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The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning supports families and their children from prenatal through school age by using data, research and stakeholder guidance to assure high quality services.
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This reissue contains a clarification for the the Keystone STARS revisioning FAQ.
Early Education in Pennsylvania
Message from Suzann Morris, Deputy Secretary
In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-12), I want to recognize and thank all of our early care and education staff, home visitors, Early Intervention specialists, and other professionals that support our children's healthy development every day. The relationships you build with children and families creates a supportive environment where they can thrive.
OCDEL is thinking very intentionally about how to develop a pathway for our teachers to make early education a lifelong career. As we revision Keystone STARS, we are revising our professional development supports to help teachers gain meaningful continuing education that can lead to credentials and degrees.
I also encourage all child care staff interested in continuing their education to consider applying for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA scholarship to earn a credential or college degree. Your scholarship is a partnership between you, the child care program, and the higher education institution. You can continue to work full time, receive paid time off to study or attend class, and receive a stipend or raise at the end of each scholarship year.
Join us in celebrating our teachers! If you have a teacher you'd like to recognize, please share your story on the Pennsylvania's Promise for Children website, www.papromiseforchildren.com.
Thank you for all that you do.
Friday is the Deadline for PA Pre-K Counts Letter of Intent
Letter of Intent Deadline May 5
If you are considering making an application for PA Pre-K Counts (PKC), you must submit a required Letter of Intent by Friday, May 5 at 3 pm. Funding is contingent upon approval by the Pennsylvania legislature. For the template needed to apply and additional details, visit the PA Keys website.
New and Improved Organizational PQAS Application
Your voice has been heard! OCDEL is excited to announce that steps have been taken to streamline eligibility for Organizational PQAS Number approval. The changes made are to simplify the application process and reduce administrative burden.
As of May 2017, organizations eligible for approval must offer a professional development approval and oversight system for instructors that is comparable to PQAS. Additionally, organizations must meet one of the two requirements below:
- Organizational PQAS - Organizations eligible to apply for PQAS Organizational approval are Head Start Organizations in good standing with the Federal Office of Head Start as well as the Region III Office, AEYC/Child Care Associations (with full-time paid staff), Intermediate Units (IUs), Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), Government Bureaus, accredited Institutions of Higher Education Departments dedicated to Early Childhood Education and School Districts, where the professional development relates to early childhood and/or school-age.
- Specialty Discipline Organizations PQAS - Organizations which do not offer professional development that is specific to early childhood or school-age educational practice, but have important information to share, are eligible to apply for PQAS Specialty Discipline Organizational approval.
The application can be found
on the PQAS page of the PA Keys website under "Organization Applications and Policies for PQAS" section. Completed applications must be submitted at
pqas@pakeys.org.
How to Receive a Special Event/Conference PQAS Number: A Special Event/ Conference PQAS request is for multi-session, multi-instructor events or for national speakers. Applications must be submitted by either a Certified or Specialty Discipline PQAS Instructor or a PDO Administrator contracted with a Regional Key. The organization that is sponsoring the event must request approval
at least 2 months prior to the event.
The special event application is available
on the PQAS page of the PA Keys website under the "Temporary Applications and Policies" section. Completed applications must be submitted to
pqas@pakeys.org.
Encourage Families to Register for Families Coming Together: Promoting Inclusion for All Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Now is an exciting time for families to work together. National and state policies support inclusion and research affirms that inclusion benefits everyone. Families have a vital role in this process.
Families can strengthen inclusive approaches and beliefs by identifying common ground, sharing their joint experiences and learning new information. Families of children birth to eight years of age are invited to participate in facilitated discussions on early childhood inclusion on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at PaTTAN Harrisburg. There is no fee for families to attend this event, lunch is provided, and travel reimbursement is available. Click here for more information, including a brochure to print and distribute to the families you serve.
May FAQ: Will programs be grandfathered into the new system?
- Yes. Programs that have received their STAR level prior to July 1, 2017 will maintain their level through 2017-18 unless they successfully earn a higher STAR rating or have a situation that suspends their rating. Programs entering the system after July 1, 2017 will use the revised system.
Are you or someone you know providing child care services in an identified rural county? Interested in getting help to become a DHS-Certified Childcare provider and Keystone STARS provider? Keystone STARS can help with Start Up Technical Assistance Peer Mentoring to lay the foundation of a high-quality child care facility.
As part of the Race to the Top (RTT)-Early Learning Challenge Grant, Keystone STARS is offering Start Up Technical Assistance in 33 moderate-high or high risk rural counties as defined in the 2012/2013 Reach and Risk Report.
Mentees receive one-on-one provider peer support such as:
- PD Registry support
- Business practices
- Child care certification process
- Zoning in their local community
- Completing the STARS Enrollment packet
- And more based on the new provider's needs!
Find out if you serve a targeted county and how you can participate.
 Community Partners Help Promote Early Literacy
Thank you to all the 2017 PA One Book guest readers and host sites who participated in readings during April's Month of the Young Child! There was an outstanding turnout throughout Pennsylvania, with more than 190 readers who read to children in over 290 early learning programs across the Commonwealth. Many of the participants have shared their experiences through the PA Promise for Children website and the PA One Book Facebook page--visit these websites to see the impact of the outreach around this year's PA One Book Every Young Child selection, Daniel Finds a Poem.
Considering a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship? Eligible providers must select T.E.A.C.H. effective July 1, 2017
In order to maximize financial assistance resources for early childhood education professionals, effective July 1, 2017, any child care professional who is eligible to receive a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® Pennsylvania Scholarship must select that option.
Download a
side-by-side chart of eligibility
and what's covered for the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program.
New Universal Application for Child Care Certificate of Compliance
There is now one application form for all child care provider types to complete when seeking to obtain or renew a Certificate of Compliance. This new universal form can be used by Family Child Care Homes, Group Child Care Homes, and Child Care Centers. View and download the new application form.
Beat the Rush for Online Training to Meet Requirements
The deadline to meet the new requirements is fast approaching and now is the time to register for training to beat the last minute rush. Sign up now for the free online training for nine of the 10 required topics for child care staff to help meet the new health and safety training requirements.This is one of the new requirement of the federal Child Care Development Block Grant that all child care directors and staff are to complete training on 10 health and safety topics by September 30, 2017. Please see OCDEL's Announcement for more information.
In order to meet the new requirement:
- Take a free, six-hour "Health & Safety Basics: Requirements for Certification" course online through Better Kid Care or in person through their Regional Key or Provide transcript of courses you've taken that meet the requirements
AND
- Take face-to-face Pediatric First Aid and CPR training.
Child care certification representatives are checking professional development records for these topics as part of inspections and new providers must complete pre-service training on the 10 topics before submitting an application. Visit the PA Key website or contact your Regional Certification Office for more details.
National Child Care Winners Correction
Last month, we shared the Pennsylvania recipients of the National Child Care Teacher Award Recipients from the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation. The award honors child care educators nationally for their valuable work and innovative thinking. We neglected to include Jennifer Massella from Tender Care in Wexford, PA as a recipient.
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Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge
Community Innovation Zone Update - May 2017
The original 12 Community Innovation Zone grantees are busy finishing significant projects and collecting data as the funding period draws close. The
May 2017 Update highlights Child Development Center's identifiable positive child outcomes which are tracked and continue to have success with the supervised family visitation program that has children visiting incarcerated parents at the Venango County prison. Also get information about Drexel University's engagement of more than 50 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten teachers in workshops focusing on transition support. Read about these accomplishments and others at the
PA Key website.
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This initiative is a part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the
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Of Interest
Working Together to Insure Pennsylvania Children
During March, Pennsylvania Child Care Information Services (CCIS) offices connected with over 3,000 child care families in efforts to help families get their children enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid. These families were identified as having received notification about potential eligibility several months ago, but had failed to contact the local County Assistance Office (CAO) or apply online. CCIS staff aided families in awareness of the opportunity and helped them connect with the CAO. As a result of this outreach, over 1,000 children who did not have medical coverage before now have it.
If you know of a family with children who may be eligible for Medicaid, they can apply at their local CAO, or online via COMPASS. Families with children not eligible for Medicaid may qualify for PA CHIP and can apply at chipcoverspakids.com.
New School Vaccination Rules for Students
The PA Department of Health has announced that new school vaccination rules to take effect in August will require Pennsylvania children, including those entering kindergarten, to be fully vaccinated within the first five days of school.
Families who don't comply will have to provide a medical plan from a doctor outlining when the child will have all vaccinations. Families previously had up to eight months to get their children vaccinated. For eligible residents, vaccinations are available year-round at state health centers and county/ municipal health departments. Get information on requirements for children entering kindergarten and where families can get their child's vaccines at dontwaitvaccinate.pa.gov.
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities: Case Studies Webinar Series
EPA is hosting a quarterly webinar series to highlight examples of efforts to reduce lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. These webinars will include a brief overview of lead in drinking water, information regarding where to find resources and perspectives from a state, water system and/or school. Presentations will include best practices, lessons learned, challenges, funding, procedures and available resources. The webinars are ideal for schools, states, primacy agencies, water systems, technical assistance providers and those seeking information about implementing a lead testing program for school drinking water. Click here to register and for more info.
The Food Trust Farm to ECE Recognition & Awards Application
Deadline May 18
The Food Trust is seeking to recognize 10 early care and education providers (child care centers, licensed home-based child care, private preschools, Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs, home-visiting, preschool or childcare centers through K-12 school districts, and others) in Pennsylvania that are engaged in farm to early care and education (farm to ECE). This refers to early care center programs with established activities representative of at least one of the three pillars of farm to ECE: food and agriculture education, hands-on gardening opportunities, and use of local food for meals, snacks or taste tests. As part of this recognition, centers will be awarded $500. See the release for additional information in
English and
Spanish (PDF) and share this with your community partners.
Grant Opportunities Available serving South Central PA
Deadline August 1
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) has announced
grant opportunities now available for application, primarily serving South Central Pennsylvania. Applicants either must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project. Proposed activities may take place at any time during the grant year of January 1, 2018- December 31, 2018. Many of the grants include an education and/or early childhood component. Click here to learn how to apply and review the grant guidelines.
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Trends and Reports
Parent Engagement Practices Improve Outcomes for Preschool Children
A recent brief,
Parent Engagement Practices Improve Outcomes for Preschool Children, from The Pennsylvania State University, shares approaches, based on randomized-controlled trials, that provide the strongest evidence that focused parent engagement programs during the preschool years can improve child outcomes. Key findings include
- Parent engagement during the preschool years is key to children's success
- Parent engagement efforts are especially critical for children growing up in low-income families
- Early education programs set parent engagement goals but challenges remain
- Parent engagement programs can promote positive school outcomes for children.
School Bus the Key to Kindergarten Attendance?
A new nationwide study proposes that by increasing the number of kindergartners taking the bus to school, schools could cut the number of lost instructional days. The results of the study,
Linking Getting to School With Going to School by Michael A. Gottfried, University of California, showed that kindergartners taking the school bus had fewer absences than children whose options were walking, car, or other methods. This is of particular importance when considering out of all the years of elementary school, absenteeism is highest in kindergarten, with an estimate of about 25% of all kindergartners are missing almost a month or more of school. Factor in low-income or urban schools and that figure jumps to 55%. When many schools are looking to increase attendance, yet cut costs, a case could be made for investing in transportation.
Social-Emotional Skills in Early Childhood Support Workforce Success
A recent ReadyNation report,
Social-Emotional Skills in Early Childhood Support Workforce Success, examines how character skills formed in early childhood contribute to building a strong workforce with the necessary social-emotional skills for the 21st century economy. For example, a 20-year study examined the character skills of 800 kindergartners and followed them until age 25. For every one-point increase in children's character skills scores in kindergarten, they were:
- 54% more likely to earn a high school diploma
- Twice as likely to attain a college degree
- 46% more likely to have a full-time job at age 25
State briefs reflect comments from major company executives across the country about why social-emotional skills are critical to their businesses' success, and why they believe smart investments during a child's earliest years ensure that employees are ready to succeed on their first day at work.
La Familia: Latino Families Strong and Stable, Despite Limited Resources
This
three-brief series, recently released by the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families, examines Latino family life and includes the first demographic portrait of Latino fathers. New research reveals that the resilience and stability of Latino families have endured despite the income and educational inequality that many of them experience.
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Resources
Transitioning to Kindergarten? Sign up for the KHIA Enews!
As preschool graduations occur throughout Pennsylvania, families are seeking tools over the summer to help their child make the transition into Kindergarten. PA's Promise for Children provides a monthly enews,
Kindergarten Here I Am (KHIA) for those entering Kindergarten. Families simply select the year their child will enter Kindergarten, then receive the free monthly enews filled with tips, tools, and resources to support their child's school success.
Click here to sign up or download the
half-page flyer to distribute to families.
Building Partnerships with Libraries
Early learning program and school districts may want to take advantage of resources provided by local libraries, but what's the best way to build partnerships with libraries? The BUILD Initiative has available the toolkit, Building Supportive Communities with Libraries, Museums and Early Childhood Systems, developed with Institute of Museum and Library Services. The toolkit provides strategies and resources organized around the developmental phases of partnerships and working groups to help leaders develop relationships and shared interests; understand and articulate opportunities for shared benefit; and design, implement, and assess strategies and action plans.
April Edition of Baby Talk
The April edition of Baby Talk from Camille Catlett features information to provide clarity on how much time young children should spend using social media, how parent's cultural values affect their babies' temperaments, and more.
Family & Community Engagement in Addressing Childhood Trauma Recorded Webinar
Educators, parents, families, and community partners must be able to respond to trauma and know where to access support. Over 400 participants tuned in to a second Institute for Educational Leadership webinar on addressing childhood trauma, co-hosted by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. This recorded webinar examined how schools and community partners can engage and work with families to address childhood trauma.
First Five Years Fund Resource List
The Child Care State Capacity Building Center (SCBC), one of the Office of Care's Technical Assistance (TA) Centers, recently released a number of new resources that provide state leaders with early childhood technical assistance (TA) support. The SCBC plays a critical role in helping state and territory lead agencies promote consistent, high-quality programs across states and local communities. Specifically the SCBC focuses on enhancing state level expertise in order to build partnerships and strengthen state early childhood systems.
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The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides families access to high quality services to prepare children for school and life success.
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The Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education News is a project of the Pennsylvania Build Initiative and the Pennsylvania 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.
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