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The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning supports families an d their children, from prenatal through school age, by using data, research and stakeholder guidance to assure high quality services.
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Early Education in Pennsylvania
Message from Michelle Figlar
I cannot believe it is June already! This past month, I was honored to participate in the William Penn Foundation's last Quality Talks series, National Voices, Local Efforts: Lessons Learned about Universal Pre-K. This is perfect timing as Philadelphia is working to provide high-quality pre-kindergarten to more of its preschoolers. The sessions examined how cities like Denver, New York, Cleveland and San Francisco are implementing universal or targeted universal pre-kindergarten programs. They are leveraging federal and state dollars with local public and private dollars to meet the needs of children in their communities. Read more of Michelle's message.
Pennsylvania's 2014-2015 Program Reach and Risk Assessment ReportOne-third (33 percent) of children under age five participate in state and/or federally-funded quality early care and education programs in Pennsylvania, according to the recent release of the PA's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) 2014-2015 Program Reach and Risk Assessment Report. This report provides information on the level of risk for school failure for children (based on 16 risk factors) and the availability, or reach, of most OCDEL programs to children in each county and school district in Pennsylvania. The report also states that based on the calculation of each county's Average Risk Level, children in 42 counties (63 percent) are at moderate-high or high-risk of school failure. For county specific information in a printable format, check out the 2014-15 ECE County profile fact sheets. Family Child Care: What to Expect in an Inspection
All family child care homes in Pennsylvania will soon be required to earn a Certificate of Compliance as a CERTIFIED, also called LICENSED, child care provider. The process to get certified/licensed includes annual unannounced inspections of family child care homes. Conducted by Certification Representatives from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), under the Department of Human Services (DHS), the annual unannounced inspections will help family child care homes meet regulatory standards for providing safe and healthy environments for children. OCDEL worked with the Pennsylvania Key, Better Kid Care and several experienced family child care programs to produce an introductory video on what providers can expect during an inspection. For more information, visit the PA Department of Human Services website.
Keystone STARS Re-visioning: Update and New Opportunities
Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania's early learning quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), has been shown to improve quality in child care since its development in 2002. Now in its 14th year, Keystone STARS experiences new challenges and new opportunities.
Participating providers appreciate having a statewide measure of quality; however, the
complexity of the current system may be deterring others that could significantly benefit
from quality improvement to better serve families, especially families of diverse cultures.
Pennsylvania launched the Keystone STARS Re-visioning process in February 2016 so that
more providers will participate and provide higher quality services to more young children.
New opportunities are now available as part of the Re-visioning:
- One-on-one assistance is available to those providing child care services in an identified rural county or providing Friend/Neighbor care and who are interested in becoming a PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Certified Childcare provider and Keystone STARS provider. Your Regional Key staff is available to help! Visit the PA Key website or contact your Regional Key for information on how you can get started.
- Pennsylvania now welcomes PA Pre-K Counts standalone programs, Private Academic Schools (PDE Licensed Preschools) and School District preschools into Keystone STARS. Private Academic Schools (PDE Licensed Preschools) and School District preschools can earn a STAR 1-4 designation. PA Pre-K Counts programs can earn a STAR 3 or 4 designation. For more information, please contact your Regional Key. This expansion is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top (RTT)-Early Learning Challenge Grant.
- Easier Application Process for Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program. Upcoming changes to the required documents for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program mean less paperwork to submit, making for an easier the application process. As of July 1, 2016, the Certificate of Compliance and the STARS Certificate will no longer be required when applicants submit an application.
Help refine the PA Key and PA Promise websites! Respond by June 17, 2016
As OCDEL strives to provider clearer, more effective communications to families and providers, the PA Key and PA Promise websites will be redesigned this year. We need your help to make sure these websites meet your needs! Please complete our user satisfaction surveys by June 17, 2016: You can rate each site on its ease to navigate, usefulness of content, as well as provide your suggestions for improvement. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Swanson at kelswa@berksiu.org.
Opening for Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Director
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services has an immediate need to fill a Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Director vacancy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This is a limited term position - grant funded through 12/31/17. The incumbent will serve as the project expert for the Race To the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) program for the Department. The incumbent works directly under the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Director, Bureau Early Learning Services. See the announcement for additional information.
Opening for PA Key Registry Project Manager
Sharing How PA is Implementing Program-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports The National Training Institute (NTI) of Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behavior conference in Florida, April 2016, highlighted Pennsylvania's work as it provided an in-depth learning experience built around the Pyramid Model. Three sessions during the conference were conducted by members of the Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support (PAPBS) Network.
New Grades 5-6 Add-on Option for Grades PK-4 Certificate Holders
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced a Grades 5-6 testing add-on option for the Grades PK-4 certificate only. Interested Pre K-4 teacher preparation candidates may take two modules: The Grades 4-8: Module 2 - English Language Arts & Social Studies (5154) and The Grades 4-8: Module 3 - Mathematics & Science (5155). Candidates may take these modules during or after the PK-4 program and apply for them simultaneously. |
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Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge
Unique Opportunity Helps Build Sustainability
The P-3 Networking Meeting, Strengthening Connections Across Pennsylvania, on May 5-6, 2016 was more than your typical meet-and-greet. Teams from across the commonwealth came together in Harrisburg for a unique opportunity to build sustainability through creative collaborations and stakeholder engagement. This was done by creating a statewide learning exchange to help participants step into their role as a meeting designer and refine their skills in convening and designing networking meetings.
Community Innovation Zone Update
The Community Innovation Zone (CIZ) grantees are making progress in outreach and engagement with school districts, early learning programs, families and children throughout Pennsylvania. Learn how Hazelton School District is implementing, improving and expanding the Read With Me program for families in the community, while Luzerne Intermediate Unit is implementing three trainings for Hanover Area School District and Child Development Council. Get more information and read updates on Greater Nanticoke Area School District; Keystone College; and Pittston Area School District. Read the CIZ Update for June 2016.
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This initiative is a part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the
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Federal News
Family Engagement Policy Statement
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED) recognize the critical role of family engagement in promoting children's success in early childhood systems and programs. The recently released Policy Statement on Family Engagement from the Early Years to the Early
Grades provides recommendations to early childhood systems and programs to effectively engage families. The recommendations provided are not an exhaustive list; rather, they are a selection of actions that can be taken to promote effective family engagement. Read more.
Developmental Foundations to School Readiness for Infants & Toddlers
What does research tell us about the developmental foundations of school readiness in infants and toddlers? The report,
Developmental Foundations of School Readiness for Infants and Toddlers: A Research to Practice Report, from the Administration for Children & Families, highlights the unique needs of infants and toddlers across developmental domains, shares how providers can support the development of school readiness in this age group, and provides lists of additional resources. Read more.
Children in Poverty and Access to the Head Start Model
According to the National Head Start Association's (NHSA) recently released 2016 Head Start Fact Sheets, in 2014-2015, there were 4,770,452 children in poverty under age five. Of those, only 41% of three and four year olds had access to Head Start. And only 4% of children under three had access to Early Head Start. The fact sheets report numbers for enrollment, access, budget, and services offered during the 2014-2015 school year. For the first time, the national data is available right on the NHSA website and accessible on any and all mobile devices. See National or Pennsylvania's fact sheets. |
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Of Interest
The 2016 ECE Summit is now accepting online workshop proposals. Deadline: June 13
On-line workshop proposals are being accepted for the 9th Early Childhood Education (ECE) Summit, Quality Matters, in State College on October 17-19, 2016. The ECE Summit provides cross-systems professional development to early learning professionals across Pennsylvania. Each year the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), the Pennsylvania Head Start Association (PHSA), and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) partner to deliver this three-day conference and provide parents and staff at all levels from various programs (PA Pre-K Counts, Child Care, Head Start, School Districts and Early Intervention) with the opportunity to network and experience relevant training as a community.
June 30: UnConference 2016: Children + Arts 2.0
Following the success of the inaugural UnConference: Children+ Arts, PAEYC is excited to present version 2.0! The June 30, 2016 UnConference in Pittsburgh features an innovative and hands-on professional development session on the importance of arts in education. Participants can select from a series of workshops by local arts organizations to learn about creative arts initiatives. There will be hands-on learning and a short presentation offering connections for educators to take back to their own setting. The workshops are developmentally appropriate practice for educators and caregivers working with children ages birth through age nine (third grade). However, many of the workshop offerings also apply to students through fifth grade and after school programs. Professional Development credits will be available for qualifying educators to receive 6 PQAS/DHS credits or Act 48.
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Trends & Reports
Kids have critical period for brain development; Nurturing during preschool age more important than later on
A child's brain is designed to absorb information at a fast pace: During the first few years of life, they create 700 to 1,000 new neural connections every second, making their early years integral to how their brain functions for the rest of their childhood and adolescent development. Knowing this, a team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine studied parental impact at each stage of development, and discovered the earlier parents invest in their child's brain structure growth, the better.
The Devastating Toll of Parental Incarceration on Kids, Families and Communities
More than five million U.S. children have had a parent in jail or prison at some point in their lives. Most of those children are under 10, and more than 15 percent of children with parents in federal prison - and more than 20 percent with parents in state prison - are four or younger. In Pennsylvania, seven percent of children have experienced parental incarceration. The incarceration of a parent can have as much impact on a child's well-being as abuse or domestic violence. But while states spend heavily on corrections, few resources exist to support those left behind. A Shared Sentence from the Annie E. Casey Foundation offers commonsense proposals to address the increased poverty and stress that children of incarcerated parents experience.
Principals' Perspectives on Teaching and Learning in PreK-3rd
New America's Early & Elementary Education Policy team has released six briefs that take a closer look at principals' perceptions of what should take place in pre-K and early grade classrooms, while offering recommendations for states and school districts for building principals' expertise.
The State of Preschool Yearbook 2015 Released
The 2015 State Preschool Yearbook from NIEER, profiles state-funded prekindergarten programs, covering the 2014-2015 year, as well as documenting more than a decade of change from as far back as 2001-2002. The 2015 Yearbook profiles 57 state-funded pre-K programs in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. The report shares that nationally, enrollment inched up, while greater progress was made on spending per child and minimum quality standards. State funded pre-K served almost 1.4 million children, and spending topped $6.2 billion.
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Resources
Digital storybooks from Sesame Street
May Edition of Baby Talk
The May edition of Camille Catlett's Baby Talk features information about new, free audiovisual modules and resources; eliminating the talk gap in young children; six words you should say today and more.
What is Systems Building?
Since 2002, the BUILD Initiative has worked to promote their vision of a comprehensive early childhood system in which families can easily access high-quality early learning and development opportunities regardless of their neighborhood. This includes agencies working with children and families to access the resources to meet the needs of diverse young child and family population.Watch the brief video which explains how this can work.
Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs-Watch the Webinar Series Kickoff
The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services recently hosted a Google Hangout to kick off their webinar series about inclusion in early childhood programs. Leadership from federal early childhood programs, a local program director, and a parent of a child with a disability discussed why inclusion matters to states, early childhood programs, families, and young children with and without disabilities. Watch the Series Kickoff and the first two webinars on the Department of Education website.
Looking at Leaves Learning Activity
Project Learning Tree provides a classroom/ family activity to help children take a closer look at leaves, find out more about leaf characteristics and how leaves can be used to identify plants. You can also download a printable version of the activity.
Coaching Frameworks Helps Break Intergenerational Cycles of Poverty
The Intergenerational Mobility Project from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University uses a coaching framework to strengthen families' ability to plan, set, and achieve goals together that will alleviate the stresses of low-income life and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. By harnessing the power of families' desire to help each other and parents' willingness to make changes to help their children, the project aims to build skills-such as managing time and other resources-in both parents and kids.
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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 Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education News is a project of the Pennsylvania Build Initiative and the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Human Services 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. You may access archived copies at the PA Key website.
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