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U.S. Department of Education requests feedback on Strategic Plan.
Pennsylvania resources address preventing childhood obesity.
Study makes the connection between access to early education and future educational success.
Enter to win one of 31 copies of the 2013 PA One Book through the PA's Promise for Children Month drawing
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EDAchieving Excellence and Equality: The U.S. Department of Education's Strategic Plan released for Public Comment

Deadline: October 4


Every four years, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has the opportunity to share their strategic plan for promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access to quality educational opportunities, making clear the goals and how the Department will meet them. Input from the public is requested on this strategic plan.


To guide efforts, ED has committed to goals and objectives in six areas during this next phase of the agency's work which focus on:


  • Early Learning
  • Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Postsecondary Education, Career and Technical Education, and Adult Education
  • Equity
  • Continuous Improvement of the U.S. Education System
  • U.S. Department of Education Capacity
To view and contribute to the development of the Department of Education's Draft fiscal year 2014-2018 strategic plan and 2014-2015 priority goals, please click here. Please submit questions, comments, and all other feedback on the draft plan via email to

strategicplancomments@ed.gov by Friday, October 4 at 5:00 pm.

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HSEast Coast Migrant Head Start Project, Request for proposal: Wage Comparability Study
Request RFP Packet deadline: October 4


East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) is a private, non-profit corporation that provides Head Start services to the children of migrant and seasonal farm worker families along the East Coast of the United States. ECMHSP is currently seeking proposals from qualified and experienced entities to conduct a wage comparability study in compliance with the Head Start Act and applicable federal regulations.


Interested individuals or organizations may request a RFP packet no later than Friday, October 4th until 5:00 p.m. by contacting Ms. Francesca Bradshaw via e-mail

fbradshaw@ecmhsp.org or telephone 919-926-3375. All finalized proposals must be received by 5:00pm on Friday October 25th, 2013. The expected date of commencing this scope of work is on or around November 12, 2013 and will be required to be fully completed and reported by January 10, 2014. For additional information, please see the announcement.

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PADrawingEnter to win in the PA's Promise for Children Book A Day Giveaway Drawing!
Enter by October 31


To celebrate quality early learning during PA's Promise for Children Month, each day during October, PA's Promise for Children will be drawing a random entry to give away a 2013 PA One Book, Every Young Child selection, A Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom!


At the end of October, TWO Grand Prize winners will be selected (one family/friend, one early learning professional). Two Grand Prize winners will receive an Early Learning Package containing:


  • A copy of the 2013 PA One Book, Every Young Child selection, A Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom
  • Learning is Everywhere Calendar and Growth Chart
  • Kindergarten, Here I Come! Activity Guide
  • Kindergarten, Here I Am! Activity Guide
  • A set of Recipes for Readiness cards
  • Every Day I Learn Through Play Activity Guide
  • Scholastic's Read and Rise Family Guide (Preparing Our Children for a Lifetime of Success)
  • And More!

Visit PA's Promise for Children website to find out how you can enter to win!

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Infographic aids understanding the importance of quality early learning


For Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Month during October, a set of four weekly infographics are now available in English and Spanish to aid families and community partners in understanding how quality early learning--and the role of parents as their child's first and primary teacher--can set their child on an educational path to lifelong success.

  • Week 1 - How your child's brain develops is important to his/her learning for life
  • Week 2 - Your child is unique, developing at his/her own pace, but will follow the same path as all children
  • Week 3 - Your relationship with your child is the foundation he/she needs to grow and thrive
  • Week 4 - How your young child spends time out of your care affects his/her learning and future success in kindergarten!

Print these infographics from the PA's Promise for Children website, include in your organization's newsletters, or share on your social media or website. Visit PA's Promise for Children for more information about quality early learning in Pennsylvania and how you can celebrate PA's Promise for Children Month.

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connectionsMaking the connections between quality pre-K and high school graduation


A new research brief The Vital Link: Early Childhood Investment is the First Step to High School Graduation, released by ReadyNation, illustrates the correlation between access to early education and future educational success.


The document also includes new research from several early childhood programs that clearly demonstrate their success in improving educational outcomes, with the connective paths of pre-K, Kindergarten, third grade, to high school graduation. Demonstrated in the brief is that the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has identified preparation in the pre-K years as one of three key factors affecting third grade reading.


For additional information, please view the brief, The Vital Link: Early Childhood Investment is the First Step to High School Graduation.

 

childhoodobesityAddressing Childhood Obesity in Pennsylvania 


Although September was Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, it's not too late to learn how to address childhood obesity. Many early care and education providers and afterschool programs in communities across the country have created programs and activities to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The Office of Head Start has implemented I Am Moving, I Am Learning, a proactive approach to addressing childhood obesity in Head Start programs. In addition, Let's Move! Child Care, the First Lady's initiative provides resources and materials to combat childhood obesity. Sign up to help early care and education providers and afterschool providers sign up for and access free resources from the Let's Move! Child Care Web site.


In Pennsylvania, I Am Moving, I Am Learning is offered via the Regional Keys as professional development opportunity. Pennsylvania programs can search for the Topic Code 79-Nutrition at competency level C2 to see if it is being offered, or contact their Regional Key for plans to offer.

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  More Trends & Reports

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Promoting Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Month toolkit: October is Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Month, a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of quality early learning and celebrating the families and teachers that help our young children reach their promise every day. The free toolkit provides dozens of ways to celebrate PA's Promise Month, including four new infographics that are great to share over social media. 

 

Health Capsule - Environmental Health Learning Tools: Eco-Healthy Child Care� is a curriculum that teaches early care and education providers about environmental health and how facilities can be made safer and healthier for children and staff. For example, participants learn how poor indoor air quality, radon exposure, overuse or inappropriate use of pesticides and lead poisoning can harm children. In the Eco-Healthy Child Care� session, early care and education providers learn how to fix these situations. Contact your Regional Key to see if this professional development program is available. Check out all the resources for the Pennsylvania ECE Healthy & Green Initiative on the PA Key website.

 

Informed Decision Making: A new interactive online learning module, Data in Head Start and Early Head Start: Creating a Culture That Embraces Data, developed by the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations, helps Head Start/Early Head Start leaders understand how to use data to inform their decision making.

 

Bibliography of Family Involvement Research Published in 2011: This bibliography series from the Harvard Family Research Project compiles family involvement research literature, organized by both date and publication type. The latest addition covers resources published in 2011.

 

Is Your Child Always Buckled Up Infographic: In a survey of more than 1,000 parents, 1 in 4 say they've driven without buckling up their kids. And you'll never guess who the worst offenders are: Younger, educated and affluent parents. This infographic can help spread the word about the importance of buckling up for every ride.

 

Five Steps For Structuring Data-Informed Conversations and Action in Education: A new facilitation guide from the Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific describes five key steps education teams can follow to better use data for informed decision making and strategic action: (1) setting the stage, (2) examining the data, (3) understanding the findings, (4) developing an action plan, and (5) monitoring progress and measuring success.

 

Creating a Welcoming, Literacy-Rich Classroom: Sometimes it's the subtleties that make all the difference in creating a welcoming classroom space. Within this cache of resources, you'll find advice on arranging the furniture in a classroom, designing a classroom library, and ways to reach out to parents of English language learners.

  

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Community Playground Construction Grants: KaBOOM!, in partnership with Dr. Pepper Snapple, is accepting applications for grants to be used toward the purchase of playground equipment. Municipalities and child-serving organizations without a playground or with existing equipment that is unsafe for children are eligible for this opportunity. Deadline October 11
 
 
Seeds for Education Grant: Grants are available for teachers with projects that attract songbirds and butterflies to your schoolyard with wildflowers and native grasses; add opportunities for hands-on science in biology, ecology and earth science; and reduce energy consumption and improve storm water management; enhance sustainability and green-school certification. Deadline October 15
October 2, 2013
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In the Community

 

Early Kindergarten Registration at Mifflin Co. School District (The Sentinel)

 

Our View: You can be a Reading Buddy (Erie Times-News)

 

The Learning Lamp Marks Ten Years of Lighting the Way to a Brighter Future for Area Children

 

Great Expectations Child Care & Learning Center advances to a STAR 4

Did you know?

 

Families can find a child care provider/ early learning program based on county, preference or needs of their family.
 
Find out how you can select a child care provider/ early learning program that's right for you and your child. 

Community Events

 

October 3: PAEYC Caregiver Fun Day in Hazelwood, Pittsburgh

October 4, 11, 18 & 25: Preschool Story Time at Oil City Library

October 4: Visit Success by Six at the Scranton Art Walk, Scranton

October 5: Family Fun Day, East Stroudsburg

October 5: Afternoon with Mother Goose, Brookville

October 5: PA Promise For Children's Expo- Be a Buddy, Not a Bully! Washington

October 8: Community Open House, Harrisburg

October 8: Silly Squirrels Preschool Story Hour at Coudersport Library

October 14: Fall Festival for Children, Tunkhannock

October 15: Autumn Colors Preschool Story Hour at Coudersport Library

October 16: PA's Promise Month Capitol Exhibit and Press Event, Harrisburg

October 20: Miracle League of the South Hills and Casey's Clubhouse First Annual Halloween Party, Upper St. Clair

October 20: 1st Annual Keystone Child Care Providers Fall Festival, Clearfield

October 21: Free Child Screening, Lock Haven

October 22: Please Pass the Pumpkin Preschool Story Hour at Coudersport Library

October 22: Celebrate PA's Promise for Children Month, Danville

October 24: Family Fun Night, Fall Festival, Easton

October 24: Day of Play, St. Marys

October 26: Armstrong UNPLUGGED, Kittanning

October 29: Halloween Tales Preschool Story Hour at Coudersport Library

October 31: Costume Parade and Family Event to Celebrate PA's Promise for Children Month, Centre County

November 9: Early Kindergarten Registration at Mifflin Co. School District

Professional Events

 

October is Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Month: visit www.papromiseforchildren.com for tips on how you can celebrate!

 

October 2: Webinar: The ECE Director's Guide to Must-Have Literacy Practices in Early Education Classrooms

October 2-4: Facing the Challenge: Helping Teachers Work with Children with Challenging Behavior, Villanova

October 7: ECE/SACC Provider Resource Festival, Philadelphia

October 8: Easter Seals PD Workshop: Client Confidentiality: Families, Parents & Staff, Wyndmoor

October 11: Friedberg-Segel Early Literacy Conference, Pittsburgh

October 11: Cavity Free Kids 1-day training-for-trainer event, Philadelphia

October 14: 7th Annual Lehigh Valley Early Care and Education Professional Development Day Building Cultural Competence . . . Our Children, Ourselves

October 15: Easter Seals PD Workshop: Client Confidentiality: Families, Parents & Staff, Morton

October 15: Webinar: The PQAS Certification Training Process: What You Always Wanted to Know About PQAS, But Were Afraid to Ask!

October 16: Webinar: Using Developmentally Appropriate Practice with Early Learners to Evaluate Apps

October 17-18: PA-AIMH 5th Annual Pennsylvania Infant Mental Health Conference, Philadelphia

October 21: Easter Seals PD Workshop: Client Confidentiality: Families, Parents & Staff, Wynnfield

October 22: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Effective Classroom Interactions: Supporting Young Children's Development


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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.

Find more about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania
 
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.

Please feel free to forward this email to friends, family, and colleagues.
You may access archived copies at Pennsylvania's Promise for Children.
 

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