Volume 01 | February 2020
What Do I Need To Do To Complete My PD Registry Profile and Why?
A completed profile in the PD Registry places you on Pennsylvania's ECE Career Pathway, allows you to apply for tuition assistance programs like Rising STARS Tuition Assistance and the CDA Voucher, provides full access to online an in-person professional development opportunities and more!

Your completed profile also gives Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) a more complete picture of data from ECE professionals across the Commonwealth. This data is shared with partners, funders and policymakers to increase funding so the number of high-quality ECE programs rise and a knowledgeable, skilled and better compensated ECE workforce develops. For example, compensation (wage/salary) information may be averaged to report the median wage of ECE educators across Pennsylvania or in a specific geographic region. This information may also be averaged nationally.

OCDEL and the PD Registry recognize privacy is important and  any identifying personal information, including individual compensation data, is not shared . A full PD Registry Privacy Statement is available at  bit.ly/PDRprivacy .

To complete your profile or check that your profile is properly completed:

  • Visit www.papdregistry.org.
  • Login to your PD Registry profile.
  • Select the Complete my Profile (Career Pathway) checkbox.
  • Click blue Apply/Renew button.
  • Click blue Start button.
  • Complete required fields in each tab and select Save and Continue to move forward to each section:
  • Personal Information
  • First Name/Last Name
  • Mailing Address
  • Phone Number
  • Birth Date
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
  • Communication Preferences
  • Education
  • Uploaded education documents (i.e. college transcripts, certifications, etc.) – NOTE: If someone has previously uploaded education documents, these should still be available, and they should not need to be reuploaded a second time.
  • Employer
  • Current employer
  • Compensation information (Wage/Salary)
  • Submit Application
  • I agree to the privacy policy
  • Click blue Submit Application button.

For a complete step-by-step guide on how to complete your profile, view this tipsheet on the PA Key website .

Once your profile is properly submitted, it will be reviewed for education verification and placement on Pennsylvania's ECE Career Pathway. Processing times for applications can take up to sixty (60) days.

You will need to renew your profile annually. If you complete ECE courses, complete a degree, receive your CDA, or receive the Director Credential during the year, update your education tab by uploading the documents and you may move up in the Career Pathway.  When you submit your profile for annual renewal, new education documents will be considered for your Career Pathway level at that time.

For more information, visit the PA Key website .

Questions? Email [email protected] .
For Early Childhood Education (ECE) Professionals
Child Development Associate (CDA) Amnesty Program Available Now!
Has your CDA Credential lapsed or expired? Not sure how to go about getting it back? Until March 31, 2020, the CDA council began offering a limited time CDA renewal Amnesty program! This means if you completed your CDA any time after Jan. 1, 2010, and did not submit a renewal to keep the CDA current, you can take advantage of this opportunity to reinstate your CDA credential.

The renewal program is eligible for Rising Stars Tuition Assistance (RSTA). To apply for Financial assistance, ECE professionals need to complete their profile in the PD Registry in order to see the Financial Assistance tab. For more information about RSTA, visit the Rising STARS page on the PA Key website .

You must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Expiration date as far back as January 1, 2010.
  • Must meet all current renewal requirements (visit the CDA Council website for more information about the renewal process).
  • Apply online using YourCouncil CDA council portal system (for more information on this process, visit the CDA Council website).
The program will run from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020. All applications and payments ($125) must be submitted online by March 31, 2020.
New CDA Cohorts for Spring 2020
Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is implementing statewide Professional Development Organizations (PDOs). PDOs will specialize in access to credit-bearing coursework and credentials for the early childhood education (ECE) workforce. Shippensburg University and Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) were selected as the PDOs in Pennsylvania.  See a regional map.   

While PDOs begin their work, The Pennsylvania Key contracted with several organizations and institutes of higher education to offer community-based cohorts so that Early Childhood Education (ECE) Professionals attempting to obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can complete the 120 hours of credit-bearing coursework and receive additional support. The list has been updated below to include Spring 2020 cohorts. Space in these cohorts is limited.  Use the contact information to determine the best program to fit individual needs.  ECE Professionals can also find credit-bearing coursework for the CDA at the   institutions of higher education .

If you are unable to find a program that fits your needs,  contact your PDO . If you are interested in financial assistance options regarding obtaining a CDA, visit the Financial Assistance page of the PA Key website .

Pennsylvania's Apprenticeship Efforts Recognized in Innovative State Strategies for Supporting the ECE Workforce
In a series of briefs, Child Trends highlights innovative strategies leveraging state policies, practices, and funding to strengthen the early childhood education (ECE) workforce and to benefit the children they serve. The ECE workforce experiences shared challenges nationwide, such as inadequate compensation and support for paths towards attaining credentials and higher education degrees. These state spotlights were developed to serve as resources to explore how Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, and Pennsylvania implemented promising initiatives and programs to support the workforce and address issues facing the field. Unique strategies for preparing and compensating practitioners include early childhood apprenticeships, business training, and flexible salary bonuses. 

Pennsylvania's efforts highlight the innovative ECE Apprenticeship Program which collaborates with higher education partners to help teachers attain an ECE associate or a bachelor's degree by integrating on-the-job learning, academic supports, mentorship, and wage increases.  Read more .
T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Update for Spring 2020
The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) has filled all available scholarship slots for the Spring 2020 semester. However, PACCA continues to accept T.E.A.C.H. applications on an ongoing basis and will issue awards for future semesters based on funding availability. 

For early childhood education (ECE) professionals interested in enrolling in college, PACCA recommends applying for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship  AND  to the college/university to attend as soon as possible. To learn more about T.E.A.C.H. partnering higher education institutions and their degree/program offerings, visit the  PACCA website


Those with questions about T.E.A.C.H. or next steps to enrolling in college, can contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000 or  [email protected]

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood   ®    PENNSYLVANIA is administered by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA). T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood   ®   PENNSYLVANIA is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association. 
Recorded Webinars on the PD Registry and the ECE Career Pathway for Directors Available Now
Pennsylvania's PD Registry and Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway Overview recorded in Dec. 2019:


Pennsylvania's ECE Career Pathway Overview recorded in Jan. 2020:


For more information about the PD Registry and the ECE Career Pathway, visit the PA Key website.
Regarding Foreign Degrees for the ECE Career Pathway in the PD Registry
If you are completing your PD Registry profile and uploading a foreign degree as one of your education documents, translation by an organization currently a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at ww w.naces.org/members , American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers-Office of International Education Services (AACRAO-OIES) at www.aacrao.org , or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) at www.aice-eval.org is required. 

The documentation must show the U. S. equivalent degree as well as a course-by-course evaluation showing semester hour college credits. Another option is for the institution of higher education which was attended translate the transcript identifying the information noted above.

For more information about the PD Registry and the ECE Career Pathway, visit the PA Key website.
Coming Soon: Updated Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Face-to-Face Courses
The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Team is excited to announce that newly revised Environment Rating Scale (ERS) professional development sessions will be available in the 2020-2021 Program Year!

Six newly revised sessions will be available: ITERS-R, ECERS-R, ECERS-3, SACERS-U, FCCERS-R, as well as Foundations, which is a prerequisite for the individual scale sessions. These revised sessions will include new interactive activities to engage participants, share current practice strengths and areas for improvement, and focus on how making best practice choices promotes quality experiences for children that impact their growth and development.

The revised professional development sessions will be available in the early part of next year.

For more on current PQA professional development opportunities, visit the PA Key website.
Online Professional Development Opportunities in the PD Registry
New: FLIP IT! Social Emotional Course
Interested in supporting the social and emotional development of young children, while also reducing their instances of challenging behaviors? Take the FLIP IT course to learn how!

Teachers and parents can help children learn about their feelings and gain self-control by using the mnemonic: F – Feelings, L – Limits, I – Inquiries, P – Prompts. These four steps transform challenging behavior using a simple, kind, strength-based, commonsense and effective process. FLIP IT is nothing new, but transforms best practice into a strategy that is easy to remember and portable. It teaches adults how to respond positively to everyday challenges and challenging behaviors in children ages 3-8.

This self-paced, interactive course (approximately 2.5 hours in length) guides the individual through each of the four steps of FLIP IT . This course costs $30. Find it in the PD Registry today at ( www.papdregistry.org) .

For more information on FLIP IT, visit www.moreflipit.org
New: FREE Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Online Modules on Homelessness
Eight new FREE online modules are available now in the Professional Development (PD) Registry. These Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) online modules are intended for professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start and child care, CCDF Lead Agency or designated entity staff and other key stakeholders who encounter populations experiencing homelessness. Learn how to identify families experiencing homelessness, conduct community outreach, and more. The following modules are available:

  • Module 1: Overview of Family Homelessness
  • Module 2: Understanding Family Homelessness
  • Module 3: Understanding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's Definition of Homelessness
  • Module 4: Determining a Family's Homeless Situation
  • Module 5: Identifying and Reaching Out to Families Experiencing Homelessness
  • Module 6: Enhancing Program Access and Participation for Children Experiencing Homelessness
  • Module 7: Building Relationships with Families
  • Module 8: Connecting with Community Partners

Each module is worth one (1) PQAS hour. Upon completion, each module will show as verified on an individual’s Professional Development Learning Record.

These modules have been created by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement.

Visit www.papdregistry.org to find these courses and more.
Updated: Online Course Listing from OCDEL About Pennsylvania's Prenatal to Third Grade (P3) Systems Building Logic Model
Pennsylvania’s Prenatal to Third Grade (P3) Systems Building Logic Model is designed to support OCDEL’s mission of providing families access to high quality services to prepare children for school and life success. When early learning settings are implemented with attention to quality and are intentionally aligned to one another, all children, including those lacking opportunity, benefit. Comprehensive P3 approaches hold incredible potential to dramatically change the path of opportunity gaps and to set young children on solid pathways to educational and lifelong success.

The Pennsylvania P3 Systems Building Logic Model was developed to assist a variety of groups (state agencies, regional teams, local communities) in the planning and implementation of innovative P3 policies and practices. The Bureau of Policy and Professional Development has developed the following asynchronous courses as companion resources to The Pennsylvania P3 Systems Building Logic Model:

  • Understand Context Overview (FREE)
  • Understanding Context: The Health and Managed Care Organizations System in PA (FREE)
  • Understanding Context: The Public Education System in PA (FREE)
  • Understanding Context: The Home Visiting System in PA (FREE)
  • Grant Writing 101 ($5)
  • P3 Systems Thinking (FREE)
  • An Introduction to Pennsylvania’s Family Engagement Framework (FREE)
  • Transition Across the Early Learning Continuum (FREE)

You can access these courses by clicking the links, or searching within the PD Registry ( www.papdregistry.org ) in the training calendar.

If you have any questions or problems, contact Barry Wiestling ( [email protected] ).
You are receiving this email because you have a registered email address on The PD Re gistry . If you think you are receiving this email by mistake or you would like to unsubscribe, please email [email protected] or call 1-800-284-6031.

Find more information about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania 
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