

If you're looking to grow, buy, or sell a childcare program, this training is a must!

Join CQEL and HINGE Advisors childcare sales experts as they reveal the ins and outs of an early education business transaction process.  

For those looking to sell, this workshop will include great insights on what you can do now to increase the value of your business, the details you need to organize now in preparation of your sale, and what questions to ask during the process o you’re matched with the best buyer to carry on your legacy. 

For those looking to grow, this workshop will provide detailed information on the entire transaction process. This includes how best to avoid delays in the process and methodologies on how a childcare business is valued.  All workshop attendees will get an in-depth look at HINGE’s comprehensive process and financial model.  

For childcare owners who also own their real estate, we’ll cover the ins and outs of determining whether to sell your real estate or lease it to the buyer.  Attendees will learn that a successful sale is not to be taken for granted: it’s not just a price in the abstract, it’s about certainty, avoiding surprises and lingering liability, and fostering your legacy. 

Join us for a packed day of learning and walk away with the confidence to grow or sell your program successfully.   

Book your spot early! Ticket prices gradually rise as we approach the event:

November 14 - December 15 $375 (CQEL Members Only)

You may request to cancel your ticket for a full refund, up to 72 hours before the date and time of the event. Cancellations between 25-72 hours before the event may be refunded as a credit for another event. Cancellation requests made within 24 hours of the class date/time may not receive a refund nor a transfer. When you register for a class, you agree to these terms.

Street parking and lot parking available: https://en.parkopedia.com/parking/bar/uptown-oakland/?arriving=202211101100&leaving=202211101300

[Expert Training] When Opportunity Knocks: Preparing to Buy or Sell a Childcare Business

Join us on March 14th for the acclaimed CQEL Spring Conference, full of insightful, reparative, and engaging sessions- all live online from the comfort of your office. 

Book super early bird tickets now while they're on sale!

We invite you to join our upcoming event, "Unlock the Power of Inclusion: Transform Your Classroom with Proven Strategies"

This zoom seminar focuses on providing early educators with practical strategies to create a more inclusive classroom environment for all students. The seminar emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing diversity, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting equitable opportunities for all learners. Attendees will gain an understanding of how to implement evidence-based practices for teaching diverse groups of students, and explore ways to engage families and communities in the process. The seminar will also cover effective communication strategies, accommodations and modifications, and classroom management techniques to ensure that all students can participate fully and achieve their full potential.

This session will be discussing and answer questions such as:

Debbie Doss is a Director and Owner of American River Montessori, 2007 to present. She has been an active Preschool Teacher since 2004. She is now working with Montessori Credentialed Teacher with American Montessori Society, 2008. Which is a partner site for interns with the California State University Sacramento since 2018. She is currently completing her Master's Degree at California State University, Sacramento, Spring, of 2024

Unlock the Power of Inclusion: Transform Your Classroom with Proven Strategies

We invite you to join our upcoming event, "The Behavior Mastery™ Workshop: How to Work With Challenging Behaviors"

Laugh out loud while learning the 5 tools to immediately improve your classroom behavior through a proven effective behavior modification system using auditory, visual and kinesthetic cues. This system addresses all children, including the neuro-divergent exceptional of the classroom. The participants will be experiencing the same positive physical and emotional sensations that their students will experience. These sensations and experiences will give the participants a stronger understanding and connection to the children and how to create a positive classroom environment. Don’t miss this workshop!

Ron Shuali's Behavior Mastery™ Workshop has received the highest praises from the educational world for being revolutionary and thought-provoking in teaching effective behavior strategies that address the 95% of children that follow instructions easily and the children that have a hard time. They are usually stronger-willed, smarter, faster, more energetic, and resist regular commands. These future leaders need to be nurtured differently and Ron will show the way!

Your participants get to learn how to choose how much power they want to have in their classroom and the success of their children based on the level of responsibility they choose to accept for their classroom.

The more joy and happiness the participant educes from their children, the better the learning experience in the classroom.

Behavior Mastery is about getting every child of the classroom to work with the participant to demonstrate and promote positive behavior.

Ron "SHUA" Shuali, M.Ed. has been called the “Messiah of the Mind" and the "Behavior Master". His laughter-filled keynotes, workshops, and assemblies are always full of eye-opening experiences as audiences have multiple “Ah-HA!” moments. His speaking style and commitment to being real results in audiences awakening their minds to new possibilities in understanding how to truly identify, address and actually SOLVE problems in the following areas.

Behavior Mastery: How to Work With Challenging Behaviors

CQEL launched the Title 22 tool in 2022 to address a big issue for directors: searching through the voluminous PDF's of licensing code. 

It's been used continuously by hundreds of members each week.

We launched a ground-breaking update last week: the ability to ask it any Title 22 question you desire. 

Here are some examples of what you can ask:

Title 22 Tool Overview

CQEL launched the FCCH Title 22 tool to address a big issue for directors: searching through the voluminous PDF's of licensing code. 

​It's been used continuously by hundreds of members each week.

Family Child Care Home Title 22 Tool Overview

​​It's been used continuously by hundreds of members each week.

Family Child Care Home Title 22 Tool Overview- After Hours 🌙 

​Director's Coffee Break is the spot to be! It's the #1 thing CQEL members love about being a member. Join us for this special open session to see what happens at these regular bi-weekly events.

​Join fellow childcare directors and owners for guidance and conversation, valuable resources, and community-building. You're not in this alone! We work together to support each other here.

​This is a one-time open session, and it's not recorded, so don't miss out!

CQEL Director's Coffee Break [Open Session]

We invite you to join our upcoming event, "Planting the Seeds of Success: Mastering the Art of Hiring Exceptional Preschool Educators".

This training will dive deep into techniques, strategies, and best practices for hiring top-notch preschool educators. 

Whether you're a director, owner, or hiring manager, this event is for you. 

As former Directors, we know how vital it is to find and retain the best teachers. Doing that can feel like doing a puzzle with missing pieces.

After more than 10 years in the ECE staffing business, we have some great strategies that work for us and we want to share them with you.

• What to consider BEFORE you start recruiting.

• The long interview process and why it works best.

Founder/Owner, Piazza Premier Preschool Staffing Agency

Bonnie has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1985. She was the recipient of the Most Inspirational Director from the OCAEYC and is featured in “Faith in Children” by Roberta R. Owens. Bonnie has architected strategic plans that generate results. As the owner of an ECE staffing company, she desires to create peace of mind for both teachers and administrators.

Recruiting Manager, Piazza Premier Preschool Staffing Agency

Amber has been in the Early Childhood Field for almost 30 years. She started as a substitute and has moved her way up through the ranks as a teacher and has served as a Director for 15 years. Amber has worked with many different organizations, providing her with many insights and experiences.  

Piazza Premier Preschool Staffing Agency provides excellent, qualified long and short-term teachers with a call to serve early childhood programs. We recruit, hire and retain every day.

🎗️ Don't wait- prices rise as the event approaches. 

Grab your seat and join us for an engaging and insightful event that could help revolutionize your hiring practices.

Planting the Seeds of Success: Learn the Art of Hiring Exceptional Preschool Educators

We invite you to join our upcoming event, "Legal Issues in Preschool Education: What You Need to Know"

Teachers and administrators are required to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment.  However, an educator acting in good faith may commit an error of judgment and face career-threatening legal consequences.

Participants will have answers to three questions relevant to preschool education:

2. What should I do if I suspect child abuse?

3. Do I have a contract, and what does it say?

This session will consider three timely topics relevant to preschool teaching and learning:

 1. Teacher liability and the mandate for educators to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment.

2.  Mandated reporting and the requirements surrounding suspected child abuse.

3. Contracts and the issues surrounding implied contracts, breach of contract, and contractual time requirements for preschool teachers.

Nancy has spent 30-plus years in education as a teacher, administrator, and professor of educational law.  Her interactive seminars are based on professional experience and researched-based practice.

Legal Issues in Preschool Education: What You Need to Know

We invite you to join our upcoming event, "

Empowering Self-Awareness: Introduction to Conscious Discipline

Conscious Discipline is an adult-first, trauma-responsive approach to self-regulation, wellness, and classroom management. Understanding brain states help adults see children’s misbehavior in a developmentally appropriate frame. It helps adults perceive children’s misbehavior as a call for help and an opportunity to teach. Attendees will walk away with: 

Catherine is a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor and has been training and coaching early childhood teachers and parents in the process since 2006. I worked as Director of Heritage Preschool at Heritage United Methodist Church in Overland Park, Kansas, for 20 years. I have a BS in Family Life and Environment from Louisiana State University. I am a mom of 3 and "Nonna" of 3.