April 22, 2025 ECE Professionals Must Submit T.E.A.C.H. Application for Fall Semester by July 11 Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college for the upcoming fall semester should apply to T.E.A.C.H. by the July deadline. Learn More T.E.A.C.H. applications must be completed and submitted with all required documentation and information by Friday, July 11 to be considered for the fall semester that will begin in mid-August. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis. However, incomplete applications and those received after the July deadline will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the fall semester will depend on funding availability. Applicants should begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college or university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted and can register for courses if they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions. Information on availability and program requirements are available on PACCA’s website, where scholarship applications can also be downloaded. Applicants can contact T.E.A.C.H. counselors on the website. Any questions about scholarship eligibility or requirements can be sent to a T.E.A.C.H. counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org.
Carlow University’s Education Doctorate Offers Four Specialized Strands Carlow University’s Education Doctorate program welcomed 24 students to its inaugural cohort in the fall of 2024, and students can register for four specialized strands in the program for the upcoming year. Learn More The Education Doctorate program is aimed at thought leaders who embrace diversity of thinking and expression, want to challenge the status quo, and seek transformative change in today’s educational practice. The three-year practice-based inquiry program, which is rooted in the Mercy tradition of social justice and respect for all, is designed with a focus on scholar-practitioner stewardship that blends inquiry with practice. The Mercy tradition is a Catholic heritage characterized by compassion, respect, justice, and hope that emphasizes service to others and social justice advocacy. The doctorate is offered in four specialized strands: Educational leadership Curriculum and learning Literacy Early childhood policy and leadership This fall, the doctorate will add two new strands: Arts education and leadership and special education and leadership. The program offers online courses, off-site internships, and an on-campus dissertation defense. Doctorate coursework covers everything from AI and education to culture, policy, advocacy, and governance. For more information about the program or the application process, contact Ann Bisignani, graduate program coordinator, at ambisignani@carlow.edu or Dr. Patricia McMahon, program director, at plmcmahon@carlow.edu. Those interested can also call 412-578-6296.
April 21, 2025 OCDEL Offers Guidance in Wake of Measles Cases Uptick The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the state Department of Health have issued new guidance due to an uptick in positive measles cases in the state. Learn More Those operating a child care facility in the state who knows of a student having an illness that may be of public concern, regardless of whether it is known to be communicable, should report it promptly to the Department of Health or a local department that handles health issues. As indicated in the Child Care Works (CCW) Provider Agreement, an early learning resource center (ELRC) will pay providers for a maximum of five consecutive days of absence due to an illness. On the sixth consecutive day, the absence must be reported to the ELRC, which will notify the parent or caretaker that the enrollment for the subsidized child care will be suspended until the child returns to care. The provider must report to the ELRC when the child returns after a CCW suspension period. If a child is enrolled in CCW and needs to be excluded as outlined, a provider must contact the ELRC immediately so they can promptly suspend CCW to prevent enrolled families from accruing absences related to the medical exclusion. Once a CCW case is in suspended status, payment is not remitted to the provider. The ELRC will pay for a maximum of 40 days of absence during the state’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) for each child. This is a cumulative number per child, regardless of provider transfers during the fiscal year. If absences exceed 40 days, the parent or caretaker is responsible to pay the provider for all additional absences. Suspended days and provider closed days are not considered days of absence. Children funded through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are not subject to the 40 days absence limit. For more information, visit The Pennsylvania Key’s measles information and guidance page.
Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on Child Anxiety’s Physical Symptoms Some children experience anxiety through physical symptoms that are manifested as a result of their angst. The Child Mind Institute has released some resources to tackle stomach aches, headaches, or other symptoms that result from being anxious. Learn More A child might complain of a stomach ache or headache but if a pediatrician rules out an infection or illness, it might mean that they are suffering from anxiety. The Child Mind Institute’s resources discuss how anxiety can be connected to physical symptoms. And it also discusses the various ways to deal with them – for example, it might be a good idea to allow an anxious child to take a mental health day at home, while at the same time this could be a problem if it becomes a habit. The institute’s resources include articles on school refusal – which is when children refuse to go to school due to anxiety issues – and how to test for anxiety. There are tips for combatting anxiety and a piece on behavioral health therapy. Resources in the series include: Anxious Stomachaches and Headaches Kids Who Worry They’re Sick When They’re Not When Kids Refuse to Go to School Tips for Beating Test Anxiety Behavioral Treatment for Kids with Anxiety Should Kids Take Mental Health Days?
RAD Staycation to Provide Free Trips to Popular Pittsburgh Attractions RAD Summer Staycation will provide free admission to library-card holders at numerous popular attractions in Pittsburgh this summer. Learn More Last summer, the Regional Asset District (RAD) provided more than 53,000 free-of-charge visits to a variety of popular cultural institutions in Pittsburgh. Among those where free admission will be available in 2025 include: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium Carnegie Museum of Art Carnegie Museum of Natural History Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center National Aviary Heinz History Center Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens The Frick Pittsburgh Mattress Factory Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum The Andy Warhol Museum Free admission offers for library-card holders have begun to appear on the RAD Pass’ website. Others will begin to post their offers in May and June. RAD Pass users are encouraged to check back for new opportunities – especially on Mondays and Tuesdays. RAD Summer Staycation reservation spots will be added regularly through August. Users are asked to read offers carefully as some attractions offer two- or four-packs for admission. To book tickets, RAD Pass users should log in to RADPass.org with their Allegheny County library card number and PIN and browse for passes by date or name. They should reserve their pass and then print it or download it to their mobile device. More information can be found on the RAD Pass website.
April 16, 2025 Trying Together Honors Early Childhood Educators at Annual Celebration Dinner Nearly 800 early childhood educators and advocates joined Trying Together on April 10 for its Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner at Acrisure Stadium. The Westinghouse Academy marching band greeted attendees as they arrived at the event, which included a dinner, photo booth, raffle prizes, and networking. The formal presentation featured a video from Governor Josh Shapiro, who spoke about the importance of early childhood education in Pennsylvania and proposed investments for recruitment and retention. Honorees Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo paid tribute to the dinner’s two honorees – Riverview Children’s Center Executive Director Betty Lisowski and Dr. Aisha White, program director for the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) at the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development. “With more than 40 years’ experience, Betty has been the catalyst for sustained, high-quality early care and education and expansion at Riverview Children’s Center,” Ciminillo said of Lisowski. “Betty has positively impacted thousands of children, families, and colleagues through the high-quality care and education Riverview provides while also being a working mother of three.” Lisowski’s co-workers at Riverview paid homage to her work at the center in a video. Lisowski cited author and speaker Jim Collins’ quote that “great vision without great people is irrelevant” in describing those with whom she has worked in early childhood education. “I am truly blessed to have spent my entire 43-year career in this field,” she said. “It has been a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything. I’ve loved the work, but more importantly I’ve loved and cherished the people I’ve had the privilege to work with.” Ciminillo noted Dr. White’s work in helping children find pride in their racial identity as well as her decades-long engagement in the arts, social activism and work involving racial awareness. During a speech following her own tribute video, White noted that many children in America are struggling, citing Black infant mortality rates that are nearly two times higher than the national average for all races or ethnicities and the fact that 11 million U.S. children live in poverty and 400,000 in foster care. “While things are not good for children across the board, there’s an extra burden on children of color – and especially Black children – and that’s the burden of racism,” she said. “With respect to race, what we can do is pretty simple: Support children’s positive racial identity development in as many ways as we can, as often as we can, and as effectively as we can.” Ciminillo also recognized two regional educators – Lesely Crawford, executive director of the ABK Learning and Development Center, and Eva Wood, executive director of Ligonier Valley Learning Center in Latrobe – who were recent honorees at the PennAEYC Voice for Children Awards. Valuing Educators During a toast to all of the early childhood educators in attendance, Ciminillo said that a society that values its children must also value those who care for them. “Tonight, we gather during the Month of the Young Child not just to celebrate, but to honor you,” she said. “Your work is essential. It always has been. But more and more, the world is beginning to understand what you’ve long known – that care is not just an individual act of kindness, it is a public good.”
The Buzzword is FRIENDSHIP As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development. This month’s Buzzword is FRIENDSHIP, which means a state of mutual trust and support. Buzzword’s FRIENDSHIP Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities. Caregivers are encouraged to read through Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences. Buzzword has also provided a FRIENDSHIP book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading. View the FRIENDSHIP Activity Book and book recommendations. More Information Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.
April 15, 2025 IECMH Offers Resources to Raise Awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMH) has released resources and information in observance of April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Learn More To honor the month – which raises awareness about child abuse and to promote prevention – IECMH’s latest newsletter explores what can be done to support families and children, from sharing resources on the importance of relationships and resilience to protect children from harm to supporting children who have experienced abuse or trauma. One resource is a chart that focuses on ACEs – which stands for adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction. It is coupled with a description by the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention & Promotion of the differences between ACEs, PCEs (positive childhood experiences), and PACEs (protective and compensatory experiences). There is also further reading on PCEs by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. The IECMH also provides a section on resilience-building strategies by age groups. Promoting resilience, the IECMH writes, involves reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. It lists resilience-building strategies for the following age groups: Infants Toddlers Preschoolers Adults Other topics of interest include protective factors for families by Pennsylvania Strengthening Families, a Sesame Street guide on working through difficult life challenges, a list of strategies on how to reduce the effects of ACEs and toxic stress, a description of what it means to be a mandated reporter in Pennsylvania, and information on how to report abuse or neglect.
Early Childhood Educators Can Gain Voice in Policy Decisions Through Teach Plus Fellowship Early childhood educators can deepen their understanding of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect their students and profession by applying for the Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellowship. Learn More This summer, Teach Plus will launch its fifth cohort of teaching policy fellows. The leadership opportunity is for 30 teachers, who will receive a $1,500 stipend for taking part in the fellowship. Guided work for the fellowship includes: Two in-person training sessions, monthly virtual meetings, and issues-focused working groups Expert-led training modules on such topics as storytelling for impact, policy 101, advocacy and organizing, evidence-based policymaking, testifying and meeting with decision makers, op-ed writing, and media relations Direct engagement with stakeholders and policymakers Pursuit of a policy research or advocacy project that addresses a pressing state-level policy issue Some of the 2025-26 policy areas of focus include early childhood education, equitable funding, teacher preparation, advancing the science of reading, expanding and diversifying the teacher pipeline. Qualifications and Applications Process To qualify, applicants must be a current educator (early childhood to 12th grade) in a state public, charter, or early childhood setting with at least two years of teaching experience by June. Applicants must have a track record of success teaching students in Pennsylvania. To apply, candidates must submit a written application prior to May 5. There will be a virtual session on applying on April 15 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration is open. Candidates will then participate in an individual phone interview and a group activity via Zoom between May 19 and 22. All candidates will receive notification of their status by May 30. For more information, visit the Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellowship website.
April 14, 2025 National Afterschool Association to Celebrate Week Honoring Out-of-School-Hours Professionals The National Afterschool Association is celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week in late April to recognize those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. Learn More The week – which runs from April 21 to 25 – will be marked by celebrations, public relations, and advocacy efforts that encourage appreciation and support for afterschool professionals. According to the National Afterschool Association, approximately 7.8 million young people participate in afterschool programs annually in the United States. More than 850,000 afterschool professionals work with children during out-of-school hours but, the association notes, they are often not recognized or appreciated for their work. Research shows that afterschool programs result in increased social-emotional skills, school attendance, and academic performance, the association said. The association developed articles, flyers, and graphics in a press kit as part of its Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week celebration. Its suggestions on how to show appreciation during the week include: Posting on social media about how research shows that afterschool professionals make an impact on the lives of young people Giving a hand-written card to the afterschool professionals who work with your child Sending an email to an afterschool professional’s supervisor to describe why they are appreciated Making healthy or non-food treats for the staff at your child’s afterschool program For more information, visit the National Afterschool Association’s website celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week.
