July 22, 2024 Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program Covers Most Costs and Fees for Early Learning Professionals Eligible early learning professionals can get most of their tuition costs and fees for courses covered by applying to the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program. Learn More The program pays 95% of tuition costs and fees for eligible college coursework taken by early learning professionals. There’s a maximum benefit of $8,000 per individual each fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Tuition costs and fees obtained through other funding sources – such as scholarships, stipends, discounts, or grants, with the exception of the Pell Grant – are used to determine the amount of assistance. Those interested in applying are recommended to do so at least four weeks prior to the start of the course, or prior to the tuition due date – whichever comes first. Eligibility To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements: They must be a Pennsylvania resident. They must work a minimum of 20 hours weekly in a classroom setting or as a director, assistant director, or education coordinator. They must work in a child care facility that holds a current Child Care License under the Department of Human Services (DHS) and demonstrate continuous employment for at least 12 months. They must agree to continue to work in a Keystone STARS facility for two months for every credit supported by the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program with two months beginning at the conclusion of the course for which funding was received. Total time due will not exceed 24 months following the conclusion of the most recent course completed. If they are child care center directors, assistant directors, family or group child care home owners/operators, they must earn less than $25 per hour or $52,000 annually. If they are aides, assistant teachers, or teachers, they must earn less than $21.63 per hour or $45,000 annually. They must be enrolled in credit-bearing courses at an in-state accredited institution toward an approved credential. They must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the credit-bearing coursework toward a credential in which the student is enrolled. For more information, including the required documents for applying, visit Keystone STARS’ Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program website.
July 16, 2024 Applications Available for Federal Summer Child Nutrition Program Applications are now open for a new federal child nutrition program known as SUN Bucks that aims to keep children fed during the summer months when they are not in school. Eligible children can receive an EBT card through the program, also known as Summer EBT, that can be used to purchase groceries. Learn More For the program’s first year, paper applications are available for children who are not automatically eligible. Benefits will be issued to all eligible children by October. The program provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food while school is out. Benefits can be used at local participating retailers to purchase groceries. Many children will receive these benefits automatically, but some households will need to apply. The benefits will be added to an existing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP)/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) EBT card or a newly-issued Summer EBT card. Eligibility Children who applied and were approved for free or reduced-price school meals or who receive SNAP or TANF are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Most children who receive Medicaid are also eligible because their income level is under the level for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program. Children who get Medicaid through the Children with Special Needs category (PH 95) and those who are in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will have to apply for SUN Bucks. Children are automatically eligible and do not need to apply for the program if: Their household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024 and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program; or if they are not enrolled in a school that participates in the programs but were between the ages of six and 18 during the timeline The child received Medicaid with qualifying income for the lunch or breakfast program between July 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024 and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the school lunch or breakfast programs; or if the child is not enrolled in a school that participates in the programs but is between the ages of six and 18 during the timeline The child is in Head Start, is homeless, in foster care, or is a runaway and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the school lunch or breakfast programs The child applied for and was determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the school or breakfast program How to Apply Most eligible households will get SUN Bucks automatically if they are receiving other benefits. Other households can use the Eligibility Navigator to determine if their child is eligible. Those who are not automatically enrolled can fill out an application in English or Spanish. Applications received on or before August 31 will be considered for SUN Bucks benefits. Those received after that date will be considered for benefits during the 2025 application period next summer. For more information, visit the SUN Bucks website.
NAEYC Report Highlights Low Compensation Impact on Early Childhood Education The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has released a report that highlights the inadequate and inequitable compensation in early childhood education that affects educators, children, families, businesses, and the economy. Learn More NAEYC’s “Compensation Means More Than Wages” argues that low compensation drives educators away from the field and keeps others from entering it. Additionally, it undermines quality and creates staffing crises that limit the supply of child care that families and businesses need. The report discusses how in recent years, effective efforts have focused not only on increasing wages, but also on expanding access to benefits, especially for educators in child care centers and family child care homes. These efforts align with needs expressed by early childhood educators, such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave. The report also cited the importance of a more expansive understanding of benefits, including loan forgiveness and scholarships, housing, and child care assistance. NAEYC’s report cited several reasons why access to benefits is significant for early childhood educators. It said that benefits: Support early childhood educator well-being and program quality Promote gender and racial equity Support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators Bring in additional funding sources to support educators For more information, read the NAEYC’s report.
July 15, 2024 Report Touts States With Initiatives to Improve Teacher Recruitment and Retention Start Strong PA has released a new report that describes how other states are tackling the child care teacher shortage by funding initiatives that improve recruitment and retention of staff. Learn More “Solving the Child Care Teacher Shortage Through State Recruitment and Retention Investments” discusses how 16 states are directly investing in recruitment, retention, and other wage-impacting strategies to ensure that the supply of child care teachers can meet the demand and keep classrooms open. Issued by Start Strong PA and the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), the report notes that some of the states it references also have a child care subsidy reimbursement rate at or above the 75th percentile. The report comes in the wake of a September 2023 survey conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab on behalf of Start Strong PA to demonstrate Pennsylvania’s child care crisis. The survey found that nearly 26,000 additional children could be served at child care programs if fully staffed. Additionally, it found that 2,395 open positions have resulted in the closure of 934 classrooms, and that providers’ inability to recruit and retain staff is having a direct impact on the quality of programming. As part of the 2024-25 proposed state budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed to utilize federal funding to increase the child care subsidy reimbursement to the 75th percentile of the current market price of child care services. However, while this increase would alleviate some of the inflationary pressures that subsidized providers are facing, it likely wouldn’t be sufficient to make the level of workforce investments necessary to solve the teacher shortage, the Start Strong PA report found. The report recommends that the state establish and fund a program that will help providers better recruit and retain staff and, as a result, keep classrooms open. For more information, read Start Strong PA’s report.
ELRC Formula, Diaper Banks Announce New Closing Time The Early Learning Resource Center’s formula and diaper banks in downtown Pittsburgh have announced a new closing time of 4:30 p.m. Learn More The main office of the ELRC is an infant formula bank location of the Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank and also acts as a diaper bank. The office’s address is: 304 Wood St., 4th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-350-3577 Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank Managed by Beverly’s Birthdays and their baby division, Beverly’s Babies, the Greater Pittsburgh Infant Formula Bank is a resource to support families in need of baby formula during a personal, situational, or financial emergency or crisis. A baby can receive up to 12 cans of formula or the liquid (RTF) equivalent in his or her first year. ELRC’s Diaper Bank Emergency diapers and wipes are available at the ELRC Region 5. Families can receive up to 50 diapers and two packs of wipes per month. Opened diapers and wipes may not be returned or exchanged. Other Formula Bank Locations There are six other regional formula banks available for the public to directly access for support: The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 7219 Kelly Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 412.545.5039 McKeesport Family Center 339 5th Avenue McKeesport, PA 15132 412.672.6970 Hilltop Family Center 1630 Arlington Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15210 412.432.1635 Beverly’s Birthdays 11065 Parker Drive North Huntingdon, PA 15642 724.590.5106 Highlands Family Center 415 Fourth Avenue Tarentum, PA 15084 724-224-9006 Monessen Family Center 412 Reed Avenue Monessen, PA 15062 724.684.4370 Find location hours and details on the Beverly’s Birthdays website. Details about the program are available online. Families in need can call 724-590-5106 or text pghformula to 844-511-1544.
Pennsylvania Meets U.S. Department of Education’s Highest Recognition of Parts B and C of IDEA Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports has announced that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that the state meets the requirements and purposes of Part C and Part B of the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). Learn More The state’s Infant Toddler Early Intervention program is under Part C of IDEA. It provides services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families from birth until the child’s third birthday. Services are developed by a team and written into an individualized family service plan. Services are delivered in a natural environment for the child and family. Part B covers special education services for children and their families from preschool through 12th grade. It includes performance measures for the state’s Preschool Early Intervention program. This is the department’s highest recognition regarding the performance of the state’s Part C and Part B programs.
July 12, 2024 Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA Respond to 2024-25 State Budget Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA have issued statements that the state budget fails to address the crisis in the early childhood sector. The two advocacy campaigns – which are part of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five – have released reaction statements to Senate Bill 1001, which has been signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and will be enacted in the 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget. Below are statements from the advocacy campaigns and a breakdown of budget investments. Child Care $26.2 million in additional funding to maintain the status quo of payments in the subsidized child care system and the number of children. Additional federal child care funding to meet the federally recommended child care subsidy reimbursement rate. In a press release, Start Strong PA said, “With a child care sector that is collapsing with classrooms and programs closing across the commonwealth due to the historic child care teacher shortage, the Start Strong PA Campaign is deeply disappointed by the lack of direct investment to help child care providers recruit and retain their workforce as part of the state budget bill.” The Start Strong PA campaign noted that staffing shortages within the child-care sector are driven by low wages. According to the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the average child-care teacher in Pennsylvania only earns $15.15 per hour. This wage includes the impact of one-time federal child care stimulus funds. With the lack of direct state involvement, it is unclear whether these wages can be sustained, the campaign said. “Child care teachers are the workforce behind the workforce,” the statement said. “When families can’t get child care, their children suffer, their income drops, and the state’s economy is shortchanged. In a time of severe labor shortages and billions in state budget surplus, the commonwealth’s failure to help child care providers recruit and retain these teachers is a tragic outcome.” Recent estimates show that gaps in the child care sector cost the state’s economy $6.65 billion annually in lost wages, productivity, and tax receipts. Start Strong PA pointed out that more than 50 state chambers of commerce have called for investments that directly help child care providers attract and keep teachers. The budget deal includes a tax credit for businesses that help pay employees pay for child care. The credit is a demand-side solution that helps families afford care, but the state must invest in the supply side by stopping the exodus of teachers. “While we appreciate the continued support of existing programs in the state budget, the lack of investment in recruitment and retention initiatives will only continue the trend of short staffing in our programs and teachers leaving the field for higher-paying jobs,” said Karian Wise, the head of school for early learning at the Carlow University Early Learning Center and a Provider Advisory Board member. Pre-K $15 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to increase rates from $10,000 per child for a full-day slot to $10,500. $2.7 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. In a statement, Pre-K for PA said, “The Pre-K Campaign is relieved to see modest growth in the state’s publicly funded pre-k programs – PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.” Pre-K for PA noted that increases for both programs will make rate increases possible to pre-kindergarten providers to combat inflationary pressures and staffing shortages. However, the campaign noted, “We are disappointed that the increase to PA Pre-K Counts is half of what Gov. Shapiro proposed, and state support for Head Start continues to grow at a slower rate than Pre-K Counts.” Currently, more than 78,000 three- and four-year-olds in Pennsylvania are eligible but do not have access to publicly-funded pre-k programs. Pre-k access has been a top issue for state voters, of whom 95% believe that early education is important and nearly 70% support increasing state funding for pre-k access. “Once again, Pennsylvania has failed to adequately invest in young children and their families,” said Abigail Enz-Doerschner, assistant director of the Once Upon a Time Early Learning Center in Washington and a Provider Advisory Board member. “While the state has offered a $500 per slot increase in PA Pre-K Counts funding, this 5% increase does not keep pace with the rising costs of operating a program. Insurance, utilities, teacher compensation – all of our costs have risen sharply.” Early Intervention $9.1 million increase for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) through DHS. $32.9 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) through PDE. The statement noted that while the increase for the Early Intervention Part C reflects the administration’s updated budget request, it does not address broader issues within the program, including worker shortages and a long-needed rate adjustment for providers. Read the full statement by Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA.
July 11, 2024 Brown Clarifies Provider Agreements in Video Announcement Shante’ A. Brown, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s deputy secretary, has released an announcement regarding updated provider agreements for certified child care providers. Learn More The video message, which can be viewed below, clarifies the agreements for all regulated child care providers as well as Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC), and OCDEL Early Learning Resource Center Program representatives. In the video, Brown discusses guidance that aims to provide clarity about suspension and expulsion practices. The agreements require that providers contact ELRCs before suspending or expelling a child. This is aimed to ensure that families still have access to resources provided by ELRCs, which can also help families to find alternative care. Another topic covered by Brown is providers charging the difference between private pay and subsidy rates. She said that OCDEL has received numerous questions about how Keystone STARS and nontraditional add-on rates impact charges. With the passage of new child care subsidy regulations, OCDEL wants to hear feedback from providers. This fall, it will ask providers and families to participate in discussions on the matter. Deadlines Certified child care providers will have to complete and sign new provider agreements, which will be effective August 1. The provider agreement establishes the terms of participation and payment between the payer and a certified child care provider who provides care to children who participate in the state’s subsidized child care program, Child Care Works. To be in compliance with the Child Care Development Block Grant and 55 pa. Code Chapter 3042 Subsidized Child Care Eligibility, OCDEL must update the certified child care provider agreements. ELRCs mailed the agreements and appendices to providers in June. Providers must read and sign the updated agreement indicating that they agree to follow all rules and return the signed agreement to the ELRC by July 31.
July 10, 2024 PA Launches ELS Website to Replace Management Systems Used by State Agencies Pennsylvania has launched a new website dedicated to the Enterprise Licensing System (ELS) project. Learn More The goal of this project is to implement a single ELS that addresses licensing and certification needs, as well as incident and complaint management, across the following state agencies: Department of Human Services (DHS) Department of Health (DOH) Department of Aging (PDA) Department of Drug & Alcohol Program (DDAP) The ELS will be rolled out by state program offices over the next two years. Stakeholders in impacted program areas will be notified when the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is scheduled for rollout, ensuring they have enough time to prepare. ELS will enable staff to manage and process licensing, permitting, registration, certification, and related inspection or survey activities from initial application through issuance. They will also enable staff to offer extensive reporting capabilities. Additionally, the ELS will be used to record, review, investigate, and analyze incidents and complaints. ELS Project Aims The project’s aims are to: Increase collaboration and communication across agencies Improve scheduling of licensing, permitting, registration/certification inspections, surveys, and timely issuance of licenses/permits/registrations/certifications and renewals Streamline business processes, including electronic sharing and storing of documents and pre-populated forms and templates Reduce maintenance and operations costs from multiple systems to one system The ELS will provide a standardized enterprise-wide solution that is configurable and can provide a limited degree of configurability by each agency to meet specific needs. To receive website and project updates, subscribe to the ELS ListServ or visit the website.
Allegheny County Parents and Family Members Invited to Take Early Intervention Survey Parents and family members of children in Allegheny County are invited to participate in a survey regarding their experience with early intervention services in the county. Learn More The survey is intended for parents and family members whose children are currently receiving early intervention services or have received them in the past nine years. Participants will be asked about their experience with the early intervention process, which services their children received, and information about the participant’s family. Research from the survey, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes, will be used to learn about gaps within Allegheny County’s early intervention systems and services. Those who participate will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a chance to win a $200 gift card. The survey is currently available online in English and Spanish. The deadline to participate in the survey has been extended to Aug. 19. Contact hbccprojects@erikson.edu with any questions.
