Governor's Institute helps partnerships enhance student achievement
Eleven Pennsylvania teams representing school districts and community partners convened at the Pennsylvania Department of Education's P-3 Governor's Institute; Preschool to grade 3 (P-3) Collaboration: Working Together for Student Success, July 27-31, 2014. The Institute focused on Preschool to grade 3 alignment strategies.
Participants built collaboration between community, and school district early childhood programs within the community. Teams applied a (P-3) Framework to early childhood settings; participated in the (P-3) Early Learning Community, and engaged in continuous improvement via implementation and sharing strategies and programs that will enhance student achievement.
Each team consisted of up to eight members including at least one birth-5 administrator and practitioner and one K-3 administrator and practitioner. Additional representation was based upon community need and composition (e.g. librarian, curriculum specialist, higher education faculty, early intervention, business leader, family member, etc.). The teams represented
- Erie SD
- Greater Johnstown SD
- Harrisburg SD
- Hazleton Area SD
- New Castle Area SD
- Pine Grove Area SD
- Reading SD
- Ringgold SD
- School District of Philadelphia
- Steelton-Highspire SD
- Tyrone Area SD
Similar Institutes are planned for 2015, 2016, and 2017 for a larger number of participants. For questions or information regarding the Governor's Institutes, contact Jolie Phillips at jolphillip@pa.gov.
This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the Department of Education website.
New requirements for documentation for Criminal History Clearances take effect September 1
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning's Bureau of Certification recently released a memo, Requiring Original Documents for Criminal History Clearances, which specifies that, beginning September 1, 2014, applications for certificates of compliance and certificates of registration must include original documents for the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Registry, the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Check and FBI Fingerprinting in order for the application to be considered complete. As of September 1, applications received that do not have original documents for criminal history clearances attached will be returned to the applicant as incomplete.
Also available are updated information for:
Register now for the OCDEL Family Summit: Supporting Strong Partnerships for Children's School Readiness and Achievement
Registration is now open for the OCDEL Family Summit: Supporting Strong Partnerships for Children's School Readiness and Achievement held October 6, 2014 in Harrisburg. The Family Engagement Summit will encourage strong 
partnerships between families, communities, early learning programs and schools. The focus will be on strategies, resources and practices that support family engagement.
Families are strongly encouraged to attend this event. Family members or professionals who are bringing a family member partner from an organization, school agency, etc., may be eligible for a stipend. In addition to families, early care and education professionals, early intervention professionals, school district personnel, and family and community leaders are invited to attend. Registration is limited, so register early!
This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the Department of Education website.
Apply now for the Pennsylvania Child Care Wellness Mini-grant
Deadline September 12, 2014
Early learning programs and providers are invited to apply for the Pennsylvania Child Care Wellness mini-grant. The Department of Health and Tuscarora Intermediate Unit have
partnered with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning Department of Education and other early childhood education agencies to offer the opportunity to participate in the PA Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (PA NAP SACC).
Participating Early Childhood Education centers will receive $500 mini-grants to improve nutrition and physical activity practices and policies in licensed centers. Participants will use the Web-based, continuous quality improvement tool, PA NAP SACC, to assess current practice, develop an action plan and access valuable professional development activities.
Funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health federal grant and Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Submit ideas for the 2015 PA One Book Activity Guide!Deadline September 30
In preparation for the 2015 PA One Book, Number One Sam by Greg Pizzoli, early childhood programs (Keystone STARS, PA 
Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Early Intervention, Nurse Family Partnership, Child Care Works, Parents as Teachers, Parent Child Home Program), LEARN Partners and Pennsylvania Library staff are invited to submit activities, games, original songs and finger plays plays that may be included in the 2015 PA One Book Activity Guide!
Each year, an Activity Guide is published associated with the PA One Book that contains activities, game, original songs and finger plays which align with the PA Early Learning Standards, appropriate for children ages 3-5 years.
Approximately 7-10 activities per learning standard will be selected for inclusion in the Activity Guide. If selected for inclusion, the name of the individual, the name of their program and location will be included in the 2015 PA One Book Activity Guide.
Deadline to submit is September 30, 2014. Find out how you can submit your activity, game, original song or finger play.
Recorded Webinar: Overview of the 2014 Learning Standards for Early Childhood now available online
A new recorded webinar of the 2014 Learning Standards for Early Childhood is now available online. Pennsylvania's Learning Standards for Early Childhood are research-based according to age and development, and form the foundation for curriculum, assessment, instruction and intervention within early care and education programs. The 2009 Infant, Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten Standards have been revised to reflect current research-based content and integration, and to align with the Pennsylvania Core Standards. The 2014 revised standards mirror the standards found on the Standards Aligned System (SAS) in the learning domains of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (including Environment and Ecology), Social Studies, and Social and Emotional Development. Refinements also have been made to: Partnerships for Learning (Family Engagement); Approaches to Learning Through Play; Creative Thinking and Expression; and Health, Wellness and Physical Development.
All state-funded programs will have one year to transition to the 2014 Infant, Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten Standards. Required implementation of the 2014 Infant, Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten Standards begins July 1, 2015.
View the recorded 2014 Learning Standards for Early Childhood webinar. For more information about the 2014 Learning Standards for Early Childhood, visit the PA Keys website.
This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the Department of Education website.
New 2014-15 Regional Key map released
An updated 2014-15 Regional Key map is now available! New to this map is contact information for the South Central Regional Key and the Southeast Regional Key.
Regional Key offices can help with Keystone STARS information, local professional development events and opportunities, technical assistance, and pediatric first aid/health & safety information.
For more information, see the 2014-15 Regional Key map.
nationally randomized study of strategies for promoting the social and emotional development of 4-year-olds. And for the first time, based on findings from 307 Head Start classrooms and thousands of children in all regions of the country, it shows that teaching aimed at social and emotional learning can be effective on a large scale.
Kindergarten, Here I Am! Enews: Ideal for families of current kindergartners, this new enews supports the Kindergarten, Here I Am! Activity Guides and has tips, resources and activities that families can use to support their child's successful Kindergarten experience. 
in the new New Staff Orientation series! New Staff Orientation-Working with Infants and Toddlers is now available as an online On Demand module. For new staff caring for infants and toddlers: Complete New Staff Orientation - Get Started (8 hour module) + New Staff Orientation - Working with Infants and Toddlers (7 hour module) = 15 hours of required new staff orientation professional development. For existing staff: Complete New Staff Orientation - Working with Infants and Toddlers as a refresher module on best practice for the care of infants and toddlers. Coming soon: New Staff Orientation - Working with Preschoolers (7 hours) - summer 2015; New Staff Orientation - Working with School Age Youth (7 hours) - summer 2016. 
Agriculture's Choose My Plate program has a great new poster/fact sheet. It shows the sequence and usual ages when 2-5 year old children learn specific healthy eating habits. The one-page PDF has eye-catching graphics. Use it to help families and teachers work together on developmentally-appropriate eating skills for children. 
Development/Training," then "Self-Learning Modules." Choose the second page of this section. Then scroll down to "Fitness and Nutrition: Moving and Munching, Supporting Wellness in Early Learning Programs. Earn 3 hours of state-authorized professional development credit for successful completion of this module. 
