The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Equity in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Champion Award. Several local child care providers were among this year’s recipients.

About the Equity in ECE Champion Award

The Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award recognizes the equity work of Pennsylvania early childhood education (ECE) programs and professionals, and highlights the impact of that work on staff, children, and families within early childhood education settings.

The award recipients’ work aligns with the state Department of Education’s Equity and Inclusion Toolkit and the position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Local Award Recipients

Award recipients for 2024 in the region included:

Gold Level

• Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh
• Pre-K Kids Learning Center, New Castle

Silver Level

• AIU/Steel Valley Family Center, Homestead
• Brightside Academy, Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh
• Jack Safer, President & CEO, Brightside Academy, Pittsburgh

Bronze Level

• Dr. Shawna Starling, Vice President of Intervention and Development Services, Brightside Academy, Pittsburgh
• Shady Lane School, Pittsburgh

Learn More

The Equity in Early Childhood Education Award brings awareness to and highlights the equity work taking place within the state’s early childhood education and afterschool settings by child care, evidence-based home visiting, and early intervention professionals and organizations that support the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

An appreciation event will be held at the State Capitol Rotunda, located at 501 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The event is open to the public.