News

November 11, 2024

Oklahoma School for the Deaf Offers Free Sign Language Courses

The Oklahoma School for the Deaf is offering free American Sign Language (ASL) courses online.

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The self-paced classes cover basic conversational ASL and are suitable for all ages.

Participants can earn a certificate of attendance – however, the courses are non-credit level and do not count toward professional development hours. Additional resources, including video lessons and quizzes, help to reinforce learning.

Those interested in taking courses can sign up on the Oklahoma School for the Deaf’s website.

In Pennsylvania, a total of 2,588 children with hearing impairment – including deafness – were enrolled in special education during the 2022-23 school year, according to a report by the state Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education.

News

November 8, 2024

Reminder: New Civil Rights Compliance Form Required for Submitting Licensing Applications and Renewals

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Bureau of Equal Opportunity (BEO) is reminding certified child care providers to take immediate action for compliance regarding anti-discrimination laws and regulations by using a new Civil Rights Compliance form.

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Providers must use the new form when submitting a new licensing application or renewing an existing one, according to Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

The new forms and process went into effect on Oct. 1.

Prospective child care providers seeking a new license will utilize the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form (HS 2126 9/24). The prior form (HS 2126 8/22) is now obsolete.

For licensing renewals, a licensee must also now submit the new CRC Renewal form. The prior attestation form (HS 2125 8/22) is obsolete. The renewal notice will still be sent out 130 days prior to expiration.

More Details

The BEO develops, implements, and monitors policies and programs for DHS as directed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Titles VI and VII, and other federal and state anti-discrimination laws, regulations, and policies.

The DHS Civil Rights Compliance Forms and process for the department’s licensed providers and applicants have been updated to reflect new and updated anti-discrimination laws that went into effect in 2023.

Visit the Pennsylvania Key’s website for more details or to access the form.

News

November 6, 2024

Managing Events in the PD Registry for PQAS Instructors

The Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) is offering some reminders on the process for managing events in the Professional Development (PD) Registry for approved PQAS instructors and professional learning organizations.

All rosters must be complete and accurate within two weeks, including marking an event as complete. Instructors are expected to communicate with participants when a training is verified on the PD’s Learning Record. The system will close events automatically after 60 days.

To get an event reopened, email pqas@pakeys.org with the event’s ID number, title, and dates.

Reminder for Applicants Seeking PQAS Approval

When submitting an application for Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CCR PQAS approval, make sure that a current Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CCR Instructor Card is uploaded within the Education Tab > CPR, First Aid, Fire Safety Requirements Section > Pediatric CPR/First Aid Dropdown.

If you do not upload the correct documentation, your application will be marked incomplete.

Applying for Faculty or Standardized PD Instructor Approval

For PQAS applicants applying for faculty instructor or standardized professional development instructor approval – including First Aid/CPR, Fire Safety, and Water Safety – skip the portion requesting payment after submitting your PQAS application by clicking on any tab or exiting your screen.

Application payment is not required. If you pay the application fee, it will be refunded when your application is processed.

More information on PQAS can be found on The Pennsylvania Key website.

News

November 5, 2024

Obtaining Clearances and Keeping PD Registry Profile Up to Date

Child care employees and volunteers working with children in Pennsylvania are required to have certain clearances. However, the state’s Professional Development (PD) Registry does not process or manage any of these clearances.

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Child care workers and volunteers must obtain three clearances to work with children:

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance
FBI Criminal History Clearance

The child abuse history clearance is required for anyone working with children in the state, including those in social services. The application for this clearance is available online through the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Portal.

The state police criminal history clearance is required for child care employees and some volunteers. The FBI clearance is required for child care employees and some volunteers, and can be obtained through the state’s Department of Human Services. More information on how to obtain these clearances is available online.

A PD Registry ID is not the same as a Keystone ID. The PD Registry team is not able to assist with recovering a Keystone ID. More information on how to recover a Keystone ID is available online.

PD Registry Profile

Those who have a PD Registry profile should confirm that the following information is correct and current:

Date of birth
High school graduation date
Employment start and end dates

Information from the registry is only shared as aggregate data, which plays a role in federal reports, state reports, and national research.

News

National AfterSchool Association Opens Next Gen Leader Nominations

The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) is calling for nominations for its Next Generation of AfterSchool Leaders.

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Each year, the NAA recognizes a cohort of emerging young leaders in after-school and out-of-school time professions. NAA’s Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders identifies young leaders and recognizes and cultivates the talent of afterschool advocates who have the potential to influence the field.

Honorees will have demonstrated contributions that have started to influence beyond individual programs to organizations and communities, a passion of developing themselves and others, active engagement in efforts to improve the afterschool field, and persistence in their work to grow as leaders.

Nominees should be ages 30 or below and vested in such areas as advocacy, professional development, creative program design, the power of youth voice, data and evaluation, and social justice.

Submitting a Nominee

Those interested in submitting a nominee should do so by Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Individuals submitted as nominees should be active in the broader after-school community, including but not limited to membership in NAA and its state affiliates, and actively engaged in efforts to elevate the after-school field and profession.

Each honoree will receive a free NAA membership, a free NAA25 Convention registration, ongoing leadership development, support in broadening their professional networks, and other opportunities.

For more information, visit the National AfterSchool Association website.

News

November 4, 2024

Boyce Park Pump Track and Climbing Wall Now Open

A new sports complex featuring a pump track and climbing wall has opened in Monroeville’s Boyce Park.

The Boyce Park Pump Track and Climbing Wall is an expansion of an existing 3Bs action park into a gravity sports complex. It includes a large bicycle pump track and seven custom climbing walls.

Pump Track

The new installation will be the largest bike track in the Allegheny County Parks System. It offers varying degrees of difficulty and challenging terrain for bikers of all skill levels.

A pump track is a closed loop track consisting of two components – rollers and berms. Rollers are the small hills built into the track, while berms serve as rounded corners. The track is 740 LF and intended for all skill levels and ages.

Climbing Wall

The bouldering walls can be continuously reconfigured throughout the year to provide climbers with new routes and obstacles.

Bouldering is a type of climbing that doesn’t require the use of a rope or harness as it’s typically done on shorter walls and formations.

For more information, visit Boyce Park’s web page.

News

October Recalls on Children’s Products

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

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Here is a list of October 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.

Fisher-Price recalled more than two million Snug Infant Swings due to suffocation hazard. The recalls occurred after five deaths were reported. The swing should never be used for sleep and bedding materials should never be added to it. If the product is used for sleep or bedding is added, the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation.
Ricky Powersports recalled youth and adult all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that fail to comply with the requirements of federal safety regulations. The ATVs’ mechanical suspension fails to comply with safety requirements, posing a crash hazard. Also, its service brakes fail to sufficiently stop the vehicle and the handlebars pose a laceration hazard.
Reyhee Group and Jinling International recalled Droyd Fury Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) that fail to comply with the requirements of federal mandatory ATV regulations. The handlebars pose a laceration hazard if the child rider’s body or head strikes the handlebars at a high rate of speed.
Gimars Playpens have been recalled due to entrapment and suffocation hazards. The playpens are found to be in violation of federal regulations for play yards. The included basketball hoop accessory can be a head entrapment hazard. Children can also become entrapped beneath the mattress, posing a suffocation hazard.