May 2019 edition

An inside look at Pennsylvania's early education system. View the email as webpage.

What's New for May The month of May brings options for those supporting Pennsylvania's early learning professionals to share their experiences, recommendations, and take advantage of opportunities.  Do you recall the Child Care Funding and Finance in PA report that was released in June 2017? Part II of the project--the one that explores the true cost of quality--is underway and the group conducting the research, Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), needs feedback from Pennsylvania child care providers. Licensed child care providers are encouraged to participate, but the number of participants is limited, so don't delay in contacting CPRE. See the article below for more info.  For those wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to share their feedback on Chapter 49, there's still time--the hearing in Allegheny County has been postponed, as well as the deadline for written comments. Although Chapter 49 references teacher certification, it can have an impact on those who work in programs like PA Pre-K Counts. See the article below for more info. School districts interested in participating with the Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) have until May 30 to sign up to use the reporting tool to understand and track a kindergartner's proficiency at kindergarten entry. There is no cost to participate. For more information on the KEI, see the article below or visit Department of Education website. Take a moment during National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) to celebrate the important role teachers play in educating Pennsylvania's children. PA's Promise for Children has a great opportunity to share a story from a teacher, child or family. Take a moment and share your story, then read the wonderful experiences of others. See the details below. On behalf of the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning, thank you to all the teachers and early learning staff who devote their time, efforts and experiences in supporting our youngest learners. It could not be done without you.

Early Education in Pennsylvania

Department of Human Services Selects Allegheny County, Philadelphia Regional Centers to Support Child Care Services  The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced the selection of two regional Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) to serve Allegheny County and Philadelphia. The Caring People Alliance was selected as the ELRC in Region 18 (Philadelphia) and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services was selected to serve Region 5 (Allegheny County). Beginning July 1, 2019, Allegheny County DHS and the Caring People Alliance will provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers, and communities for information on and access to early learning services. Click here to read the full release . For more information about Early Learning Resource Centers or to find one in your region, visit www.raiseyourstar.org .

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications Announced Letter of Intent deadline May 8, 2019 The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is seeking applicants for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides children with the opportunity to experience a high quality pre-kindergarten program. The program standards ensure a high return on the investment in the preparation of young children for school and will help to close the achievement gap.  Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts was enacted into law by Act 45 of 2007 (and amended in 2008 and 2010) amending the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. §§ 15- 1511-D—15-1516-D). PDE is issuing this Request for Applications to support providers in preparing to serve children and to be ready for September enrollment. Applicants must have the following in place to complete an application: a Letter of Intent, a vendor number (SAP #), an administrative unit number (AUN), a master provider index number (MPI), and a federal ID number or tax ID number. Programs interested in applying must submit a fully completed  Letter of Intent  by 3 pm on May 8, 2019.  Information on the application process can be accessed at the PA Key website .

PA Early Learning Providers Invited to Participate with Cost of Care Study A statewide study is currently underway to examine the true cost of providing child care in Pennsylvania. Family, group, and center-based licensed providers have an opportunity to support this important project, led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) in partnership with Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). Through this project, Pennsylvania seeks to improve policies, standards, and public funding for providers that care for young children. The True Cost of Quality is Part II of the project. Part I of this project,  CHILD CARE FUNDING & FINANCE IN PENNSYLVANIA: Budgeting for Survival or Paying for the True Cost of Quality? conducted by Research for Action found that: Infant and toddler care is more expensive than pre-K or school age care. Current revenue streams and reimbursement rates are inadequate to cover the cost of infant and toddler care and, as a result, child care providers opt to serve more preschoolers and fewer infants and toddlers. Low compensation in child care programs leads to significant staff turnover and hiring of less-qualified staff. Part II builds upon the previous work conducted in Part I, using a more robust data set to estimate the true cost of high-quality child care, as compared to child care that meets only regulatory standards, and how those costs vary across regions in the commonwealth.   The research team invites child care providers to participate in an extended interview at their facility. The interview is designed to collect basic information about the many resources that are needed to deliver care. Participation is voluntary and confidential. CPRE is offering a $300 prepaid Visa gift card following the on-site interview with one of the Cost of Care research team members. The interview will NOT include review of financial receipts or accounting records. Participation is limited. Those who are interested in participating or would like to learn more about this study, should contact Greg Collins at 610.657.4337 or by email at gse-costofcare@gse.upenn.edu .

Chapter 49 Hearing in Allegheny County Rescheduled Due to an unanticipated conflict, the State Board of Education has announced the April 23 hearing on Chapter 49 in Allegheny County has been postponed. The hearing has been rescheduled for Friday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will be held at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120).  Click here for information that includes details about the new hearing date of June 14. In addition, the Board will extend the deadline for submitting written comments on the Secretary of Education’s proposed revisions to Chapter 49. Written comments will be accepted through June 14, 2019. Details on how to submit written comments are included in the hearing notice. Chapter 49 references teacher certification regulations that outline the requirements for future educators to meet to be certified. These regulations guide Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) in the design of their teacher prep programs, including PreK- 4  th certification, which is required for teachers to work in publicly funded programs, such as PA Pre-K Counts. The public, including educators, child and teacher advocates, Higher Education programs and stakeholders are encouraged to review the Chapter 49 recommendations and provide testimony. The process of reviewing and updating the teacher regulations in Chapter 49 only occurs every seven years, so it is important to provide feedback. Chapter 49 includes regulations for IHE programs that set: Eligibility requirements Approval of institutions that can grant certification Approval of experimental programs that lead to certification Approval of induction plans that help to orient new teachers Continuing professional education to ensure relevant and attainable ongoing professional development Assessments that must be demonstrated to earn certification In addition to having an impact on teacher prep programs, some of the proposed recommendations may impact: Course content Out of state educators Providers of alternative programs Endorsements and accelerated programs

Pennsylvania Leaders Read PA One Book Selection Governor Tom Wolf, First Lady Frances Wolf, Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, State Librarian Glenn Miller, and Child Development and Early Learning Acting Deputy Secretary Tracey Campanini read Barnyard Banter , one of the 2019 PA One Book selection. Watch and share the video ! The book, written by Pennsylvanian Denise Fleming, has the reader looking for a tricky goose while exploring animal sounds. Pennsylvania selects a new book each year to promote early childhood literacy during April's Month of The Young Child. Learn more at  paonebook.org.

Human Services Secretary Recognizes Month of the Young Child, Highlights Importance of Early Learning, Investments in Child Care In celebration of April's National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Month of the Young Child, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller participated in the 14th Annual One Book, Every Child initiative at Keystone Early Learning Center on April 12. Month of the Young Child, which ran throughout April, recognized what children need to have strong, healthy starts and how early childhood education programs can meet those needs.  Watch the video of Secretary Miller, read the full release and see photos. Click here for more information about Month of the Young Child.

Recruitment for OCDEL Deputy Secretary The Department of Human Services is recruiting a Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). DHS is looking for a charismatic person with strong leadership skills who will be responsible for the oversight, development and implementation of the Commonwealth's early childhood programs focusing on child development and early learning and family supports that foster early child development and learning. The ideal candidate will design, lead and implement Pennsylvania's early education programs and manage a $1.86 billion budget and 233 staff and various business partner staff in planning and initiating new programs supporting infants, toddlers and their families. Please see the announcement for more details, including how to apply. Applications accepted through May 15, 2019.

Sign up NOW To Implement the KEI During School Year 2019-2020 Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (PA KEI) is a reliable reporting tool that offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking a student’s proficiency at kindergarten entry. The tool collects information on a consistent set of standards-based indicators across the commonwealth. The PA KEI is based on Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood and the Pennsylvania Core Standards. PA KEI includes 30 indicators and provides a comprehensive profile that includes the domains of: Social and Emotional Development; English Language Arts; Mathematics; Approaches to Learning; and Health, Wellness and Physical Development.   PA KEI is intended to be used by kindergarten teachers to record a student’s demonstration of skills within the first 45 calendar days of the kindergarten year. For more information about the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, please visit  www.kei-pa.org .   Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides opportunities to strengthen the contribution of high-quality early childhood education in school reform and improvement efforts. The law recognizes that school success starts before a student enters the K-12 setting. It calls on states to describe how they will assist school districts and elementary schools to collaborate with early childhood education programs, and to invest in evidence-based practices. ESSA supports early learning and local education agency (LEA) collaboration in three main ways: expanding access to high-quality early learning; encouraging alignment and collaboration from birth through third grade; and supporting educators.   The PA KEI is a tangible tool to assist districts in understanding the comprehensive learning strengths and needs of students entering the K-12 setting, in establishing common expectations and language for beginning and extending collaborative conversations with pre-kindergarten programs and families, and in planning and implementing joint professional development opportunities that focus on strengthening evidence-based practices for young learners.     All elementary schools are encouraged to implement the PA KEI in the 2019-2020 school year to assist in meeting the enhanced ESSA requirements. The PA KEI is available to all LEAs at no cost.   To implement the PA KEI, a Point of Contact (POC) is required. The POC will act as the liaison between LEA administrative staff, implementing kindergarten teachers, OCDEL and data systems staff. Having a dedicated POC will ensure that effective communication and implementation occurs throughout the PA KEI process.    Please send the POC name, email address and phone number to  RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov  by May 30, 2019. Receipt of this information will initiate PA KEI participation in the 2019-2020 school year.   All kindergarten teachers who have not previously participated must complete a required professional development on-line course and obtain a certificate of completion to gain access to the web-based data system. Teachers with a proficient user certificate of completion do not need to repeat the professional development protocol.    The tentative training schedule is as follows:   March – June: Face-to-face skills and scoring practice professional development available/ dependent on number of teachers and availability of OCDEL staff March –September: Required professional development online course available ALL implementing kindergarten teachers without a proficient user certificate of completion MUST complete either face-to-face training or a required professional development on-line course. August-September: PA KEI systems professional development opportunities available By the start of school: Implementing kindergarten teachers must have a required professional development online course certificate of completion on file to gain systems access 45 calendar days from start of school: Observation and evidence collection/scoring completed 60 calendar days from start of school: Data submissions (student outcomes) finalized within data system   Early learning programs and supporters can reach out to the schools in their community to support the use of the KEI. Questions about this communication may be sent to  RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov .

May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week Help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10!   Teachers play an important role in shaping the lives of Pennsylvania's youngest learners. They work with families, children and partners to ensure that each child has opportunities to learn and grow. Are you a teacher or other early learning professional? Share: Why early learning is important to you Your favorite part of being a teacher/early learning professional The impact you've seen with children and families as a result of quality early learning   Are you a parent or family member whose child loves their teacher? Share: Your child's favorite teacher's name and early learning program or school Why he or she is your child's favorite teacher--why is this teacher special? A picture of your child and their favorite teacher! Download the graphics , then use the #ThankATeacher hashtag when sharing info on social media. You can also e mail your story to Mary at   marhal@pakeys.org .  Your story may be highlighted on   PA's Promise for Children website  and  Facebook page !  Although Teacher's Appreciation Week runs May 6-10, stories will continue to be publish stories as they're received.

Save the Date May 6: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day May 7-9: 2019 National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute, Chapel Hill, NC May 20-22: 2019 Social and Emotional Learning Conference, Baltimore May 21-22: Save the Date: 2019 PA Community Alliance Summit, Harrisburg June 2-5: NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, Long Beach, CA June 25-27: QRIS 2019: Expanding Reach, Enhancing Impact, Advancing Equity, New Orleans, LA July 25-27: Frog Street Splash 2019: Launching Into the Future, Grapevine, TX August 1-2: PA Association for Infant Mental Health Conference, Pittsburgh, PA August 15-16: State of Black Learning Conference, Pittsburgh, PA September 16-18: 2019 Prevent Child Abuse American National Conference, Milwaukee October 1-4: Division for Early Childhood's 35th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families, Dallas October 2-4: ZERO TO THREE Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL October 14-17: Parents As Teachers 2019 International Conference, St. Louis October 21-23: PA ECE Summit, State College, PA November 20-23: NAEYC Annual Conference, Nashville TN

Of Interest

Pocono Services for Families and Children Selected for 2019 Zigler Innovation Award  Pocono Services for Families and Children (PSFC) has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the Edward Zigler Innovation Award from the National Head Start Association, which celebrates Head Start programs that demonstrate the integrated, collective approach of Head Start by developing partnerships that create innovative ways to serve their community.  PSFC in northeastern Pennsylvania operates The Mountain Center, a facility housing several Head Start classrooms and more than a dozen vital community health and human services agencies all under one roof. Located in rural Monroe County, The Mountain Center co-locates partners who can provide Head Start families and other vulnerable community members with necessary services like a food pantry, a summer meal program, housing support from Habitat for Humanity, nutrition assistance from WIC/Maternal and Family Health Services, legislative/constituent information from local elected officials, and counseling for victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse.

Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card Raise Your STAR is hosting a $50 Amazon Gift Card drawing! If you're a family with young children or an early learning provider, then Pennsylvania's Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) can help you Raise Your STAR . ELRCs provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs.  Visit the Raise Your STAR website to enter the drawing and share with the families and providers you serve . One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted. All entries must be received no later than 12:00 midnight, May 31, 2019.

Zion Education Center Awarded Grant to Help Support Children Experiencing Trauma The Zion Education Center, a Keystone STAR 4 early learning program, has been selected as a $74,600 grantee of The Buhl Regional Health Foundation for its Children and Youth Prevention-Empowerment Network (CYPEN) program. The funding will help in launching the initiative to support children in trauma and to establish Crisis Response Teams to reduce adverse childhood experiences. Visit the Zion Education Center for more information.

Research and Reports

Law Enforcement Agrees: High-Quality Pre-K is Crime Prevention Corrections Secretary John Wetzel and Northeast PA law enforcement leaders recently released a new report from the anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids at State Correctional Institution Dallas. The report, Law Enforcement Agrees: High-Quality Pre-K is Crime Prevention, shows how an increased $50 million in state investment for expanding high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, as included in Governor Tom Wolf’s 2019-20 budget proposal, would reduce behavior problems, boost school success and high school graduation rates, reduce crime in Pennsylvania and lead to nearly $150 million in criminal justice and other cost savings over the lifetimes of participating at-risk children. The new report from Fight Crime: Invest In Kids shows that by the time at-risk children get to kindergarten, many are already behind in vocabulary development and pre-literacy and pre-math skills. They can also have problems with behavior and impulse control. The report cites state and national research studies showing that quality early learning programs have been proven to reduce these disadvantages resulting in fewer behavior problems, better school outcomes, increased high school graduations rates, and, ultimately, less criminal activity. The report also emphasizes that Pennsylvania’s high-quality pre-k programs partner with parents to help them improve their children’s academic and behavioral outcomes through ongoing family engagement.

Report Finds Stalled Progress in Pre-K Access, Funding; Low Teacher Pay Hampers Quality The recently released State of Preschool 2018 Annual Report by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) finds more children attending state-funded preschool programs across the US but funding is failing to keep pace, resulting in low compensation for preschool teachers that too often undermines classroom quality. The NIEER State of Preschool yearbook is the only national report on state-funded preschool programs. This year’s report includes a special section highlighting policies affecting state preschool teachers, as well as changes since 2002, when NIEER began tracking state preschool. This yearbook, based on 2017-2018 academic year data, shows just a third of 4-year-olds and 5.5 percent of 3-year-olds enrolled in public preschool programs—virtually no change in years. At this pace, it would take states nearly 20 years to enroll even half of all 4-year-olds and it would take nearly a century to reach the 50% mark for 3-year-olds. State spending per child also has decreased, when adjusted for inflation; and most states fail to pay pre-K teachers comparably to K-3 teachers.

The Role of Licensing in Supporting Quality Practices in Early Care and Education A new brief, The Role of Licensing in Supporting Quality Practices in Early Care and Education, produced by Child Trends for the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) provides a framework that describes how child care licensing can support early childhood education (ECE) program quality, improving outcomes for both providers and the broader ECE system. It also includes research questions that suggest new directions for research and measurement strategies to examine home-based child care quality.

Developing and Supporting Highly-Qualified Preschool Teachers  The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has released a new report on designing policies to support workforce development, Developing and Supporting Highly-Qualified Preschool Teachers. The report demonstrates ways pre-K teacher quality can be improved by supporting the existing workforce, following the example of states like New Jersey.

Resources

PA's Promise for Children Offers Resources for Serving Pennsylvania Families The recently refreshed PA's Promise for Children website makes it easier to find information on how to support children's learning, about children's developmental milestones, and helpful resources for families of young children and the early learning professionals who support them. Resources are available in the sections Watch Them Grow, Help Them Learn, Care for Them, or Get a Little Help. Read stories from families and professionals, find featured articles from the popular Learning is Everywhere newsletter, or sign up for one or more early learning newsletter. The site is now easily translated into Spanish, Russian and Chinese.

Transition Practices Resource Attendance Works has released a new toolkit, Early Matters: Integrating Attendance into Kindergarten Transition which offers strategies, resources & success stories about transition practices to help children & families as they enter elementary school. It has sections aimed at schools, preschools, and community agencies, and also outlines how districts, community partners and policy makers can put in place systems to promote the widespread use of these practices.

Museums for All Initiative USDA FNS has worked with the Office of Museum Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the past two years to launch the  Museums4All  initiative, which offers free and reduced admission to more than 300 museums throughout the U.S. for those who present a  SNAP EBT card .  Museums throughout Pennsylvania are participating.

16 Early Signs of Autism by 16 Months A new resource guide, 16 Early Signs of Autism by 16 Months, developed by Autism Navigator and Florida State University can help families and others learn the 16 early signs of autism that unfold from 9 to 16 months and help detect autism before it’s usually diagnosed. Pennsylvania's CONNECT Helpline at 1-800-692-7288 connects families to Early Intervention Services in Pennsylvania.

April Edition of Baby Talk The April 2019 edition of Baby Talk from Camille Catlett is now available and includes information on what a difference a dad makes, the difference of reading a paper book versus e-books, language development in children and more.

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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 Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania  Pennsylvania Department of Education   |    Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Pennsylvania Keys to Quality  |    Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Early Intervention Technical Assistance Please share this email with friends, family and colleagues.

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