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Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania | |
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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 ECHO series beginning Sept. 25, 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 series highlights the utilization and promotion of the CDC’s Milestones Tracker App, which is a free developmental tracker resource offered in English and Spanish. 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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Announcement C-24-02 The Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Hazardous Materials and Biological Contaminants
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services, has released Announcement C-24-02 The Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Hazardous Materials and Biological Contaminants. The purpose of this announcement is to issue updated policy on federal requirements administered by the U.S. Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care (OCC) and its requirement for all school-age programs providing care exclusively to school-age children certified by the Department of Human Services (DHS) under 55 Pa. Code Chapters 3270 and 3280 to follow certain guidelines pertaining to the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and biological contaminants.
The announcement gives guidance to all DHS certified child care programs providing care exclusively to school-age children and what must be done to maintain compliance with the requirements for the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous material and biological contaminants in accordance with 45 CFR § 98.41(a)(1)(viii).
The Announcement effective date is October 1, 2024. For full details, please see Announcement C-24-02 The Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Hazardous Materials and Biological Contaminants.
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Certified Child Care Providers Encouraged to Register for Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs
The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance is offering the no-cost virtual curriculum series, Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs. The training content and activities are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations.
The series contains four modules of business practices content:
- Budgets, Projections, and Planning
- Financial Reports and Internal Controls
- Marketing for Child Care Programs
- Staff Recruitment and Retention for Center-based Child Care Programs
There are two versions of this series: one for center-based providers and one for family child care (based) providers. The virtual trainings are available at no cost and have PQAS hours. The trainings are also available in English and Spanish.
Visit the Pennsylvania Key website for upcoming dates and information on how to register for the trainings.
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New Office Location - Western Region, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Bureau of Certification Services
Effective Thursday, August 29, 2024, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Certification Services - Western Office has moved and has a new address: Western Region Office, 301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 370, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
The phone numbers for the Western Region OCDEL office remain the same: (412) 565-5183 and Toll Free (800) 222-2149.
An update regional map with contact information for each Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning is also available.
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Register Now for How the Growing Brain Influences Relationships, Behavior, and Play
The Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports has announced the no-cost in-person training opportunity, How the Growing Brain Influences Relationships, Behavior, and Play to be held on:
- October 1, 2024, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, PaTTAN East
- October 9, 2024, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23
Decades of research indicate that the early years of life are a period of exponential brain development, characterized by great opportunity and vulnerability, dependent on the relationships and environment in which the child is growing. This training will examine how the brain develops from birth to 5 years old and provide strategies to support healthy brain development across developmental areas.
This session is designed for Infant Toddler Early intervention staff, Preschool Early Intervention staff, and early childhood education professionals. Infant Toddler Training Hours, Act 48 Clock Hours credits are available.
For general registration information and questions, please contact Molly Martz at mmartz@pattan.net. For content related information and questions, please contact Michael Brink at mbrink@pattan.net.
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Back to School? It's Time for iLookout's Mandated Reporter Training!
Now that school is in session, it's time to ensure early childhood educators are up to date with their required three hours of Act 31 mandated reporter training. The iLookOut for Child Abuse Project offers online courses about protecting and supporting children and their families, all free of charge. Learn about supporting at-risk children and their families and meet required training with this interactive, video-based storyline training. It includes 8-12 minute micro-learning exercises and is available to all Pennsylvania mandated reporters. In addition, participants can receive a $15 gift card as a thank you for completing the iLookout Mandated Reporter Training. Get more information and take the free training.
iLookOut is part of Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Humanities and Center for the Protection of Children.
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Employment Opportunity: Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (Southwest Region)
The Pennsylvania Key has an employment opportunity for an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (Southwest Region). The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant increases the understanding of social and emotional development and its impact on educational success, link and bridge systems and services on behalf of a child, family and program, and reduces the number of children expelled from early learning facilities due to behavior issues. Learn more and how to apply.
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Start Strong PA Child Care Staffing Survey
The Start Strong PA Campaign is collecting information from Pennsylvania child care directors and owners about the on-going staffing crisis. While the recently passed 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget included funding to help families better afford child care, child care programs may be still in desperate need of more funding to keep their classroom and program doors open.
The information collected will be used to demonstrate the urgent need for Pennsylvania's 2025-2026 state budget to fund a child care teacher recruitment and retention initiative so the workforce is paid a livable wage and programs remain open for working families. Four respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift card!
The deadline to participate is September 27, 2024. Click here to share your feedback in the survey.
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Sept. 17-18: 2024 Workforce Leaders Symposium
Are you a workforce leader, management, and next-generation professional including but not limited to Local Workforce Development, Education & Training Providers, Career Development, Education (P-12) and Post-Secondary Institutions, Economic Development Organizations, Chambers, and Industry Trade Associations? Then plan to attend the Workforce Leaders Symposium, Sept. 17-19 in Bethlehem, PA.
The 2024 Workforce Development Symposium provides a platform for professionals from various fields such as workforce development, education, and training to engage in discussions regarding policy, peers, and practice. Attendees can network, learn, and exchange ideas on topics that impact workforce development. The symposium also offers an opportunity for attendees to shape their strategies, program designs, and capacity-building needs to enhance their skills and knowledge. Learn more and register.
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PA Navigate Helps Pennsylvanians Search and Connect to Support
PA Navigate is a statewide community information network, designed to address health and social care needs for individuals, by connecting them to community organizations that can help, while keeping care teams in the loop. Search and connect to support. PA Navigate can help find financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help. Watch this brief video from PA Department of Human Services' Secretary, Val Arkoosh, about PA Navigate.
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Apply Now for the 2024-2025 PA NAP SACC Wellness Grant
Application deadline Oct. 4, 2024
Licensed child care providers in Pennsylvania, serving a minimum of four children ages birth to five years are invited to apply for the 2024-25 PA NAP SACC Wellness Grant. Past participants are also eligible to apply.
This grant provides an opportunity to engage in a continuous quality improvement process focused on obesity prevention practices and policies within an early care and education setting. The program utilizes Go NAPSACC, an on-line, evidence-based tool, to guide self-assessment, action planning, implementation, policy development, re-self-assessment and reflection. The process empowers program leadership and includes individualized technical assistance to increase knowledge and improve quality of practice and policy. Programs will also be linked with a Child Care Health Consultant at no cost to the site. The CCHC will review current nutrition and physical activity practices and policies, assist with developing sustainable policies, and offer guidance for continuous quality improvement.
Beyond the reward of making a difference in the health of children, those who participate and complete grant requirements will receive up to $500 in grant funding to support staff time and/or any materials and resources needed. For STAR 3 and 4 programs, participation in all components of the PA NAPSACC Wellness Grant satisfies Keystone STARS performance standards LM.3.4.10 (utilizing a health care consultant to establish and maintain health policies above those required by certification) as well as bonus points area Partnerships with Families and Communities (participating in an organized effort to promote nutritional health for children).
Following the application period, eligible applicants will be invited to participate in an Informational Webinar on October 23, from 12:45-1:45. This webinar will be recorded and shared with all eligible applicants. After the webinar, program enrollment will be based on the first 50 programs to complete enrollment tasks outlined in the webinar. If you are interested in participating, please complete and submit the online application found HERE, or on the Keystone Kids Go website (www.keystonekidsgo.org) If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Cindy Wilson at Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, at 717-248-4942 x 143 or cjwilson@tiu11.org. Application deadline is October 4, 2024.
Funding for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: In the Kitchen Video Series
Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month (PA HOM) is a program developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Project PA (Penn State University) to promote a local agricultural product each month through schools, child and adult care centers/day care homes, and summer feeding sites. A Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: In the Kitchen video series is now available. These short (approximately 5-7 minutes) videos are designed to provide information about how to procure, select, handle, and prepare each PA HOM item for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs). Funding for this project was provided by a Fiscal Year 2022 USDA Farm to School grant.
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Plan Now for October's National Farm to School Month
October is National Farm to School Month, a time for schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities, agencies, and organizations to celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients! The PA Farm to School Network is providing a variety of ways to help you celebrate: join the upcoming virtual open house on September 26, participate in the multimedia story-telling contest, and encourage your legislators to support farm to school related policy. Learn more about these opportunities and others in this blog post!
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New Learning Toolkit for Providers Science X Design
Science X Design from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, is an open-access, self-paced learning toolkit designed to help service providers improve outcomes for young children and their caregivers. Science X Design (pronounced “science by design”) aims to empower service providers in fields like healthcare, education, and child welfare to identify new opportunities to improve their services. This toolkit offers curated information on three design principles informed by the science of early childhood development and guides users in gathering input from the people involved in services. Through an interactive learning, listening, and synthesis process, identify opportunities to adapt early childhood program to support the healthy development of young children and their caregivers.
Find a course overview with more information about who should participate in the Science X Design process, how long it will take, and what outcomes to expect.
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A Closer Look at Medicaid and Home Visiting in Pennsylvania
The Childhood Begins at Home campaign recently released a new brief, A Closer Look at Medicaid and Home Visiting in Pennsylvania, that takes a closer look at the opportunity of Medicaid financing of home visiting services to reach more Pennsylvania families.
Home visiting services help nurture a healthy environment for expectant parents and families with young children by focusing on child development, improving maternal and child health, providing positive parental coaching and guidance, and much more.
The brief explores the benefits of the Medicaid Maternal Home Visiting program (MHV) created by the Department of Human Services (DHS) four years ago and offers recommendations to the department for further improvement.
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Four Trends in Early Care and Education Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
From Child Trends, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) aim to rate, improve, and communicate the quality of early care and education (ECE) programs. As part of an evaluation of Parent Aware, Minnesota’s QRIS, Child Trends conducted a literature review and interviews with QRIS administrators in six states: Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. Based on this work, there were four trends in QRIS that leaders in the ECE field should keep an eye on, especially as states plan revisions to their QRIS. Read more.
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Why We Should Focus on Positive Childhood Experiences
From Psychology Today, research often highlights adverse childhood experiences, yet positive ones are crucial too. These benevolent experiences, like supportive caregivers and enjoyable school experiences, significantly contribute to well-being and personality development, underscoring the importance of nurturing environments for children. Read more.
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Toddlers' brains show significant growth in cognitive skills by 16 months
A recent study, Toddlers' brains show significant growth in cognitive skills by 16 months, led by the Universities of Bristol and Oxford, shows that toddlers engage more regions of their brains around 16-months to help them develop important cognitive skills enabling them to follow simple instructions and control impulses. The findings contribute new knowledge about the role of brain areas in early development and could help future research piece together a picture of how an important cognitive skill (inhibitory control), and the brain areas involved, develop from infancy to adulthood.
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September Family-Friendly Newsletters Now Available | |
The September 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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September Calendar of Activities for Early Learning Professionals | |
September is National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Find preparedness tips for your early learning program, your health, your home, and your community.
Check out the September 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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Subscribe to the Pennsylvania State Parks e-Blast Newsletter
Do you get the monthly e-Blast newsletter from the Pennsylvania State Parks? This newsletter is filled with resources and opportunities for educators from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Parks. There is a lot of information for early childhood educators, afterschool staff, and elementary age educators, and subscribing is free! Take a look at the August edition.
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Five Ways to Encourage Children to Eat Vegetables
Many young children can be choosy eaters, especially when it comes to eating vegetables. It can take them 10 or more tries before they like a new food. Keep trying – it will help them have healthier eating habits later. Here are five ways to get started:
- Eat together. Let children see you enjoying vegetables at meals and snacks.
- Prepare together. Teach children how to tear lettuce or add vegetable toppings to pizza.
- Get colorful. Choose different colors of vegetables to eat.
- Make vegetables fun. Read about them in books. Plant a seed and watch it grow.
- Share the adventure. Try a new vegetable each week.
Check out the USDA's Nibbles for Health Newsletter, Encouraging Vegetables, for more ideas and to print and share with families!
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Culturally Inclusive Recipe Toolkit
From the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition, find resources and information for school nutrition program operators and the early learning/school community to collaborate on the process of identifying, developing, testing, and incorporating culturally inclusive recipes in school meal programs.
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Read Aloud for 15 Minutes Per Day
The start of the school year sets the tempo and often brings chaos in its early days, therefore, it is very important to maintain good habits during this time. Reading aloud for 15 minutes every day can serve as a calm point during a hectic day and help children develop. Find useful free resources here.
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Free Training Webinars from the Institute of Child Nutrition
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) offers free trainings on a broad range of topics for child nutrition professionals working in school nutrition and child care settings. To receive webinar and registration information for upcoming webinars, please subscribe to the ICN newsletter. A link to register will be sent to subscribers one week before the webinar date.
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Resources from Camille Catlett | The August resource from Camille Catlett is now available. The August edition of Natural Resources features information on Misuses in Using Child Data, Misconceptions in Using Child Data, 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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