August 25, 2025 OCDEL Asks Licensed Child Care Providers Charging Private Pay Rates to Take Survey The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is requesting that licensed child care providers who charge private pay tuition rates complete a survey between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8. Learn More OCDEL is required to collect up-to-date tuition information from all licensed providers every three years. The 2025 Child Care Market Rate Survey helps OCDEL set child care subsidy payment rates that are reflective of the private pay market. Even programs that don’t accept subsidies should fill out the survey. When all providers complete the survey, the date gives a more accurate picture of child care tuition rates across Pennsylvania. Benefits of filling out the survey include: The results help to set payment rates for child care subsidies over the next few years. When more providers respond, rates are more fair and reflect real tuition rates. It supports policies that better reflect the real structure and value of child care services statewide. It strengthens the case for public investment in child care for everyone. If you don’t respond, decisions may be based on other programs that don’t reflect your rates. Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle and could win a gift card. A total of 100 winners will each get a $100 e-gift card. Surveys can be filled out online or on paper. It is being conducted by the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, in partnership with OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key. The survey should be filled out between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8.
Child Mind Institute Provides Resources for Children Making School Transitions Children will head back to school in a few weeks, and some of them will do so for the first time. The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources for caregivers who have children who will make a big transition this fall by starting kindergarten, middle school, and high school. Learn More The transitions for students starting at these levels can involve new schools, new routines, and unfamiliar faces. As a result, both students and parents can be anxious about these transitions. The Child Mind Institute outlines the specific challenges of each transition and offers tips for how caregivers can help children navigate changes. For children starting kindergarten, the resources emphasize the importance of building independence such as using the bathroom solo or opening snacks. It also provides strategies that children can use to calm themselves down when they are nervous. For middle school, the Child Mind Institute’s resources discuss how to handle an increased workload as well as social and emotional challenges that come with puberty. And for high school, the resources provide assistance with how to help build time management and study skills as well as guidance on how to handle situations involving sex and substances. For all grades, the resources also emphasize the importance of getting enough sleep. The Child Mind Institute’s resources include: Starting Elementary School Starting Middle School Starting High School Back-to-School Anxiety How to Work Well with Your Child’s Teacher Back-to-School Dos and Dont’s
August 20, 2025 Northampton Community College to Offer School Age Credential Program Online This Fall Northampton Community College is offering an online School Age Credential Program this fall. Learn More Those who take the course and receive a diploma will be able to teach in school-age child care centers and before- or after-school programs. The course prepares attendees for the Pennsylvania School-Age Professional Credential. In the program, attendees will learn about students’ social-emotional development, managing school-age programs, interacting with families and communities, and the professional code of ethics and standards for before- and after-school programs. Participants can apply credits toward an associate’s degree in early childhood education. About the School Age Credential Program The program is designed for students employed in the field and offers an entry-level credential. Courses provide the student with 120 hours of training required for the credential program. Students must complete 480 hours of supervised teaching in a licensed child care facility. Students will receive nine total credits for the courses and they may submit their credential to the Pennsylvania Key. The course will be held on Zoom one night per week in the evenings. Weekly class attendance, readings, and written assignments are required. The semesters for the program include: Course 1 – September through December Course 2: January to May Course 3 – June through August Those interested in attending the course should contact Tara Pascoe, ECE credential coordinator, at tpascoe@northampton.edu or visit the course’s website.
August 19, 2025 Campaign Releases Toolkit to Help Those Planning Welcoming Week Events A campaign to celebrate the diversity and values of welcoming and inclusion for all – including immigrants – has released a toolkit that contains resources and guidance to support those planning Welcoming Week events. About Welcoming Week Initially known as National Welcoming Week when it began in the United States in 2012, the annual campaign by Welcoming Network was created to celebrate and uplift the diversity and values of welcoming and inclusion for all. Now, Welcoming Week is a global movement because of the network of organizations, local governments, and other institutions that comprise the Welcoming Network. During Welcoming Week, communities around the world host events that connect people of different backgrounds through shared causes and interests. Toolkit The Welcoming Week toolkit contains resources and guidance to support Welcoming America members, Welcoming Week partners, and organizations and individuals who are planning and promoting Welcoming Week events. The toolkit contains social media tips and assets, media relations support, logos and other visuals, event planning best practices, event examples, and information about this year’s campaign theme – Stories We Share. The 2025 theme asks that if instead of seeing difference as a divider, we see it as a multiplier to shape new possibilities. By sharing stories, we build understanding, through which we can shape what comes next. As September nears, the toolkit will be updated with new resources. Those with questions about the toolkit should email communications@welcomingamerica.org. For more information, check out the Welcoming Week toolkit.
Guides Cover How Organizations and Caregivers Can Work Together to Improve Early Childhood Systems The Center for the Study of Social Policy has released two new guides that cover how organizations and caregivers can work together to strengthen childhood education. Guide for Organizations Its Partners for Change: A Guide for Organizations on Engaging Family and Parent Leaders in Early Childhood Systems provides ideas, strategies, and approaches to inspire and challenge early childhood organizations, nonprofits, and community groups to promote parent and family leadership within early childhood systems. The guide is intended for those who recognize the importance of early childhood development and want to engage families and support caregiver leadership to improve the well-being of children. The resource was developed by a collaborative of seven national organizations – including the Center for the Study of Social Policy – and incorporated the contributions of more than 500 local leaders in 50 communities. Guide for Caregivers Partners for Change: A Guide for Parents on Strengthening Early Childhood Systems discusses ideas and steps that caregivers can take to strengthen early childhood systems and improve outcomes for children, from prenatal to age 8. The guide encourages caregivers to reflect on their own leaderships and advocacy goals. It helps them to find pathways and resources for how to engage and assess which opportunities are the best fit for them. For more information, read the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s guides for organizations and caregivers.
Trying Together to Hold Event to Celebrate Grandparent Relative Care Providers Trying Together will hold an event at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center in September to celebrate grandparents who are relative care providers for their grandchildren. Learn More As a cosponsor for Home Grown’s Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Appreciation Week, Trying Together will host the Relative Provider Grandparents Appreciation Day on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. FFN Appreciation Week is an opportunity to celebrate the over 5 million family, friend, and neighbor caregivers who look after 11.5 million children each year. This week of celebration begins on National Grandparents Day, a holiday that honors the bond between children and grandparents. Those who are a grandparent caring for a grandchild can bring the children in their lives to the Hub for an appreciation celebration. The event will include food, fun activities, and an opportunity for participants to share their stories. The event is free, but space is limited. Those interested in attending should register as soon as possible. The Hub is located at 7219 Kelly St. in Pittsburgh.
August 18, 2025 Registration Open for UnConference: From Representation to Inclusion Registration is now open for Trying Together’s UnConference: From Representation to Inclusion scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Learn More The UnConference will focus on immigrant children and their families, delving into the ways early childhood educators can foster supportive and inclusive learning environments. Attendees will hear from a keynote speaker and caregivers as well as take part in a large group activity. Participants will attend workshops led by representatives from organizations that serve immigrant families in the region. These workshops will cover topics such as inclusive practices and building trust, trauma-informed communication, play and literacy, honoring identity, and practical considerations for educators. More Details The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Museum of Art, located at 4400 Forbes Ave. The fee to attend is $25. Registration is required and now open. Parking will be available in the museum parking lot and on the street. A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee. The event will begin with keynote speaker Ivonne Smith-Tapia, director of refugee and immigrant services at Jewish Family & Community Services. Then, participants will take part in a large group workshop and panel. After lunch, attendees will take part in two sessions – out of 10 options – they chose during registration. The day will end by 4:30 p.m. A total of 6.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available for attendees. Workshops Participants will be able to select their first and second choices of preferred sessions for each of the afternoon session time slots. Workshops include: Effective and Trauma-Informed Communication Pathways for English Learners and Their Families Muslim Families in Learning Environments: Building Trust and Inclusion Who Makes the Rules? Exploring Cross-Cultural Communication Through Play Supporting Positive Identity Development Through Picture Books Carnegie Museums of Art Extension Activity What’s in a Name? Honoring Identity Through Cultural Learning Not Just a Seat, But a Say: Inclusive Practices That Nourish Refugee 101: Background and Practical Considerations for ECE Teachers Positionality, Power & Poetry: A Reflection on Bias & Creating Inclusive Practices Within Multicultural Classrooms Carnegie Museums Guided Art Tours For descriptions of the workshops, visit the UnConference’s registration page. About UnConference The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands-on in the workshops.
Best Practices to Prevent the Spread of Infections As the new school year begins, early learning programs can reduce the spread of illness by following routine health and safety practices. Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease The number of hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases are growing in the Philadelphia region. The illness, which typically produces rashes and painful sores, has primarily been spreading in day care centers and summer camps. Hand-foot-and-mouth is a mild illness caused by viruses – most often, a virus known as coxsackievirus A16 – according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is most common in young children, but people of any age can catch it. Viruses that cause the illness can spread easily between people and through the air. Symptoms of the disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. While there’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth, most people get better in seven to 10 days. With the 2025-25 school year approaching, the likelihood of viruses like hand-foot-and-mouth and respiratory viruses spreading among students at school is on the rise. Preventing the Spread of Illnesses The CDC has provided guidance on how students can stay healthy by minimizing the spread of infections in school. Infections often spread because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, a lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation. The CDC recommends that schools emphasize: Take steps for cleaner air Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting Hand washing Respiratory etiquette Vaccinations Cleaner Air The CDC suggests improving air quality by improving ventilation in buildings or moving gatherings outside. Strategies to provide cleaner air include: Ensuring existing HVAC systems are providing the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirement in accordance with ventilation design codes Considering ventilation design and/or enhancements when remodeling or constructing new buildings to optimize clean air Opening windows to increase ventilation, as long as this does not create a safety hazard Using portable air cleaners in spaces with low ventilation Holding some activities outside, such as lunch, certain classes, or recess Keeping bus windows open when it does not create a safety hazard Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Schools should put into place procedures for routinely cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often – such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Surfaces that are visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids should be immediately cleaned. Schools should consult with their state or local health department to determine how to clean and disinfect particular infectious diseases when new pathogens emerge. Hand Washing Teaching and reinforcing proper handwashing can lower the risk of spreading illnesses. Schools should set routines or scheduled opportunities for handwashing throughout the day. Schools should also provide adequate handwashing supplies – soap, water, and power towels – within easy reach of users. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be provided. Respiratory Etiquette Schools should teach and reinforce respiratory etiquette to keep individuals from getting and spreading respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. Teachers should reinforce covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, students and staff should be reminded to sneeze into the elbow, not the hands. Handwashing should be performed immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccinations Schools are recommended to stay up to date on vaccinations for students. All states have vaccination requirements for children attending school. Schools and health departments can promote routine and annual vaccinations by: Providing information about recommended vaccines to staff, students, and families Promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines Establish supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated easy and convenient Make vaccinations available on-site by hosting school-located vaccination clinics or connect children, students, staff, and families to off-site locations More information on the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses can be found on its website.
PA Promise for Children Releases Activity Guide for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children included a new activity guide during its most recent “Kindergarten, Here I Come” newsletter that focuses on the topic of preparing for kindergarten and features a variety of activities for caregivers and preschoolers. Learn More All activities in the guide are linked to Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards that are used in pre-k programs throughout the state as a resource for developing classroom learning situations that will ensure a child’s development in the skill areas necessary for future success. Early learning standards outlined in the guide include: Approaches to learning through play Creative thinking and expression Language and literacy development Mathematical thinking and expression Social and emotional development Health, wellness, and physical development Scientific thinking and technology Social studies thinking The guide also discusses how to choose an early learning site and provides descriptions for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS Child Care, and Head Start. It provides registration information that includes a list of things to do to prepare for a child’s transition to kindergarten. The list includes contacting a child’s school district to find out which school a child will be attending, completing registration forms on time, and gathering the necessary paperwork. The activity guide also provides a variety of activities for each month of the year. Activities in the guide help to: Develop problem-solving skills Spark children’s imagination and creativity Celebrate a child’s differences Promote healthy eating habits Promote safety Promote reading, writing, listening, and speaking Develop positive relationships The guide also provides suggestions regarding children’s health, including keeping a child’s immunizations up to date, promoting physical activity, encouraging a child to eat nutritious foods, and brushing teeth regularly. For more information, check out PA Promise for Children’s activity guide for preschoolers.
Pittsburgh Announces End of Summer Pool Season Schedule Pittsburgh has released its schedule and operating hours for the final two weeks of the summer CitiParks pool season. Learn More Starting today, CitiParks will have a reduction in pools and pool operating hours as many of the lifeguards head back to school. Seven pools will maintain operating hours through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1. These include: Ammon Bloomfield Highland Jack Stack Moore Ream Schenley The pools will operate with the following hours through Sunday, Aug. 24: Monday – Friday: noon to 7:45 p.m. Saturday – Sunday: noon to 5:45 p.m. Highland and Moore pools will operate from noon to 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25 through Friday, Aug. 29. And all seven pools will operate from noon to 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 1.
