July 31, 2025 OCDEL Announces It Will Offer Keystone STARS Award for 2025-26 Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced that it will offer the Keystone STARS Quality Improvement (CQI) Award again during the 2025-26 school year. Learn More The Keystone STARS CQI Award is paid directly through ELRCs to eligible child care programs that have a state Department of Human Services regular Certificate of Compliance and are designated as a Keystone STAR 2, 3, or 4. The intent of the award is to improve, support, and recognize the quality of Pennsylvania’s early learning and school-age programs. A child care provider application for this award is not required. Instead, providers who are eligible for the award will receive an eligibility and acceptance letter from their ELRC. The letter will include the maximum award amount that a child care provider is eligible to receive as well as contact information for their ELRC. After spending the award on eligible expenses, the provider will be responsible for submitting a final expense report electronically to their ELRC. To be eligible, a provider must possess a current, regular Pennsylvania Department of Human Services certificate of compliance. Providers with provisional certificates, those in a “refuse to renew” status,” or those whose certificates have been revoked are ineligible. For more information on the award, visit The Pennsylvania Key website.
May 29, 2025 Growing Together | From Conflict to Connection – Better Collaboration with Colleagues Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for October is From Conflict to Connection: Better Collaboration with Colleagues Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Professional development sessions in the series include: November 19, 2025: Career Pathways in Early Childhood December 17, 2025: Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Preparing the Classroom Environment to Support Social-Emotional Regulation Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The July 16 session is focused on Preparing the Classroom Environment to Support Social-Emotional Regulation Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register The other sessions in the series include: August 20: Resilience in the Classroom: What to Do When Things Fall Apart September 17: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families October 15: From Conflict to Connection: Better Collaboration with Collages November 19, 2025: Career Pathways in Early Childhood December 17, 2025: Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Resilience in the Classroom: What to Do When Things Fall Apart Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The August 20 session is focused on Resilience in the Classroom: What to Do When Things Fall Apart. Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: September 17: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families October 15: From Conflict to Connection: Better Collaboration with Collages November 19, 2025: Career Pathways in Early Childhood December 17, 2025: Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for September is Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families. Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: October 15: From Conflict to Connection: Better Collaboration with Collages November 19, 2025: Career Pathways in Early Childhood December 17, 2025: Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Career Pathways in Early Childhood Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for a free professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for November is Career Pathways in Early Childhood. Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Attendees will be awarded one hour of PQAS each month and the topics will be shared in advance. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: December 17, 2025: Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for December is Introducing the Early Intervention Toolkit Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: January 21, 2026: Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for January is Reframing Children’s “Challenging” Behaviors. Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: February 18, 2026: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Parents March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Caregivers Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for February is Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Caregivers Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Professional development sessions in the series include: March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Growing Together | Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for March is Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You? Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link. Click here to register Upcoming sessions in the series include: April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers? June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
