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Month: July 2025

YWCA’s Action Conversations Aim to Create Change in Pittsburgh Communities

News

July 2, 2025

YWCA’s Action Conversations Aim to Create Change in Pittsburgh Communities

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Center for Race & Gender Equity will host Action Conversations with local experts and leaders on the third Wednesday of the month. The conversations are designed to build community and create change.

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The conversations will be broadcast on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Participants are encouraged to contribute questions and comments during the discussions.

The next conversation, Public Transportation, will take place on Wednesday, July 16. It will focus on how proposed funding cuts jeopardize Pittsburgh’s capacity to cultivate an equitable public transit system that is affordable and accessible to all.

Eliminated routes and increased fares would disproportionately harm communities of color, disabled people, and low-income neighborhoods. Panelists will discuss the importance of sustainable public transit, why transportation is an intersectional issue, and how riders and advocates can take action to achieve transit equity.

Those interested in participating as a panelist or contributing a topic idea for an Action Conversation should contact Adale Sholock at asholock@ywcapgh.org. Registration is now open.

DEP Offering Lead Testing Grants to Schools and Child Care Facilities

News

July 1, 2025

DEP Offering Lead Testing Grants to Schools and Child Care Facilities

The state Department of Environmental Protection is offering lead testing grants to schools and child care facilities.

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Child care facilities and schools located in Pennsylvania with lead in drinking water sample results within 36 months of the application date showing water fixtures exceeding the remediation trigger level of 5 parts per billion may apply.

Reduction activities from the grant may include purchasing and installing hydration stations, point-of-use devices designed to remove lead, or replacement of faucets. The goal of the grant program is to reduce children’s exposure to lead in drinking water.

Funding for the grant has been appropriated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Those who receive grants will be provided with up to $3,000 per hydration station per 100 students in one building. Up to $30,000 may be awarded per building or child care facility, while $100,000 may be given per school district.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss their lead reduction plans to ensure they meet applicable program criteria. Meetings can be scheduled by emailing RA-EPWIINLEAD@pa.gov. 

More information on the grant can be found on the DEP’s website.

OCDEL Releases Announcement on NAEYC Accreditation Standards, Keystone STARS Alternate Pathways

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OCDEL Releases Announcement on NAEYC Accreditation Standards, Keystone STARS Alternate Pathways

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released an announcement regarding changes to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation standards and system and implications for Keystone STARS Alternate Pathways.

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The announcement shares information on how changes to NAEYC will affect early care and education providers using NAEYC accreditation as a Keystone STARS, OCDEL-approved, Alternate Pathway to a STAR 4 designation.

As of March 3, NAEYC began using a new tiered system of accreditation. The three tiers included:

  • Recognition: NAEYC defined this as the first step to high quality. It requires a documentation review, and a one-year term is renewed annually.
  • Accreditation: Requires a documentation review and there is potential for a random site visit. It has a five-year term with annual reporting required.
  • Accreditation +: This requires a documentation review and site visit, and there’s potential for a random site visit. This has a five-year term with annual reporting required.

Impact of Accreditation Changes on STARTS Designation

Following an internal review of NAEYC’s new accreditation standards and tiers, OCDEL established that the Accreditation + tier will be acknowledged as an approved Alternate Pathway to a STAR 4 designation.

The NAEYC tiers of Recognition or Accreditation will not serve as OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathways to higher STARS designations.

Programs that are currently NAEYC accredited will transition to the Accreditation + tier and will not see any impact on their STAR 4 Alternate Pathway designation. If these programs experienced a drop in their NAEYC accreditation status to one of the lower tiers, they would also be designated as a STAR 1.

Programs that want to move up in STAR levels can do so by using the Keystone STARS Performance Standards or achieving the highest NAEYC accreditation tier of Accreditation +. Programs using an OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathway to a higher STAR level must complete all requirements for Keystone STARS as explained in the ELRC Policy Announcement 21 #08.

Next Steps

All programs currently using or planning to use NAEYC as an Alternate Pathway to a STAR 4 designation should:

  • Review the information contained in the OCDEL announcement.
  • Complete any upcoming Keystone STARS designation renewals as required.
  • Review their current Accreditation VUD to determine their NAEYC renewal status. For questions regarding NAEYC standards, assessments or processes, email accreditation.information@naeyc.org or call 1-800-424-2460.
  • Programs are encouraged to discuss their Keystone STARS designation with their quality coach.

ELRCs should review the information in the OCDEL announcement and direct any questions to their program representative.