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 Apply now to participate on the 2014-15 Keystone STARS Stakeholders CommitteeDeadline May 15 Want to play a more active role in the future of Keystone STARS? Applications are now being accepted for participation on the 2014-15 Keystone STARS Stakeholders Committee (formerly known as the STARS Advisory Committee). OCDEL is looking for professionals with a solid understanding of Keystone STARS and the skills to help continuously improve the program to apply. Committee members will reflect diverse geographic regions of the state and have a range of attributes, collective skills, and experiences that will enable the Committee to achieve its goals.
Keystone STARS Stakeholders Committee is a statewide work group whose purpose is to advise OCDEL about the Keystone STARS program including performance standards, operations, and program design and data. The Keystone STARS Stakeholders Committee makes recommendations by providing feedback and representing Keystone STARS provider concerns and assists in the development of program protocols, tools and resources to strengthen the quality of learning programs in the Commonwealth. Individuals appointed to the Keystone STARS Stakeholders Committee serve a three-year term of service which includes a minimum of three annual committee meetings, conference calls and emails.
Early Learning Providers to find improved system changes to Provider Self-Service
Exciting, new system changes are being made to Provider Self-Service (PSS) in April 2014. This is the first in a series of three planned system improvements dedicated to PSS.
The Early Learning PSS is a convenient system designed to help early learning providers manage working relationships with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and their clients. The PSS is part of the OCDEL's online network that has been designed to help early learning providers:
- Manage child care provider certifications (new provider applications and renewals)
- View and quickly update provider location or program profiles
- Manage data such as facility information and details on services delivered, such as general service schedule, languages spoken/taught, web address, etc.
- Keep program information up-to-date for Pennsylvania's online Early Learning Program and Provider Search (average of 150 searches performed daily)
- View and print child care Certification and Licensing forms and information
- Enter plans of correction on inspection summaries
- Reduce paper use, time spent filing and completing paperwork, postage fees, and much more
- Manage and submit monthly attendance invoice information online for regulated, subsidized child care providers
- Manage and submit invoicing online (for regulated, subsidized child care providers)
- Manage and submit child data via upload (for State Longitudinal Data System users only)
The new changes included in the first round of improvements include the following:
- Quicker and more user-friendly registration, account creation and login processes.
- Improved processes for requesting different types of access and making changes to user passwords
- Sharing easily-understandable information with PSS users during the registration and account change processes
- Introduction of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs), providing answers to commonly asked questions about PSS
- Overall system improvements for an improved user experience, including easier navigation
- Easy access to contact information and helpful resources
- Improved compatibility with mobile devices (i.e. smartphone, tablet, etc.)
U.S. Departments of Education and Health & Human Services Announce Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!
The U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the launch of Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!, a collaborative effort with federal partners to encourage developmental and behavioral screening for children to support the families and providers who care for them.
By raising awareness of child development, Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! will help families look for and celebrate milestones; promote universal screenings; identify delays as early as possible; and improve the support available to help children succeed in school and thrive alongside their peers. This initiative encourages early childhood experts-including practitioners in early care and education, primary health care, early intervention, child welfare and mental health-to work together with children and their families.
Visit Watch Me Thrive! to get more information and resources for families and early learning partners.
Know families who've received Early Intervention? Please encourage them to participate in a National Family Survey
Deadline April 16
Do you know parents or caregivers of a child who is receiving or has received early intervention services within the last six years? Encourage them to take part in this important national survey conducted by the Early Intervention Family Alliance (EIFA) that is aimed at hearing from families who have participated in Part C Early Intervention programs.
This survey will only take a few moments of time, and the information provided will guide future training efforts for EI Professionals. Click here to take the survey. The survey is available until April 16, 2014. The goal is to hear from parents in every state and community across the nation!
Contact Kim Travers at knttravers@windstream.net with questions. The Early Intervention Family Alliance is a national group of families dedicated to improving outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The EIFA works to ensure meaningful family involvement in the development of Part C policies and their implementation at community, state and federal levels. Request for Proposals: PA Department of Education, Governor's Model Child Care Program
Deadline April 24
On behalf of the Education Parents' Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is requesting proposals from suppliers which have the ability and expertise to deliver safe, high quality on-site child care services and a developmentally appropriate educational program for eligible children of Commonwealth employees through the Governor's Model Child Care Program.
Opportunity to celebrate early literacy during Month of the Young Child this April!
 Every child has a favorite early learning activity--for some it may be reading, playing in the water, making a favorite food, or drawing a picture. Share your child's favorite early learning activity with Pennsylvania's Promise for Children and you could win your own copy of the 2014 PA One Book. Every week in April, one person will be selected by random to receive their own copy of the 2014 PA One Book, Stripes of All Types by author Susan Stockdale! Share this opportunity to promote early childhood literacy in your organization's newsletter, on your website, and with the families you serve. Click HERE to enter. Professional Development Registry...Did You Know?
On July 1, 2014, the new PA Keys to Quality Professional Development Registry will be taking the place of the PD Calendar after users log in at www.pakeys.org.
Registered users will be able to build a profile of their education, training and employment. They will also be able to search and register for relevant courses by Knowledge Areas related to their Professional Development Plan. The new PA Keys to Quality Professional Development Registry will make it easier than ever to build, save and track professional development, certifications, credentials and approvals. All online. All in one place.
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Professional Development Opportunities from your Regional Key
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Supporting the Transitions of African American Boys from Preschool to Kindergarten
A new study from University of North Carolina's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) has found that parenting affects the academic and social performance of African American boys as they move from preschool to kindergarten. "The transition to kindergarten can be challenging for many children due to new expectations, social interactions, and physiological changes," said Iheoma Iruka, FPG's associate director of research and the study's lead author. "Transitions may be even more arduous for African American boys, given the many challenges they are likely to face compared to their peers."
Iruka's study also showed that parent-child interactions influence whether a high-achieving African American boy stays on course. "It's important to note that the early achievers who declined academically and socially were more likely to be from homes in which the parents were inattentive," she said. "The group of boys with detached parents showed a significant decrease in their reading and math scores and an increase in aggression during the preschool-to-kindergarten transition." Because of the importance of parenting, Iruka and her co-authors recommend involving parents in academic and social support for children throughout the transition from preschool to kindergarten.
New Evidence Shows That High Quality Early Education Programs Improve Adult Health and Reduce Disease
A 30-year study of children who participated in the Abecedarian program shows that these children have significantly improved health as adults, make healthier lifestyle choices and experience fewer illnesses as adults, according to new research from Nobel laureate economist James Heckman and colleagues at the University of Chicago, University College London and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina.
Previous findings from the Abecedarian Project have been instrumental in demonstrating that high-quality early education and care for at-risk children can have positive, long-lasting effects on cognitive functioning and academic achievement that extend well into adulthood. However, the new study differs by examining physical measures of health.
According to the researchers, the findings have significant implications for public policy. They recommend that policymakers:
- Recognize that quality, birth-to-five early childhood development programs can and should be used to prevent adult chronic disease.
- Make quality early childhood development an integral part of ongoing healthcare reform, particularly among families receiving Medicaid and CHIP.
- Understand that quality early childhood programs start with effective perinatal care for mothers and begin at birth for children.
- Integrate early health and nutrition into early childhood development programs. Early health is critical for later adult health outcomes.
More Trends and Reports
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 Spring into early learning with April's Learning is Everywhere: There are lots of fun early learning activities with April's Learning is Everywhere! Discover fun activities to celebrate Month of the Young Child and ways your family can tell their story. Find out how you can become your child's biggest fan, and get the newest early literacy infographic: Six Books About Growing Up.
Hear Susan Stockdale read Stripes of All Types: Wouldn't it be great to hear the 2014 PA One Book author, Susan Stockdale, read Stripes of All Types? Now you can! Also find at the end of the reading, activities to do with young children. Hear the book being read by the author, then share it with your families and friends!
 Spring is a Time of Discovery Infographic: With spring just around the corner, this infographic helps remind us all that playtime is learning time for young children. Download the image or share on your social media, or provide to families and friends to remind them of the importance of play.
ChooseMyPlate.gov: Healthy eating means getting nutrition from all the right food groups. Focus on fruits, make at least half your grains whole, go lean with protein, and more. ChooseMyPlate.gov has tips on healthy eating for kids and adults. Before you eat, think about what goes on your plate or in your cup or bowl.
Sign Up Genius: A new free online tool can help with outreach and organizing family volunteers. Sign Up Genius helps you build your free sign up, invites your group members, allows them sign up online, then sends reminder emails.
diversitydatakids.org: The Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy (ICYFP) at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management has launched an online data and analysis tool that provides insights into wellbeing and equity among the ever-more diverse children in the United States. Diversitydatakids.org is an interactive tool that allows users to create customized profiles, rankings and maps that make data on child wellbeing across racial and ethnic groups visual and digestible. |
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Community Events
Need Kindergarten Registration information?Search by your county!
Celebrate Month of the Young Child!
April 3-June 19: The Nurturing Parenting Group, Indiana
April 4: Strategies and Solutions across the Spectrum: An Autism Awareness Event, Indiana
April 4: Week of the Young Child Developmental Screenings, New Bethlehem
April 4-6: Annual Kids Book Fest, Johnstown
April 5: Kids Day 2014, St. Marys
April 6: WOYC Walk, Harrisburg
April 7: Children's Day at the Cranberry Mall, Venango County
April 7: Children's Art Show, Carlisle
April 8: Week of the Young Child event, Danville
April 8: Week of the Young Child event, Butler
April 8: Month of the Young Child event, Homestead
April 8: Hop into Learning! Arnold
April 8: WOYC Honoring York & Adams County's Early Childhood Professionals, York
April 8-9: Week of the Young Child Developmental Screenings, Clarion
April 9: Parent Youth Professional Forum, Reading
April 10: An Evening of Art and Music, Latrobe
April 11: Greene County Celebrates Week of the Young Child
April 12: PA Promise for Children Awareness Night at the ballpark, Philadelphia
April 12: Kid's Fair, Somerset
April 12: Pottstown Celebrated Young Children, Pottstown
April 13: Fun in the Sun Day, Clarion
April 14: ESL Parent's Activity Night, Biglerville
April 15: Week of the Young Child event, Bloomsburg
April 16: Children's Parade, Milford
April 16: One Book Every Young Child, Tunkhannock
April 24: Tom Knight Puppeteer Show, Tunkhannock
April 26: Success By 6 Early Learning Expo, Erie
April 26: Healthy Kids Day, Sunbury
April 26: Success By 6 at Healthy Kids Day, Scranton & Carbondale
April 27: Kids are Great Day, Matamoras
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May 7: Champion for Young Children event, Philadelphia
May 23: Experience the FIELD OF DREAMS, Washington |
Professional Events
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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. Find more information about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania
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The Early Childhood Education e-news is a project of the Pennsylvania Build Initiative and the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare 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.
Please feel free to forward this email to friends, family, and colleagues.
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