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Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania | |
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Early Learning Program Videos from PA's Office of Child Development and Early Learning
Did you know Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has available family-friendly videos in English and Spanish that share information about early learning opportunities available for families of young children? The brief videos (under two minutes each!) provide information on programs, like:
- Certification
- Child Care Works
- Early Intervention
- Family Support Programs
- Keystone STARS
- PA Pre-K Counts
Early learning programs and partners are invited to share the videos in newsletters, social media, websites and more with their families. The videos are an excellent introduction to services and supports for which children may qualify. Take a look at the videos!
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WIDA Self-Paced E-Learning Courses for Supporting Multilingual Learners
WIDA has two self-paced courses for educators of multilingual learners in grades PreK-3. These courses are available in the PA PD Registry at no cost!
New this year, Let’s Play! Multilingual Children’s Joyful Learning in PreK-3 explores the role of play for multilingual children and how it contributes to multilingual children’s language development and learning.
Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions gives PreK-3 educators an introduction to the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions and provides an opportunity to build their knowledge and understanding of the Essential Actions and reflect on their own ideologies, practices and settings.
To register for these courses, please visit the PD Registry and search the training calendar. Once registered, you will receive information on how to access the WIDA Secure Portal to complete the course.
If you have any questions, please contact Barry Wiestling at bwiestling@pa.gov.
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Now Hiring: Manager of Higher Education Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Key is now hiring for the position of Manager of Higher Education Initiatives.
The Manager of Higher Education Initiatives serve as the direct contact for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) partners supporting the work of the Pennsylvania Key and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), with a focus on enhancing early childhood educator development. Coordinate efforts and communication between funded IHEs, the Pennsylvania Key, and stakeholders who utilize early childhood education (ECE) career pathways. Collaborate with the Career Pathways team to build sustainable data systems. Collect, manage, and review data related to the work of Professional Development Organizations (PDOs), grant-awarded IHEs, and approved Career Pathway schools. Provide fiscal oversight for the TEACH contract and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance, in collaboration with the Fiscal Director. Oversee the resources available on the Pennsylvania Key website for IHEs and manage general communication around higher education initiatives. This role is crucial in ensuring that early childhood education career pathways are of high quality, accessible, and sufficiently available to the ECE workforce.
Click here to learn more, including qualifications and how to apply.
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PACCA Accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications for Spring 2025 Semester – Apply by November 15, 2024!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Spring semester that begins in January should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, November 15, 2024 in order to be considered for the Spring 2025 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. NOTE: New scholarship awards for the Spring 2025 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Need More Information? Click here to for details on eligibility, program requirements and to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE). For more information, visit dhs.pa.gov and education.pa.gov. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania is administered by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) and is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association.
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T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships Now Available at Alvernia University
The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) has established a new partnership with Alvernia University to offer T.E.A.C.H. bachelor’s degree scholarships. Alvernia offers a fully online, accelerated, Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree program with PK-4 Teacher Certification.
Alvernia University Accelerated Bachelor's Early Childhood Education PK-4 Program offers:
- Fully online, with observation & student teaching completed local to the student
- Mindfully designed with flexibility for working adults
- Generous transfer credit policy, plus a streamlined associate to bachelor’s degree pathway program
- Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- PACCA/T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship approved institution
For more information visit Early Childhood Education with Grades PK-4 (Online) | Alvernia University.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE). For more information, visit dhs.pa.gov and education.pa.gov. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania is administered by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) and is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association.
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Reducing Children's Expulsion Risk through Rapid Response Teams
In January 2024, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) awarded 18 Rapid Response Team mini-grants with Preschool Development Grant Funding. Most grantees were granted a 6-month planning period and began implementation of their Rapid Response Team approach in August of 2024. The grant will run for three years and is currently entering into Year Two this fall.
Rapid Response Teams (RRT) respond quickly (within 48 business hours in most regions) to programs who have a child(ren) at risk for expulsion due to behaviors that program staff find challenging. Rapid Response Teams provide a trauma sensitive, human-centered, collaborative short term support and coaching to the program’s staff to reduce a child(ren)’s expulsion risk. The average length of service is between 30-45 days with onsite and virtual check-ins and includes observing the classroom environment, caregiver-child interactions, and facilitating a collaborative action plan. Rapid Response teams also use community and regional partnerships to provide warm handoffs and/or referrals to additional supports as necessary.
Learn more about Rapid Response Teams and find your RRT contact.
This project is supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDGB5), Grant # 90TP0096-01-00, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
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Register Now for Supporting Children's Early Development ECHO: “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), in partnership with Penn State Project ECHO, is supporting family engaged developmental monitoring in Spanish-speaking families with the continuation of the ECHO series through the month of October featuring the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early." initiative.
The CDC‘s tools and resources allow families and early care providers to jointly engage in the early identification of developmental delays and disabilities among children birth through age 5. Participants will gain knowledge to help support families with developmental milestone monitoring. The October sessions will highlight tenants of Family Engaged Developmental Monitoring and Challenges, Successes, and the Importance of Developmental Monitoring. This professional development series is for early care providers and partners only and registration is not limited to those who work only with Spanish-speaking families. Each session will be recorded. The Flash Talk portion of each session will be released at the conclusion of the series.
Get additional details, including the registration link. Questions? Please contact Pennsylvania’s CDC “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Ambassador Ilecia Voughs at ivoughs@pattan.net.
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Action Needed: PA Department of Health Annual Child Care Survey
The yearly reporting of immunizations by all licensed child care providers is a state requirement as outlined in 28 Pa. Code § 27.77. Immunization requirements for children in child care group settings. (pacodeandbulletin.gov).
The PA Department of Health (DOH) has met this requirement in different ways throughout the years. In the last few years, this requirement was met by having DOH and County Municipal Health Department (CMHD) staff visit a random sample of child care providers throughout the state to review and document the status of immunization records. However, this practice did not give the DOH a complete picture of the immunization status of child care providers statewide or identify areas of our state that may benefit from additional education or vaccination services.
Therefore, the process to meet our state reporting requirements outlined above has changed for this year and involves two processes that have or will take place:
- The DOH and CMHD staff visited a random sample of child care providers this summer but only to educate, provide resource materials, and to help child care providers read and understand vaccination records.
- A new Child Care Reporting survey is now required and can be accessed here. This survey needs completed by all licensed child care providers even if they received a visit by a DOH or CMHD staff this summer.
About the Survey
This survey is being sent to all licensed child care providers and must be completed to meet the state requirements outlined in 28 Pa. Code § 27.77 by no later than October 31, 2024.
This survey will be used to assist the DOH in identifying areas of the state that may require additional education and outreach services regarding immunizations and vaccine availability. Once you submit the survey, if you included an email address in the ‘Contact Information’ section, a copy of your survey responses will be emailed automatically to the email address listed on the survey. More information can be found within the survey.
The DOH thanks you for your cooperation and timely responses to this survey.
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October is National Farm to School Month
Join the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network (PFSN) and thousands of schools, early care and education (ECE) sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country in celebration of National Farm to School (FTS) Month this October. “Farm to school” includes serving local food to kids in school settings, educational experiences about food and agriculture – including farm tours and taste tests – and school garden activities. This October, the PFSN is providing a variety of ways to celebrate.
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Invitation to the 18th Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference
Did you know there are over 90,000 grandparents raising their grandchildren in Pennsylvania? To support and learn more, encourage families to register for the 18th Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, to be held Oct. 18, 2024, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Woodlands, 1073 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. This event is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents to connect, learn, and gain valuable resources.
Free admission for grandparents! Enjoy a complimentary day filled with informative panels, engaging workshops, and resource tables designed specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. Lunch and snacks are included!
For professionals and social service personnel, a registration fee of $35 provides access to all conference activities and networking opportunities.
Visit the Pennsylvania Grandparents Raising Grandchildren website at grgnepa.org for more information or to register.
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Get Ready for Lights On Afterschool, Oct.24
Join the Afterschool Alliance and thousands of afterschool programs on Oct. 24, 2024, for the nation’s showcase of afterschool programs: Lights On Afterschool!
Afterschool programs provide the fun and safe environment youth need to explore new things, build meaningful connections, and reach their full potential. On October 24, help shine a light on the important role of afterschool programs in our community. Sign up now to join the celebration and receive free posters to promote your event, and tips make your Lights On Afterschool like no other!
The Lights On Afterschool toolkit provides all the resources you need to plan a great showcase of your program. Help make this year the brightest Lights On celebration yet!
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Prepare Now for 2024-25 Flu Season
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age and older should make a plan to get an updated flu vaccine. All U.S. flu vaccines for the 2024-2025 season are trivalent (three component) vaccines that protect against three influenza viruses: an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus, and a B/Victoria virus.
The CDC also recommends everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19. FDA recently approved and authorized the 2024 – 2025 COVID-19 vaccines. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, community health center, or contact your state health department.
Every U.S. household is now eligible to order 4 free at-home tests. Click here to order tests.
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Including Family Child Care in Pre-K Systems: An Update at the Local Level
This project, Including Family Child Care in Pre-K Systems: An Update at the Local Level, from NIEER, explores the role of Family Child Care (FCC) homes in publicly funded pre-K programs across the 75 largest U.S. cities. Research consistently shows that high-quality pre-K programs better prepare children for school, leading states and cities to invest in early learning opportunities. The report evaluates the degree to which pre-K programs operate in these cities, focusing on those with dedicated funding sources beyond state programs.
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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: Evaluating Change in Classroom Climate and Teaching Practices by Dosage of Program Exposure
A team of researchers from Washington, D.C. published a recent study, Infant and early childhood mental health consultation: evaluating change in classroom climate and teaching practices by dosage of program exposure, which focuses on infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) in a charter school network, revealing that teachers with the greatest need for support were prioritized and received consultation. The findings showed that consultation improved classroom climate and teaching practices for all teachers, with those receiving a higher dosage of consultation experiencing the most significant progress over time.
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October Family-Friendly Newsletters Now Available | |
The October releases of family-friendly newsletters for families and providers of children, ages birth to Kindergarten are now available. The newsletters feature fun early learning activities that align with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards, resources and information to help families as their child's first and most important teacher.
Take a look and share with families and friends, then subscribe to get the next release directly into your inbox.
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October Calendar of Activities for Early Learning Professionals | |
Kick off October with health, safety and lots of fun! This month's Calendar of Activities features information and resources on National Fire Safety Week, World Mental Health Day, National Farm to School Month, and more!
Check out the October Calendar of Activities to support Early Learning Professionals and staff with activities and information to help prepare children and their families for school success.
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Best Day Ever! Fall Lesson Plans
Did you enjoy the Best Day Ever! summer camp lesson plans from The Learning Lamp? Good news—Best Day Ever! is back for fall! Join another round of FREE after-school and school holiday lesson plans designed to make program planning a breeze. Designed by teachers for teachers, these easy-to-use, standards-aligned plans offer a turnkey solution for school-age programs during after school hours or on days when kids are off from school. Whether it’s a teacher in-service day, holiday break, or an unexpected snow day, these plans are packed with fun, simple activities.
The program includes ten after school plans, each presented in a weekly format with five days of activities, plus ten full-day Kids’ Day Out plans. All are centered around high-interest themes and come with daily schedules and plenty of hands-on activities using materials you likely already have on hand.
These lesson plans, written and tested by The Learning Lamp, a leading out-of-school-time education provider in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains region, are available for FREE through February 28, 2025.
Sample lessons include:
- Money Masterminds
- Colorful Creations
- Night Sky Navigators
Sign up today to get access to these easy-to-use plans for your program!
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Active for Life Resources
Early childhood educators can find resources from Active for Life to get children engaged in physically active play every day. Access resources, like free printable PDFs, lesson plans, and more.
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Coaching Conversations: Supporting New Teachers of ELLs
This video from Syracuse, NY highlights the coaching relationship between a first-year teacher, Alexandra Galán, and two coaches who specialize in English Language Learners (ELL) best practices, Erica Daniels and Lillian Zayas. Learn more about how coaching has supported Ms. Galán's teaching and her perspective on the coaching experience at the end of her first year in the classroom.
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Promoting Oral Health and School Readiness
Explore this Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheet to learn more about the impact of oral health on a child’s ability to learn. Discover tips for early learning staff to encourage good oral health habits among parents and in the classroom. Although branded for Head Start programs, the information is helpful to all early learning professionals.
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Resources from Camille Catlett | The September resources from Camille Catlett are now available. The September release of Baby Talk has information on At What Age Should Babies Sleep Through the Night, Talking about Emotions and more. The September release of Natural Resources features information on Sparking Creativity with Cross-Area Play, Why Creativity Is Important in Early Child Development, and more. | |
The PA Early Ed News is a project of the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning, and the PA Departments of Education and Human Services 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.
Find more information about early childhood education in Pennsylvania
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