The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is expected to end in spring 2024.

About

The ACP provides eligible, low-income households with up to $30 monthly broadband subsidies on internet service plans, and a one-time benefit of up to $100 to help buy a device, such as a laptop or tablet.

In 2021, Congress established the ACP in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and appropriated $14.2 billion for the program. Households enrolled in the program are projected to continue to receive the benefit on their internet service through April 2024.

The FCC has begun taking steps to wind down the ACP, which means:

• No new ACP enrollments will be accepted after February 7, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
• Households that enrolled with an ACP internet company before February 7, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. will continue to receive their benefit until ACP funds run out as long as the household remains enrolled and eligible for the benefit.
• When ACP funds run out, participating households will no longer receive discounts.

Details are available on the ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet and at www.fcc.gov/acp.

Applications are now open for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) 2024 Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards.

About the Awards

The Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award brings awareness to and highlights the equity work being done within Pennsylvania’s early childhood education and afterschool settings, including child care, evidence-based home visiting, and early intervention. These professionals and organizations align with the position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement.

Apply

Submissions can be an application (apply on your own or a program/organization’s behalf), or nomination (submit another individual or program/organization) to be acknowledged for their work around equity.

Self-applications are accepted. Applications should be submitted by Friday, February 23, 2024. Applications are available in English and in Spanish.

All programs must be physically located and operating within Pennsylvania and providing early childhood education services or supports relating to Pennsylvania’s families/children. Those who were 2022 or 2023 awardees in the Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories are not eligible for submission for the 2024 Pennsylvania Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award.

Eligibility information and application details are available on the PA Keys website. For questions or concerns, email Mary Hall at marhal@pakeys.org.

Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.

Learn More

Here is a list of January 2024 recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the Evenflo Revolve360 car seat, plus all other Revolve360 models, including the Revolve360 EXTEND and Revolve360 Slim. New concern over compliance of the seat’s child restraint systems and detachable base has led NHTSA to take action.

• Yaomiao Children’s Rhinestone Silver Tiaras recalled due to violation of Federal Lead Content Ban.

• Alliance4Safety and 31 Furniture Companies recalled millions of plastic New Age Furniture Tip-over Restraint Kits due to tip-over and entrapment hazards to children.

• Retrospec recalled Kid’s Bike Helmets due to risk of head injury; violation of the Federal Safety Regulation for Bicycle Helmets.

• UBBCARE Play Yard Mattresses recalled due to suffocation hazard for infants; violation of the Federal Safety Regulation for Crib Mattresses.

More Information

For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.

PA Navigate is a new online tool that connects Pennsylvanians with community-based organizations, county and state agencies, and healthcare providers, for referrals to community resources that help them meet their most basic needs like food, shelter, transportation, and more.

About PA Navigate

PA Navigate also allows individuals to refer themselves for services and facilitates greater connection and communication between healthcare providers and organizations that serve shared populations.

A person’s overall health and wellness are influenced by socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors that shape our present and long-term health outcomes.

PA Navigate bridges these systems through a shared platform where health care providers and social services organizations can track referrals and better understand and assist by helping individuals access services and support. The system will also allow health care and service providers to assess an individual’s needs during a physician’s office or emergency department visit, when receiving case management services, or when seeking assistance from a community-based organization.

For more information and to find resources in your community, visit pa-navigate.org.

For the first time since 2021, 26 Advocacy Fellows successfully completed their first month in the 2024 Early Childhood Education Advocacy Fellowship program at Trying Together’s main office.

About

In January 2024, Trying Together commenced its fourth Early Childhood Education (ECE) Advocacy Fellowship. Throughout the year, Fellows will convene monthly, focusing on acquiring public policy knowledge, enhancing leadership skills, and cultivating their voices as advocates for early childhood education.

At their first workshop session in January, Fellows delved into  Early Learning PA (ELPA) campaigns, including Start Strong PA, Pre-K for PA, and Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA. They also heard from past Fellows, gaining valuable insights on how to maximize their Fellowship experience and how their advocacy actions, no matter how big or small, can make an impact.

If you’re interested in advocacy, visit the Take Action page!

More Information

If you’re eager to learn more about the Fellowship, please visit our webpage, sign up to receive our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter. We will share updates as soon as information becomes available.

“Slug in Love,” written by Rachel Bright and illustrated by Nadia Shireen has been named the 2024 Pennsylvania One Book.

About the PA One Book

The Pennsylvania One Book Early Literacy Program is an initiative that highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers; the significance of reading early and often to children; and how to engage them in conversation and other activities around books.

Each year, the PA One Book Committee chooses a different children’s picture book to highlight.

“Slug in Love” is the rhyming story of one slug’s search for love – and young readers will learn that there’s a friend for everyone.

For more information and resources, visit the Pennsylvania One Book website.

In partnership with Start Strong PA, Trying Together released the report, “The Value and Cost of High-Quality Early Care and Education,” which provides insight into the importance of high-quality early care and education.

About the Report

This report, the first in a series of exploring the barriers to high-quality, aims to:

• outline the history of Keystone STARS (launched in 2002)
• review current research
• elevate providers’ voices to explore financial barriers related to reaching and maintaining quality ratings

While there is significant value in Keystone STARS, over 20 years after its creation, insufficient funding can make high-quality ratings unattainable for programs across the state. High-quality early care and education is associated with high costs because it requires multiple layers of resources, including experienced and qualified teachers.

Policy recommendations:

• replace the current market rate survey with a cost estimation study using an approved cost modeling tool to ensure child care subsidy reimbursement rates meet the true cost of quality care
• increase program incentives within Keystone STARS
• invest in additional supports to recruit, recognize, and retain qualified early childhood teachers

Learn more and read the full report or its executive summary.

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center unveiled its new library space for visitors.

Library Details

The library will have books for children ages birth through 18. Children who visit the Hub & Family Center can take a book home to keep.

Staff and Storytime at the Hub! participants held a ribbon cutting for the library on January 16.

After reading “Lola at the Library,” children decorated tote bags for their chosen book.

About the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center is a community resource of Trying Together. It is one of 27 Family Centers located in neighborhoods around Allegheny County.

For more information about The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, contact Toni Beasley at toni@tryingtogether.org, see our full list of staff contacts, and see our events calendar.