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 Governor releases budget proposal for 2014-15, "Building a Stronger Pennsylvania"
On February 4, Governor Corbett announced his budget proposal for 2014-15 including his "Building A Stronger Pennsylvania" plan. The $29.4 billion proposed budget represents a 3.3 percent increase from 2013-14.
More details will follow, but the budget proposes maintaining or increasing every early childhood education program administered by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, including:
- An increase of $15 million in federal funds to allow an additional 2,895 children currently waiting for Child Care Works subsidy to receive child care assistance.
- An increase of $10 million in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts to provide an additional 1,670 preschoolers with the opportunity to attend a high quality early education program.
- An additional $240 million Ready to Learn block grant funds to school districts for proven practices such as pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten, pre-k through third grade curriculum alignment, and training to support early literacy and STEM.
Visit the links below for more information.
Providers completing Oral Health survey entered in drawing for free onsite professional development
Deadline February 28
The PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) Healthy Teeth Healthy Children program and Early Childhood Education Linkage System are working together to celebrate national Children's Dental Health Month by asking providers to take a survey to share what their program is doing or is planning to do in the future. The first 25 individuals who complete the oral health survey will receive a "Happy, Healthy Teeth" book. This colorful and informative hardcover storybook integrates oral health awareness in a fun and interactive way.
The PA AAP will select two survey respondents to receive a free onsite two-hour professional development oral health workshop. Cavity Free Kids is a nationally recognized oral health curriculum which provides exciting curriculum ideas, helpful tools and information for families. This workshop meets the STAR Level 2 Performance Standard for Health and Safety.
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Report shows the past five years have not worked in the favor of young children
Five years after the height of the Great Recession, the authors of Subprime Learning: Early Education in America since the Great Recession looked at an array of indicators in policy, funding, family well-being, and achievement for children from birth through third grade. The analysis by New America Education Policy Program shows progress in home-visiting programs, infrastructure-building, standards, and accountability across many states and federal policies. However, it also shows more child poverty, a lack of attention to the growing population of dual-language learners, and widening achievement gaps between rich and poor.
While bright spots are visible in some states, funding has fluctuated wildly, millions of children still lack access to quality programs, the K-3 grades have received little attention, and achievement gaps in reading and math have widened between family income levels. Given these problems, the past five years have not worked in the favor of young children who need access to environments and opportunities that would give them a strong start in school and life.
York's Bridge Scholarship Program highlighted in National Ready2Go database
The Bridge Scholarship Program, which works with the PA Key Rising STARS Tuition Reimbursement Voucher, Pennsylvania State University York Campus, York College, and Harrisburg Area Community College to put early child professionals on track to achieve their higher education goals, has been included in a recent launch of Ready2Go, a collection of national, state and local early childhood initiatives with significant business involvement. Ready2Go provides diverse examples of early childhood projects that suit a variety of circumstances and preferences for business leaders who want to tackle hands-on projects that show immediate results.
The Bridge Scholarship Program joins Erie's Future Fund on the Ready2Go site as two Pennsylvania options for business leader involvement.
Businesses, national organizations, and local leaders to are encouraged to submit their projects and strategies for business engagement to Ready2Go. For more information, see the Ready2Go website.
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Free reviews for completed self-learning modules: During February, ECELS is offering free reviews for completed self-learning modules submitted by Pennsylvania early care and education practitioners. Use this special offer to gain knowledge, make health and safety program improvements and earn professional development credit. All ECELS self-learning modules meet the STARS Level 2 Performance Standard for Health and Safety. Choose from 30 self-learning modules listed at the ECELS website by selecting Professional Development and then Self-Learning Modules. Be sure to use the current self-learning modules posted on the website.
Parenting series workshop: Enroll now for the SEEDS Parenting Series Workshop, coming to Uniontown during February. This free event is offered by the Center of Excellence and workshops will be held for 2 hours each week for 14 weeks. No income guidelines needed to qualify and anyone can attend. Please call Diana at 724-430-4818 x109 for more information or to register.
Book Worm: Explore and follow PA's Promise for Children's newest Pinterest board, Book Worm, with book suggestions, early literacy information, and ways to engage families and children around books.
Learning while at the doctor's office: Learning is Everywhere offers fun learning activities for children birth through age five to do while at the doctor's office. Also discover how to find the right healthcare professional for your child and how PA CHIP can make a difference in your child's life.
STEM resource board on Pinterest: Check out PA's Promise for Children's Pinterest board, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Find inspiring ideas and resources families, early learning professionals, and partners can do to get children on the path to STEM.
Preschool Nation releases two new videos: Preschool Nation is a one-stop shop that allows families, business leaders, early education teachers and researchers, policymakers and community members from around the country to tell compelling stories, share resources and research and advocate for increased early education opportunities for more children. Take a look at two of their videos: Life through the eyes of a preschooler and Let's Build A Preschool Nation Together.
Children's books in Braille: The Library of Congress offers a wide range of Braille and recorded books and magazines for children through their National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Visit the Kids Zone section and browse the catalog!
Helping children get ready to read: The National Institute for Literacy has available the booklet, Shining Stars: Preschoolers Get Ready To Read: How Parents Can Help Their Preschoolers Get Ready To Read. This booklet give families ideas on how to help their young child get ready to read and contains tips for to help children learn more about stories, words and sounds. |
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The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) promotes opportunities for all Pennsylvania children and families by building systems and providing supports that help ensure access to high quality child and family services.
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The Early Childhood Education e-news is a project of the Pennsylvania Build Initiative and the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare to inform early learning professionals, the early childhood community, policymakers, community leaders and the public on developments in early childhood education and care in Pennsylvania.
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