News

December 10, 2024

A+ Schools Releases Annual Report to the Community on Public School Progress

A+ Schools Pittsburgh has released its 2024 Report to the Community on Public Schools Progress. The report tackles issues that prevent every child from being successful in schools and covers such topics as racial economic segregation, absenteeism, unequal access to resources, and more.

Skills for Success

A+ Schools notes that children need knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in college or careers. It lists several conditions that must be met for this to occur:

Every community has a place where children can get to school safely and on time.
Every family has what they need – from healthcare and child care to housing and work – so children can come to school ready to learn.
Every school is a place where all students and staff feel they belong and are excited to be.

Executive Summary

In its executive summary, A+ Schools cites racial economic segregation, unequal access to resources, and disparate opportunities for enrichment and academic success as issues that prevent children from succeeding.

Additionally, system issues that impact state and local measures of school success include:

Chronic absenteeism (how many students miss more than 10% of school days)
Suspensions (how many students miss school due to disciplinary practices)
Academic growth (how many schools grew student achievement as measured by the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System)
Academic proficiency (or, how many students meet state and national grade level standards on tests)

Next Steps

The report also examines student readiness for college or careers once they graduate. The measures it lists that provide a sense of whether students will be ready for the next step include:

College-ready GPA (how many students have a GPA of 2.8 or higher)
AP exam taking and AP and SAT scores
Graduation (how many students complete high within four years)
College and trade school completion (how many students complete one of these schools within six years of graduation from high school)

Figures

The report’s executive summary breaks down the numbers on some of the aforementioned issues.

Some of the key findings in the report relating to system issues, measures for success or readiness include:

Approximately 2,402 Pittsburgh public school students have been suspended at least once.
The ratio of students to teachers is 11:1
A total of 80% of teachers believe that their school is a good place to work and learn.
Only 14% of public school teachers are teachers of color.
About 32% of students are chronically absent.
In 2023, 86% of students had graduated within four years.
About 27% of 2018 graduates completed a college or trade school program within six years of graduating.

The entire report is available on A+ Schools Pittsburgh’s website.

News

December 9, 2024

OCDEL Announces CCW Base Payment Rate Increase for DHS Certified Providers

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Policy and Professional Development has released an announcement on an increase to Child Care Works (CCW) base payment rates for Department of Human Services (DHS) certified providers.

Learn More

Effective January 1, the subsidy base rates – also known as the Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA) – will be increased to the 75th percentile. The base payment rate increase applies to:

All DHS certified child care providers
Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs)
OCDEL Early Learning Resource Center program representatives

The announcement replaces ELRC Announcement 23 #01 – Increase to Child Care Works Base Payment Rates.

Background

The CCDBG Act requires lead agencies to certify that rates are sufficient to ensure eligible children have equal access to child care services. The benchmark for equal access established by the Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Care (ACF OCC) is the 75th percentile of the current child care market. OCC considers payment rates set at the 75th percentile or higher as providing equal access.

Increasing the CCW base rate incentivizes additional provider participation in CCW. It also helps child care providers who participate in the program enhance services, invest in staff development, compensation, and promote overall quality in child care programs.

Next Steps

The next steps for DHS certified child care providers on updating pay rates include:

Updating and communicating private rate pay changes on family agreements or contracts, website, and handbooks as applicable
Completing Appendix C-1 ELRC Subsidized Child Care Provider Reported Rates
Sending the completed Appendix C-1 along with verification of the DHS certified child care provider’s published rates to your ELRC by January 31 to receive the update rate
Directing any questions to your ELRC

The next step for ELRCs include:

Reviewing and sharing this information with appropriate staff
For any DHS certified child care providers returning completed Appendix C-1 and their published rates, entering updated rates into PELICAN CCW and converting rates for all DHS certified child care providers with an effective date of January 1 if verification is received by January 31.
Generating and sending all DHS certified child care providers Appendix C-2 ELRC Subsidized Child Care Provider Payment Rates
Directing any questions to your program representative

More information on the increased rates can be found on The Pennsylvania Key website. Information on Pennsylvania’s Maximum Child Care Allowance daily rates are also available on that website.

News

Mothers Encouraged to Apply for New Beacons of Hope Community Leaders Program

Mothers and caregivers who are looking to make positive changes for their families and communities are encouraged to apply for the 2025 Volunteer New Beacons of Hope Community Leaders Program.

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The leadership program is aimed at mothers and caregivers who will join with MomsRising to build on-the-ground power and enact positive change for their families, communities, and the future of the United States.

The volunteer program develops confidence and advocacy skills as each participant mobilizes her local community to take action. New Beacon leaders will receive training and other skills as they join a national network of mothers who coordinate with and support each other to influence policy making and fight for change.

Each volunteer will:

Build and lead her own “hub” of volunteers, drawing from personal networks of family, friends, and neighbors
Organize one or more in-person or online events or actions from a list of suggested activities or in consultation with MomsRising; examples include postcard writing parties, constituent meetings with members of Congress, or tabling at a farmer’s market
Undergo a program orientation for education and networking as well as participate in monthly meetings for additional training and community building
Receive a toolkit with items to help them build their hubs
Offered a small advance volunteer reimbursement stipend to defray volunteering costs
Awarded a certificate of achievement at the successful completion of the program

The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 6. MomsRising will begin to review applications in December with follow-up interviews. Acceptances will be decided by late January.

Those interested in the initiative can apply online.

News

December 4, 2024

Allegheny County Council Passes Negotiated Budget, Crucial Funding Preserved

County Executive Sara Innamorato and Allegheny County Budget Chairman Robert Palmosina announced December 3 that they had jointly agreed on a negotiated budget that will result in a 1.7 millage increase and a balanced budget for 2025.

The County Council voted 10-5 to pass the negotiated budget agreement. This included preserving funding for child care services such as the Allegheny Child Care Matters (ACCM) program to help families pay for child care and for many other crucial human services such as family support centers.

Trying Together is deeply grateful for the support of our community – your quick action and advocacy highlighted the need to continue investing in child care for the well-being of our children, families, and the economic growth of our region. Today, we celebrate a significant win for children and families in our community. A heartfelt thank you to our county executive and the county council members who worked tirelessly to ensure the budget passed without cuts to human services.

Please take a moment to send a thank-you email to the county council members who voted yes for the budget:

Allegheny Council District	Council Member	Email
At Large	Bethany Hallam	Bethany.Hallam@alleghenycounty.us
District 1	Jack Betkowski	Jack.Betkowski@alleghenycounty.us
District 3	Anita Prizio	Anita.Prizio@AlleghenyCounty.us
District 5	Dan Grzybek	Daniel.Grzybek@alleghenycounty.us
District 6	John F. Palmiere	John.Palmiere@alleghenycounty.us
District 7	Nicholas Futules	Nicholas.Futules@alleghenycounty.us
District 8	Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis	Michelle.Chapkis@alleghenycounty.us
District 10	DeWitt Walton	DeWitt.Walton@alleghenycounty.us
District 11	Paul Klein	Paul.Klein@alleghenycounty.us
District 12	Robert Palmosina	Robert.Palmosina@AlleghenyCounty.us

Learn More

In addition to the increase, Innamorato and Palmosina agreed on several other items for the 2025 budget, including:

No layoffs of county employees
No cuts to county public safety departments or public works
Fully funding the Department of Human Services (including contributions from the county that will fully draw down every available state matching dollar)
Preserving funding for Emergency Rental Assistance and childcare programs that support working families
Replenishing the county reserve funds to a serviceable level
A commitment from the administration or council to work together through 2025 to continue to identify efficiencies and ensure long-term financial sustainability

The budget also makes investments in education, transportation, and economic development by funding CCAC, PRT, and ACED programs for Main Streets, blight removal, attracting new companies, workforce development, first-time home buyers, and affordable housing.

For more information on the millage increase, read the press release from Allegheny County.

News

Trying Together Releases 2022-24 Donor Impact Report

Trying Together released a donor impact report for 2022-24 that discusses various initiatives donors have helped support over the past two years. The report also highlights stories of impact and information on giving opportunities.

Strategic Goals

Trying Together’s mission is to support high-quality care and education for young children by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and the individuals interacting. It works in Southwestern Pennsylvania and takes its expertise and models to statewide and national models.

The donor impact report outlines numerous strategic goals that Trying Together has met over the past few years, including:

Expanding the Buzzword early literacy initiative in Allegheny County
Providing developmentally appropriate resources to caregivers of young children on various topics
Providing free diapers and infant formula to families in need
Launching The Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways to support new and current early care and education professionals in achieving goals
Providing 9,670 hours of professional development to nearly 3,500 educators
Supporting 44 teachers to achieve their Level II Teacher Certification
Providing immediate support to families and early educators through the Rapid Response Team if a child is in danger of suspension or expulsion
Consulting with private industries to remove barriers such as child care access
Collaborating to increase investment in local child care programs
Starting the state’s first Provider Advisory Board with 40 early care and education professionals
Facilitating a fellowship for 22 early educators to train them in advocacy for the early childhood field and profession
Advising on legislation updates, resulting in fewer operational barriers for home-based child care providers in Pittsburgh
Implementing a multi-year development and fundraising plan increasing individual giving by 540%
Meeting and exceeding its Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community fundraising goal for the first time
Having 100% Board of Directors participation in giving to Trying Together

Individual Giving

The report also provides information on how to donate to Trying Together. It lists the three donation levels:

Early Childhood Supporter: $5 per month or $60 annually
Early Childhood Sustainer: $10 per month or $120 annually
Trying Together Champion: $83.33 per month or $1,000 annually

Download the Donor Impact Report to see how Trying Together’s initiatives have impacted the community.

News

PD Registry Now Offering Spanish, Somali Translation

Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry is now offering translations in Spanish and Somali.

Learn More

To translate language on the website into Spanish or Somali, users can click on the dropdown menu beside their user’s name when they log in. When the user clicks on one of these languages, the PD Registry will translate to this language.

Not everything on the site will translate immediately due to the fact that AI would have to learn to translate it. The more users click on different areas of the site in a different language, the faster it will learn to translate.

About the PD Registry

The PD Registry is a technology system that functions as a workforce registry and increases the number of high-quality early childhood education programs by helping to develop and track a knowledgeable and skilled early childhood workforce.

The registry tracks an individual’s professional achievements and provides important data about the early childhood workforce to help raise the status and compensation for early childhood educators.

Any questions about the new translation services should email the PD Registry Help Desk at registry@pakeys.org.

News

December 3, 2024

Nominate an Organization for the Engage Every Student Recognition Program

Those who benefit from out-of-school time programs can nominate an organization for the 2024-25 Engage Every Student Recognition Program.

Learn More

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education and partnering organizations designed the Engage Every Student Recognition Program in regard to the Engage Every Student initiative.

The initiative’s aim is to ensure that every student who wants a spot in a high-quality out-of-school time program gets one. High-quality is defined as meeting students’ social, emotional, mental, and physical health as well as their academic needs.

Out-of-school programs – which take place after the school day or outside of the regular school year – include everything from comprehensive afterschool or summer-learning and enrichment programs to vacation academies, work-based learning programs, youth development programs, and experiential or service-learning programs.

Criteria

For an organization to be eligible for a nomination, it must be a:

Nonprofit organization working in collaboration with local education agencies
City municipality or local government entity working in collaboration with local education agencies
Local education agency working with a nonprofit organization or city/municipality or local government entity

Additional criteria can be found on the Engage Every Student Recognition Program page.

Those interested in nominating an organization must do so by Jan. 31. Eligible entities can self-nominate or be nominated.

News

Pittsburgh Launches Snow Angels Program Ahead of Winter Season

Pittsburgh has launched its 2024-25 Snow Angels program, which pairs community volunteers with seniors and residents with disabilities who need assistance shoveling and salting their sidewalks and walkways during the winter.

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The number of city residents in need of assistance has far surpassed the number of volunteers who sign up in many parts of the city, data shows. This year, the city is working to develop new partnerships with community organizations, youth sports leagues, faith-based groups, and employers to close the gap.

Neighborhoods where the city is aiming to increase volunteers include:

Allentown
Banksville
Beechview
Belzthoover
Brighton Heights
Brookline
Carrick
Elliott
Greenfield
Homewood
Hill District
Perry South
Sheraden
31st Ward

The office of Mayor Ed Gainey will honor the neighborhood with the most volunteers with the Golden Shovel Award. Last year’s winter was Bloomfield.

“The Snow Angels program is a vital service that helps some of our most vulnerable residents to continue to live in their homes,” Gainey said. “I am asking residents to once again be present in our community and volunteer to become a Snow Angel to ensure that seniors and Pittsburghers with disabilities can continue to thrive during and after winter weather events.”

Snow Angels also makes Pittsburgh’s sidewalks safer for those who are regularly outside during inclement weather – such as postal carriers, firefighters, and police officers.

To learn more about the program or to sign up, visit the City of Pittsburgh’s website. Residents can contact the program directly at 412-255-2621 or snowangels@pittsburghpa.gov.

News

December 2, 2024

Allegheny County Council to Vote on Proposed 2025 Budget

Last week, the Allegheny County Budget and Finance Committee approved a budget with a 1.35 millage property tax increase rather than the proposed 2.2 mils, which would lead to significant cuts to the County Executive’s proposed budget. This budget will be discussed and voted on by the full council on December 3.

What do these cuts mean? Of significant concern is a potential $23.2 million cut to the DHS budget which could greatly impact the children and families we serve and the child care sector. In order to leverage additional state funds and fully invest in critical human services in our region, the County needs to pass the County Executive’s proposed budget with the 2.2 mils property tax increase.

These budget cuts could negatively impact children and families and their access to affordable, high-quality child care, as well as countless other important human services programming.

What can you do?

1. Contact your council member by phone, email, or both and implore them to support a county budget that fully funds the Department of Human Services and does not leave any leveraged state monies on the table. See contact information below.

2. Request to speak at the December 3 council meeting to voice your support and urge approval of the full budget. Requests to comment must be submitted by 5 p.m. on December 2 by filling out the online form. If you do not wish to speak, you can still show your support by attending the meeting at the Allegheny County Courthouse (436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA) on December 3. The meeting will be held on the 4th Floor in the Gold Room at 5 p.m.

3. Share with others how they too can urge their council members to support the full budget proposed by Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.

Find your council district

Phone number: 412-350-6490

Allegheny Council District	Council Member	Email
At Large	Bethany Hallam	Bethany.Hallam@alleghenycounty.us
At Large	Samuel DeMarco III	Samuel.Demarco@alleghenycounty.us
District 1	Jack Betkowski	Jack.Betkowski@alleghenycounty.us
District 2	Suzanne Filiaggi	Suzanne.Filiaggi@alleghenycounty.us
District 3	Anita Prizio	Anita.Prizio@AlleghenyCounty.us
District 4	Patrick Catena	Patrick.Catena@alleghenycounty.us
District 5	Dan Grzybek	Daniel.Grzybek@alleghenycounty.us
District 6	John F. Palmiere	John.Palmiere@alleghenycounty.us
District 7	Nicholas Futules	Nicholas.Futules@alleghenycounty.us
District 8	Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis	Michelle.Chapkis@alleghenycounty.us
District 9	Robert J. Macey	Bob.Macey@alleghenycounty.us
District 10	DeWitt Walton	DeWitt.Walton@alleghenycounty.us
District 11	Paul Klein	Paul.Klein@alleghenycounty.us
District 12	Robert Palmosina	Robert.Palmosina@AlleghenyCounty.us
District 13	David Bonaroti	David.Bonaroti@alleghenycounty.us
Chief of Staff	Kenneth Varhola	Kenneth.Varhola@alleghenycounty.us

Learn More

November 12, 2024- The proposed 2025 Allegheny County budget offers an incredible opportunity for our region’s children and families. We urge councilmembers to continue investments in child care and other critical human services that lift up families and enable them to thrive. The progress for young children, families, and our region’s economic growth depends on it.

Allegheny County residents value giving children a strong start through accessible and affordable child care. Nearly 19,000 county residents shared their priorities through the All-In Community survey and made it clear that access and affordable child care (40%) and increased pay for child care workers (31%) matters.

When the early learning sector struggles, there is a ripple effect. Our working families struggle, our businesses struggle, our local economy struggles.

In a September survey from Start Strong PA, child care programs in Allegheny County reported 373 open positions, resulting in 128 closed classrooms. If those programs were fully staffed, 2,977 more children could be served. This is only a snapshot of about 20% of programs that responded across the county.

Families in Allegheny County rely on child care and early learning programs. Child care providers are the workforce behind the workforce and necessary infrastructure for economic development and for Allegheny County to realize its full potential.

We are grateful for the investments that Allegheny County has made in child care thus far. In January, the Allegheny County Executive directed an additional $500,000 to expand the Allegheny County Child Care Matters pilot program, which enabled additional families on a waiting list to receive subsidized child care.

The Allegheny County Child Care Matters pilot program currently supports around 400 children. There is still more work to be done. The program has the potential to cover up to 15,000 children if fully funded.

We support the proposed 2025 budget to invest in the services needed for children, families, and our communities to thrive. The impact of county investments will allow the county to unlock more state and federal funding and enable more children and families to have access to affordable, high-quality child care and other important human services programming.

Resources

Updates on Education and Workforce priorities for Allegheny County can be found here. You can find your county council district online.

For more information, read the 2025 Budget Highlights for Allegheny County as well as the 2025 County Budget Toolkit.

News

November Recalls on Children’s Products

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

Learn More

Here is a list of November 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.

Babcock Dairy is expanding its recall on Orange Custard Chocolate Chip ice cream that may be labeled as Chocolate Peanut Butter. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
Dreamgro recalled its Lullaby Travel Soothers due to choking hazard. The toy’s gold-colored soft star can detach and pose a hazard to young children.
South Shore Cribs were recalled due to environmental hazards. The cribs violate federal regulations for full-sized cribs. The spacing between some of the crib’s slats is wider than allowed under the federal safety standard, posing an entrapment hazard for children.
Todson recalled its Nerf Barrage Bicycle Helmets due to risk of head injuries. The helmets violate federal regulations for bicycle helmets and can fail to protect the wearer in the event of a crash.
Stokke recalled its YOYO³ strollers due to injury hazards. The parking brake on the recalled strollers can disengage, posing a hazard to children.
Woom Bikes USA recalled its Children’s OFF, OFF AIR, and ORIGINAL 6 Bicycles due to fall and crash hazards. The bikes’ crank can break, due to fatigue fractures, causing the rider to lose control, posing fall and crash hazards.
Petidoux recalled its Children’s Pajamas due to burn hazards. The pajamas posed a violation of federal flammability regulations for children’s sleepwear.
Baofali Crib Bumpers were recalled due to suffocation hazards. The cribs violate the federal Safe Sleep for Babies Act ban on crib bumpers.
Guava Family recalled its Roam Strollers due to fall and injury hazards. The stroller’s brakes can fail to engage or unexpectedly disengage, posing hazards for children.
Kyte Baby recalled its Slumber Suits due to burn hazards. The suits violate federal flammability regulations.