ISSA Mid-Year Report

1. ISSA Mid-Year Report June 2009

2. ISSA Pedagogical Standards –Competent Teachers of the 21st Century: ISSA’s Definition of Quality Pedagogy The Foundation of ISSA’s programmatic work Objectives: • Advocate for access to high quality services and education • Professional development tool • Build learning communities nationally and internationally • Strengthen the role of the civil society • Promote dialogue among all stakeholders on the definition of quality

3. ISSA Pedagogical Standards –Competent Teachers of the 21st Century: ISSA’s Definition of Quality Pedagogy Main activities during Jan-June 2009: • Finalized revision of the standards and indicators • Piloted application of standards for different age groups • Enlarged collection of video materials for training • Methodology book and collection of examples under development • Photos and other testimonials from members gathered • Design of the publication and poster developed

4. ISSA Pedagogical Standards –Competent Teachers of the 21st Century: ISSA’s Definition of Quality Pedagogy Next steps: • Meeting with group of international experts in August • Development of strategy for practical application of revised standards in the network and beyond • Publish brochure and poster • Finalize methodology book • Finalize Position Statement and Introduction • Further develop video materials to accompany standards

5. Study on Implementation of the ISSA Pedagogical Standards (2001 – 2008) Objectives: • Document and analyze the variety and effectiveness of using the old standards • Identify barriers and enabling factors that help teachers improve practice • Explore impact of standards on policy development and implementation • Inform the development of the Strategy for using revised standards • Reflect on the impact and recognition of the ISSA standards in the wider international arena.

6. Study on Implementation of the ISSA Pedagogical Standards (2001 – 2008) Progress by June 2009: • Design of Study developed, researcher contracted and instruments developed • Data collection started • First results presented at the June Program/Council Meeting

7. Study on Implementation of the ISSA Pedagogical Standards (2001 – 2008) Next steps: • Consultations and interviews with ISSA members • In-depth case studies in selected countries • Final report and recommendations to inform ISSA strategic and operational planning, especially about dissemination and application of revised standards Partner/Funder: • Open Society Institute

8. Mapping of Early Childhood Services Around the World: Community-based Approaches Objectives • To collect information about diverse programs worldwide that addresses ECD issues on community level Outputs • Collection of resources posted on ISSA website 6 of the 21 entries are ISSA Member NGOs Each entry provides the following information: Name of the county and organization; Title of the project or initiative; Duration of the activities/intervention; Target audience/s; Summary of activities; Contact information and further references

9. Mapping of Early Childhood Services Around the World: Community-based Approaches Partner/Funder • Open Society Institute Benefits/Highlights • Access to new resources and expertise for ISSA members • Acting as disseminator of information outside the network • Improving skills and capacity in collecting and organizing information for professionals and other, involved in the ECD

10. BOOK Moving Forward Together: Early childhood programs as the doorway to social cohesion ISSA is producing a book based on presentations from 2007 EECERA Conference (hosted by ISSA) Objectives: • Promote cooperation and professional dialogue among educators, decision makers, and civil society in formerly divided parts of Europe and the world • Promote changes towards quality child centered education in the region where ISSA is active • Promote Vygotsky’s contribution to the theory and practice of pedagogy in the region and globally

11. BOOK Moving Forward Together: Early childhood programs as the doorway to social cohesion Outputs: Book published by Cambridge Scholars Publishers, Ltd. Editors: Jacqueline Hayden, Professor, Early Childhood and Social Inclusion, Macquarie University, Australia; Aija Tuna, Program Director, ISSA Partner/Funder Bernard van Leer Foundation

12. BOOK Moving Forward Together: Early childhood programs as the doorway to social cohesion Benefits/Highlights • Information provided for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and students of early childhood education, social psychology, social work and other child related disciplines • Scholarly oriented publication raises ISSA profile among professionals • Discounted price for ISSA and its members • Income from royalties for ISSA

13. Minority Exclusion: Education for Social Justice in Central Asia (EIDHR project, 2006 – 2009) Goals: • To improve the wellbeing of children and families from minority groups • Build capacity of educators, especially in areas of bilingual education, education for social justice and multicultural education • Increase availability of culturally and developmentally appropriate learning materials, • Increase family and community involvement in education

14. Minority Exclusion: Education for Social Justice in Central Asia (EIDHR project, 2006 – 2009) Participants: • ISSA as main implementer • Foundation for Education Initiatives Support, Kyrgyzstan • Community Foundation “Step by Step”, Kazakhstan • OSI Assistance Foundation, Tajikistan • Farzandim-Jigarbandim, Uzbekistan

15. Minority Exclusion: Education for Social Justice in Central Asia (EIDHR project, 2006 – 2009) Recent activities during 2009 • Books from Reading Corner collection published and disseminated in four countries • Ongoing mentoring visits to support educators • Roundtables to disseminate results of the project and to promote their sustainability • External evaluation completed Funders • European Commission, Program -European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) • Open Society Institute

16. Civil Society Partnership for Rural Children – Kazakhstan (TACIS project, 2008 – 2010) Goal: • To support every child’s right to education by developing models of child-centered, cost-effective early education services for rural areas Main directions: • Working for children and their families • Systemic improvement of pre-school education • Strengthening civil society • Capacity building at international level

17. Civil Society Partnership for Rural Children – Kazakhstan (TACIS project, 2008 – 2010) Main activities: • Training for Local Government and Community Leaders • Training for Caregivers as Parent Facilitators • Publication of Learning Materials and Resources for Community-Based Early Education • Training of Trainers • Development of Community Foundation “Step by Step” Advisory Board • Launch a Virtual Resource Centre for Educators and Parents • Closing Conference

18. Civil Society Partnership for Rural Children – Kazakhstan (TACIS project, 2008 – 2010) Funders: • European Commission, TACIS Institution Building Partnership Programme (IBPP) - Support to civil society and local initiatives • Open Society Institute Partners • ISSA as main implementer • Community Foundation “Step by Step”, Kazakhstan • Comenius Foundation for Child Development, Poland (experience of the project “Where There Are No Pre-schools

19. Civil Society Partnership for Rural Children – Kazakhstan (TACIS project, 2008 – 2010) Benefits • Strengthened partnership with Comenius Foundation for Child Development, Poland • Gained new experience in institutional capacity building • Trainers developed for working with local authorities available to other ISSA members in the region

20. Mapping of ECD Human, Technical and Institutional Resources in CEE/CIS Objectives: • Identify, document and make public resources available • Facilitate best practice exchange and increased cooperation • Promote use of expertise from/within the region • Contribute to building capacity in the region • Strengthen linkages between regular and emergency program work

21. Mapping of ECD Human, Technical and Institutional Resources in CEE/CIS Output • Directory available on ISSA website (linked to UNICEF site) and on websites of ISSA’s members by early 2010 Scope • General mapping in all countries in the ISSA region • 5 country profiles on emergency preparedness Partners • UNICEF (for broad mapping), OSI (for the mapping of SbS NGOs) • ISSA Members hired as national consultants

22. Mapping of ECD Human, Technical and Institutional Resources in CEE/CIS Benefits • Resources available in the network and more widely in the region advertised • Results of mapping used to inform members’ and other key actors’ work • SbS NGOs able to advertise directory nationally and be seen as clearing house • SbS NGOs hired as national consultants

23. Increased ISSA/DECET Cooperation Objectives • Increase cooperation at the network level and at individual members level • Develop capacity to promote the right of every child to quality education • Joint knowledge creation across the two networks • Joint advocacy efforts • Broaden the constituency/reach and deepen the impact of the two networks

24. Increased ISSA/DECET Cooperation Outputs for 2009 • Develop the framework for the cooperation • Identify a Knowledge Management System (online) • Identify key areas for cooperation in three areas: • Program/knowledge • Advocacy • Organizational development Partner/Funder • Bernard van Leer Foundation

25. Increased ISSA/DECET Cooperation Benefits for ISSA and DECET members: • Access to new resources and expertise available in the other network • Broader audience for Special Interest Groups • ISSA and DECET members have access to new partners for joint projects • Develop further expertise in using IT for professional development and supporting learning communities • Link to a donor which is new to the region

26. ISSA Conference 2009Seeds of Change Effective Investments in Early Childhood Objectives: • Advocate for increased investment, access and quality in ECD • Showcase successful integrated approaches and public/private partnerships • Link research, policy and practice • Professional development and networking opportunity for members • Celebrate ISSA’s 10th anniversary

27. ISSA Conference 2009Seeds of Change Effective Investments in Early Childhood Partners • SbS Center for Education and Professional Development, OSI, UNICEF, Consultative Group on Early Childhood, OSCE/ODIHR • Office of the Romanian President, Romanian Ministry of Education, Innovation and Research Participants • 300-350 participants expected: NGO representatives, researchers, policy makers, international agencies and donors. International Stakeholders Expected to Attend (Preliminary List) • DECET, Early Years, World Forum, Roma Education Fund, Bernard van Leer Foundation, IBM, Global Fund for Children, Children in Europe, Eurochild, World Bank, Save the Children, EECERA, Aflatoun etc.

28. ISSA Conference 2009Seeds of Change Effective Investments in Early Childhood Highlights • Prominent keynote speakers • Opportunity for networking, sharing innovations and professional development • Increased visibility and recognition for the ISSA network • Individuals and organizations who contributed to ISSA recognized • 10th anniversary celebration

29. ECD Policy Roundtable Investing in Early Childhood: the most effective use of nation’s resources October 14, 2009, Bucharest, Romania Objectives • Inform, influence and support decision makers, by examining the rationale for investing in ECD • Identify examples of successful investments in integrated services and public/private partnerships • Discuss possible funding mechanisms and how to mitigate negative effects of the current global financial downturn • Formulate Recommendations to be presented at the conference and used as advocacy tool by the ISSA network and other stakeholders

30. ECD Policy Roundtable Investing in Early Childhood: the most effective use of nation’s resources Partners Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation, SbS Center for Education and Professional Development, UNICEF, OSI and the Consultative Group Participants Leading policy makers from Romania and other countries CEE/CIS

31. ECD Policy RoundtableHandbook of ECD Innovations Showcasing Investments in Successful ECD Services and Partnerships To celebrate the 10th anniversary, ISSA is creating a Handbook of ECD Innovations that will showcase successful early child development investments and public/private partnerships of the countries participating in the Roundtable. Handbook’s Objective Share national achievements and inspire all countries in the region to consider new ways of improving and expanding integrated ECD services.

32. ISSA Conference 2010Exploring Inclusive Approaches 11-14 July 2010, Riga Objectives • Advocate for inclusive approaches • Share innovations in creating inclusive schools • Integrate research into practice and create stronger links with stakeholders • Show-case evidence based practices with emphasis on access, quality, equity • Professional development and networking opportunity for members The conference will serve as ISSA’s 2010 Annual Conference.

33. ISSA Conference 2010Exploring Inclusive Approaches Organizers Council for Exceptional Children, Division of International Special Education and Services, Center for Education Initiatives Latvia, ISSA Partners Latvian Ministry of Education and Science, Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, OSI Participants 500-700 participants expected: NGO representatives, teachers, parents, researchers, policy makers, international agencies, donors.

34. ISSA Conference 2010Exploring Inclusive Approaches Highlights • Pre-conference seminar will be organized • Discounts offered to ISSA members and teachers from Latvia • Opportunity for networking, sharing innovations and professional development • Increased visibility and recognition for CIE Latvia and the whole ISSA network • International partnerships strengthened • Staff time for CIE and ISSA will be covered as part of the budget • Profits from sponsorship (if any) will be split between CIE, DISES, ISSA

35. PR, Marketing, Communication ISSA Newsletter • Spring 2009 Issue sent to more than 650 recipients ISSA in the News • Comenius Second Language Project in EU brochure on Creativity and Innovation • Advertisement for 2009 Conference in Parliament Magazine • Articles on ISSA in Newsletters of EMEA Diversity, ACEI, Early Years, Le Furet

36. PR, Marketing, Communication Web/ISSA E-Network • ISSA Online Book Store launched • Relevant Resources and Information regularly sent to ISSA members and friends • ISSA News Room created on the home page • Latest ISSA News regularly update on the homepage • Website of Conference 2009 launched • Intranet regularly updated • List of References for ISSA attached to the Organizational CV Promoting the mission and building reputation Presentations on the network’s successes, resources and expertise made at international events and meetings

37. Partnerships OSI • ISSA’s main donor and partner • General support grant and support for strategic planning • Partnership projects: Standards Study, Mapping of Community-based Services, Roundtable, Conferences in 2009 and 2010 etc.

38. Partnerships UNICEF • Two Partnership projects: Mapping of ECD Resources in CEE/CIS, and ISSA Roundtable/Conference. • Strengthening partnership at international level led to increased cooperation at national level in several countries. DECET • Working on a framework for increased cooperation • ISSA invited to be part of their Professionalism and Voices of Parents Work Packs • Joint ISSA/DECET symposium organized at the 2009 EECERA Conference

39. Partnerships IBM • Negotiating two projects to continue cooperation: - Finalize project in Slovakia and Hungary - Develop and pilot online course and DVD based on ISSA Standards • Highlights (if partnership materializes) - ISSA members translate/adapt course and DVD - Increased capacity to use IT for supporting professionalism in ECD - Support towards online communities of learning Bernard van Leer Foundation • Funding for the ISSA/DECET partnership and for the Book of Essays on Vygotsky

40. Partnerships Joint Learning Initiative on Children and Ethnic Diversity • ISSA is part of two Learning Groups, which will prepare joint papers Other partners with which ISSA has/is exploring further cooperation: • EECERA, Consultative Group, OSCE ODIHR, Children in Europe, Eurochild, SOS Kinderdorf

41. Fundraising Sources of Funding (raised in Euros by June 2009) • OSI 695,000 • Sales 150,000 • EU 140,000 • UNICEF 89,000 • BvLF 29,000 • Membership fees 21,000 • Other 13,000 ________________________________ • TOTAL 1,137,000 Euros

42. Fundraising In-Kind Support • Sales representative in North America for Reading Corner books (staff time from OSI) • Between Jan-June ISSA raised approx 10,000 Euros in-kind support for participation of staff and network representatives at meetings of international partners Pending • Funding from IBM for 2009 and 2010 • Several proposals sent in partnership with members in response to EU calls or consultancy tenders

43. Funding Forecast 2009-2012

44. Main Budget Categories