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 Important ERS Changes for Programs Participating in Pennsylvania Quality Initiatives effective July 1
As of July 1, 2015, two important changes will occur for all early learning programs that receive Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Assessments using the ECERS-R and/or SACERS tool.
For those programs using the ECERS-R tool, the Parents and Staff subscale will no longer be scored during assessment visits conducted by PA Key Program Quality Assessors.
For those programs using the SACERS tool, this tool will be replaced by the SACERS-Updated, and during the 2015-16 program year, those needing an assessment from a PA Key Assessor will have the option to choose a SACERS or a SACERS-Updated assessment for their participation in Keystone STARS.
Additional information regarding both of these changes is available on the PA Keys website.
Today is the last day to submit LOI for PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance RFA
Letters of Intent due April 29, 3:00 pm
Today, April 29 at 3:00 pm is the deadline to submit Letters of Intent for the PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplement Assistance RFA.
PA's Children's Trust Fund accepting applications
Pre-proposal webinar registration deadline: May 7
Application deadline June 5
The Department of Human Services (formerly Public Welfare) is soliciting applications for the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) Grants for services to promote innovative and creative primary and secondary child abuse and neglect prevention programs. Applications are due by 2 pm on June 5, 2015. The CTF operates under the administration of the Children's Trust Fund Board and is supported by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
The 2015 Request for Application (RFA #4-15) is available on the Department of General Services website. Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 each year for three years. A 25 percent local match is required in the first year, and a 50 percent local match is required in the second and third years each.
Pre-Proposal Webinar: A pre-proposal webinar will be held on May 11, 2015 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am to provide an opportunity to ask any questions related to this RFA. It is the only opportunity for applicants to ask questions and discuss the specifics of this RFA and the application package. Attendance at the pre-proposal webinar is optional. The webinar will be coordinated by the Center for Schools and Communities. Click here to register for the pre-proposal webinar. The deadline for registration is May 7, 2015.
Healthy & Green Mini-Grants - Round 2 Available!
Deadline July 31
The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key, with the generous support of the Heinz Endowments, are excited to offer Pennsylvania's early learning programs who participate in Keystone STARS the  opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 in funding through a competitive grant process, to support environmental health and environment and ecology education improvements in their programs. This second round of the mini-grants program is a wonderful way for PA early learning programs to make purchases of equipment, supplies, maintenance, professional maintenance services, and a selection of educational material that will make their facilities and programs environmentally healthier.
The mini-grants program is funded by the Heinz Endowments' Children, Youth & Families program as part of the PA ECE Healthy & Green Initiative. Up to 60 grants will be awarded, and OCDEL encourages eligible programs to apply.
Additional information about the Healthy & Green mini-grants program is available at the PA Key website.
Still time to apply to participate on the 2015-16 Keystone STARS Stakeholders Group!
Deadline May 15 There is still time to apply to participate on the 2015-16 Keystone STARS Stakeholders Group (formerly known as the Keystone STARS Advisory Committee)! This is a great opportunity for those who want to play a more active role in  the future of Keystone STARS. OCDEL is looking for applicants who are professionals with a solid understanding of Keystone STARS and the skills to help continuously improve the program. Members will represent diverse geographic regions of the state and have a range of attributes, collective skills, and experiences that will enable the Keystone STARS Stakeholders Group to achieve its' goals. Keystone STARS Stakeholders Group 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 make recommendations by providing feedback and representing Keystone STARS provider concerns. They also assist 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 serve a three-year term of service which includes a minimum of three annual membership meetings, conference calls and emails. Applications are due no later than May 15, 2015 for the 2015-16 program year. Download the 2015-2016 Keystone STARS Stakeholders Letter & Application document for more information on responsibilities, requirements, meeting dates, and how to apply. Graduating preschooler? Sign up for Kindergarten, Here I Am enews!
Do you know of a family who has a graduating preschooler who will start Kindergarten in the fall? Now is the time for them to sign up for the Kindergarten, Here I Am enews. This  monthly enews provides families with timely information on ways they can help prepare their child for that first day of school, then help throughout the school year.
Based on the Kindergarten Here I Am Activity Guides, the free enews shares activities families can do with their child to support learning in creative thinking and expression; health, wellness and physical development; language and literacy; math; social emotional development and more!
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RTT-ELC Improves Communications to Spanish Speaking Populations
Thanks to Pennsylvania's Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant, families, caretakers and child care providers whose preferred language is Spanish can now more effectively receive communications in Spanish. Correspondences is now automatically generated in English and Spanish from Pennsylvania's Enterprise to Link Child Care Information Across Networks (PELICAN) Child Care Works (CCW), which is used by the CCIS agencies.
After families apply for child care subsidy, they receive a number of correspondences. In the past, these correspondences were automatically generated only in English. Spanish was available only when done manually by the local CCIS agencies. As of April 19, 2015, these correspondences are automatically generated in either English or Spanish, based on the preferences of the families and providers.
As a result of the recent enhancements, the additional work required to make correspondences available in other languages will be significantly reduced. In addition, this correspondence improvement paves the way to offering these same correspondences in other languages as the need arises.
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.
Early Childhood Education Degree Coursework alignment with the Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies for Early Childhood and School-Age Professionals
Pennsylvania recognizes that highly qualified educators are critical to improving children's readiness, particularly for children with high needs. Pennsylvania is committed to the development of a common statewide progression of credentials and degrees aligned with the core knowledge competencies. To accomplish this goal, and through Pennsylvania's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant efforts, 18 higher education institutions have been awarded mini-grants between $7,500 and $15,000 to align over 300 early childhood education courses with the Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies for Early Childhood and School-Age Professionals.
The following institutions of higher education will receive one-year mini-grants.
Bucks County Community College
Clarion University
Community College of Beaver County
Delaware County Community College
Duquesne University
Eastern University
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Holy Family University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Keystone College
Kings College
Lackawanna College
Luzerne County Community College
Montgomery County Community College
Neumann University
Northampton Community College
Penn State Harrisburg
Pennsylvania College of Technology
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.
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What's New at Quality Early Learning Radio
Have you missed the latest episodes of Quality Early Learning Radio? No worries--listen to recorded shows on your own time! April episodes featured Greg Pizzoli author of 2015 PA  One Book selection, Number One Sam, and Dr. Fredalene Bowers, Chairperson of the Child Development and Family Studies faculty Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The Quality Early Learning Radio, sponosored by the Northwest Regional Key, airs on WCED 1420 AM, 96.7 and 107.9 FM and www.1420wced.com. Co-hosts John Pozza and Joe Taylor delve into different topics every other week.
Guest on May 15 will be Jodi Askins, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania affiliate of National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Click here to listen.
Allegheny County Hi 5! Kindergarten Here I Come wants you!
Families, early learning professionals, school staff and community members are invited to become a member of the Allegheny County's school district's Kindergarten Transition Team and help boost early  kindergarten registrations and children's school readiness. All 43 school districts in Allegheny County have active transition teams. School readiness, preschool provider engagement, and school attendance are the focus of this year's plans.
Click here to get information on how you can become a part of the Hi 5! team.
The TED Talk They Keep Talking About: The Power of High-Quality Early Ed
In early April, Kate Gallagher, a scientist at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC Chapel Hill, and  Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Education spoke before a sold-out crowd at UNC about the most famous study on early education and the assembly required in order to build physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially healthy children. Watch the video.
Video on Supporting Inclusion as Early as Possible
The Desired Results access Project recently published a new video on supporting inclusion beginning as early as possible. Team Lydia Rose: Supporting Inclusion Every Day in Every Way illustrates how inclusive practices should begin as
 early as possible and illustrates a range of topics such as inclusion, collaboration and teamwork between general and special educators, family-centered early intervention in natural environments, coaching, embedded instruction, family leadership, and more. It has important messages for families who are or will be receiving early intervention services, for current and future early intervention practitioners, and for early childhood educators. Watch the video.
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Children Receiving Early Intervention Supports & Services Make Progress
Virtually all children in Pennsylvania receiving early intervention services made progress toward reaching age-appropriate skills in at least one area, according to the Annual Report from the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention in Pennsylvania,  The Annual Report summarizes Early Intervention data for 2013-14 and includes the number of children served in each county in Early Intervention, the settings where children receive services and supports, and the state and federal funding utilized for Early Intervention. Children who make meaningful progress toward age appropriate functioning in one or more of the areas of positive social-emotion skills, acquisition and use of knowledge and skills, and/or use of appropriate behavior to meet needs are more successful developmentally and educationally. Many of the children in this category discontinue early intervention or don't receive special education services later in life. Others may require less support and function more independently in school and the community. For additional information, please see the Annual Report 2013-2014 Pennsylvania State Interagency Coordinating Council Early Intervention in Pennsylvania.
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Keeping Your Child Healthy: This one-page graphic from  Kindergarten, Here I Come features five easy ways families can help keep their child of any age healthy and ready to learn.
April edition of Baby Talk: Camille Catlett's April release of Baby Talk features information about recommendations for new sleep durations, how play can build cognitive skills, and how learning words early can pay off. These articles and more in Baby Talk.
The Importance of Home Language: The National Center on Culture and Linguistic Responsiveness has released  a series of handouts intended for staff and families of dual language learners. The handouts provide basic information on topics related to learning two or more languages. These handouts also highlight the benefits of being bilingual and the value of maintaining home language. Available in English, Spanish and additional languages.
 Tips for Replacing Screen Time with "Unplugged" Play: With screen time potentially having negative effects on children, The Urban Child Institute has six evidence-based tips for replacing screen time with "unplugged" play and avoiding an electronic childhood.
Engaging Families in the Transition to Kindergarten: This video from the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement provides concrete strategies to support children and their families as they transition into kindergarten. It highlights the important role that developing strong partnerships between families, programs, and schools play in making this important transition successful.
The Magic of Everyday Moments Video Series: ZERO TO THREE has released four new videos to help professionals  create conversations with parents and trainees. Each video shows in a clear and compelling way how parents can nurture key skills and attributes children need to be eager, competent learners and to form strong, healthy connections with others as they grow, all through everyday interactions and routines.
Low Literacy Health Education Materials for Parents and Staff: Released from the National Center on Health, this series of printable pamphlets focuses on topics that pertain to physical health, such as lead awareness, home safety, and injury prevention. Mental health topics include stress management, parental depression, and positive disciplining. Available in English & Spanish.
Spring Health Link Online Now Available: New from ECELS is the Spring Health Link Online, feature information about new evidence as to the benefits of child care programs, nutritional tips from the USDA, laundry safety and more.
Classroom-Based and Parent-Focused Interventions for Promoting Social and Emotional Competence in Young Children: This video from the National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning provides compelling classroom and at-home strategies and approaches for supporting young children's social and emotional competencies.
Early Learning GPS Promotional Kits: Providers interested in sharing the new Early Learning GPS with families may access electronic tools such as logos, articles and Facebook posts or order free Early Learning GPS promotional kits including bookmarks, table tents and posters at the Child Core Publishing website.
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Wild Ones Native Plant Education Projects: Small grants are available to communities and schools for projects which enhance schoolyards with nature trails, butterfly  gardens, prairies, woodland wildflower preserves, and similar projects that enrich the learning environment and provide aesthetic and environmental benefits. Funds may be used for plants and seeds. Wild Ones will coordinate in-kind donations from Nursery Partners. Deadline: May 15.
Captain Planet Foundation Grant: This grant focuses on environmental education activities to promote and support high-quality educational programs that help children and youth  understand and appreciate our world through hands-on learning experiences aimed at improving the environment in their schools and communities. Grants are intended to serve as a means of bringing environment-based education to schools and inspiring youth and communities to participate in community service through environmental stewardship activities. Deadline: September 30.
Healthy Lifestyles Energy Balance 101 Grant: National PTA's Healthy Lifestyles Grants provide local PTAs with tools  to use in partnering with schools and engaging families in improving awareness of energy balance. Energy balance is simply finding a balance between the calories consumed each day through consumed food and drink, and the calories burned though physical activity. Deadline: October 1.
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