The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is seeking applicants for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. 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). Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is meant to expand the number of children who have the opportunity to experience a pre-kindergarten program of high quality. The standards for the program will ensure a high return on the investment made in preparing young children for school and will help close the achievement gap between groups of students in the K-12 educational system. Early education through Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts can open the doors of opportunity for every child to do well in school, in the workforce, and in life. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts funding is awarded on a cost per child basis.

This competitive opportunity will select eligible grantees for a four-year grant period beginning this year. Eligible applicants include existing Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees, and new applicants from one of these five eligible entity categories:
 

b. Licensed nursery schools;
c. Head Start grantees;
d. Child care centers and group child care homes designated at Keystone STAR 3 or STAR 4; and
e. A third party entity may apply for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts funding and administer the lead agency responsibilities for entities that are eligible to provide the classroom services under the categories listed above.

Letter of intent deadline is August 4, 2014 at 3 pm, and application deadline is August 28, 2014 at 3 pm. Detailed information on how to apply, along with program expectations can be accessed on the PA Keys website.

Save the Date! October 6: Family Engagement Summit
 

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning asks you to save the date for the Family Engagement Summit, Supporting Strong Partnerships for Children's School Readiness and Achievement to be held on October 6 at the PaTTAN Harrisburg.

The Summit will provide an opportunity for early childhood professionals, family leaders, school district personnel, and community leaders to network and discuss family engagement strategies, supports and resources in Pennsylvania around effective and efficient ways to partner to support children's school readiness.

Registration and full conference information will be available mid August. Until then, pass along the Save the Date Flyer, and for more information, contact Sarah Holland at saholland@pa.gov.

Text4baby State Enrollment Contest

A resource for moms-to-be can help them, their baby, and Pennsylvania in the 2014 Text4baby State Enrollment Contest The contest has officially started and runs through November 1. During the contest, states compete to enroll as many users as possible in text4baby.

Text4baby is a free service that provides women with important health information during pregnancy and until their baby's 1st birthday. Pregnant women and new mothers who text "BABY" (or "BEBE" for Spanish) to 511411 receive three weekly messages, timed to their due date or their baby's birth date. They'll learn about labor and delivery, nutrition, breastfeeding, safe sleep, developmental milestones, smoking cessation, immunization and more. And its free!

Help Pennsylvania score big in the National text4baby Enrollment Contest and let's spread the word about text4baby. You'll be giving a mom and her baby the gift of a lifetime! Free materials are available in English and Spanish to help with promotion efforts. Contact lcortes@pa.gov for additional information.   

New PD Registry Resources Available

Are you an early childhood educator? If so, have you logged into your account in the new PD Registry on the PA Keys website?

Take a few minutes today and check out the latest resources, tipsheets and tutorial videos: 

• Professional Development Registry Student Policies
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 1: Finding a Course
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 2: Registering for a Course
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 3: My Courses & Completing the Evaluation
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 4: Viewing Your PQAS Hours & Printing a Certificate
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 5: My Self-Assessment
• Professional Development Registry for Students Part 6: My Professional Development Plan

Additional Resources for students, instructors and directors are available by logging in, clicking the My Learning Path Tab, and then clicking References.

Please contact registry@berksiu.org with any questions regarding the PD Registry.