January 7, 2026 OCDEL Seeking Nominations for ECE Professionals to Be Recognized Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will recognize those in the early childhood education field who have made accomplishments in 2025. Learn More OCDEL is planning on recognizing early childhood education professionals in the following areas: Academic Years of service Retirement The recognitions apply to all staffing positions within an early learning program, including, but not limited to: Directors Classroom staff (teachers, aides, etc.) Support staff (receptionists, janitors, kitchen staff, etc.) Submissions can be nominations (submitted by someone else) or self-submitted (submitted by the individual to be recognized). Eligible submissions will receive a letter of recognition from OCDEL Deputy Shante’ Brown. The deadline to submit a recognition is Wednesday, February 4.
OCDEL Extends Rapid Response Team Grants for a Year Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced that the Rapid Response Team Grants funded through the Preschool Development Birth to Five initiative have been extended. Learn More The one-year extension will enable Rapid Response Team current grantees to maintain their regional coordination efforts aimed at enhancing the capacity of the early childhood education workforce. Rapid Response Teams are critical in supporting young children in care settings and reducing suspension and expulsion rates through timely, collaborative classroom support. Originally scheduled to conclude on December 31, many organizations had already begun closeout activities in anticipation of the deadline. For more information on the Rapid Response Team grant and other Preschool Development Birth to Five initiatives, visit the PDG website.
December 22, 2025 Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.
Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.
Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.
Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.
December 16, 2025 OCDEL Releases Information About Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced details covering everything from eligibility and staff retention bonuses to application information regarding its 2025-26 Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program. Learn More The recruitment program is a funding opportunity for certified child care programs that maintains a Child Care Works (CCW) Certified Provider Agreement. The intent of the program is to support existing child care staff and recruitment within the field. The 2025-26 enacted state budget includes $25 million for retention and recruitment funding to qualified DHS-certified providers. Qualified staff are eligible for a retention bonus. To the extent that funding is available, qualified child care providers may receive funds to provide new qualified hires with a recruitment bonus. To prepare qualified providers for the release of the recruitment and retention program application period, OCDEL’s announcement includes details on the following: Provider eligibility Staff retention bonuses Staff recruitment bonuses Application Funding and spending requirements Final expenditure report Monitoring information Timeline Next steps Qualified providers must submit a completed application to their regional Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) by Thursday, January 29. For more information, read OCDEL’s announcement.
December 9, 2025 ECE Professionals Can Share Feedback or Join Focus Group for PA ECE Career Pathway Redesign The Pennsylvania Key is redesigning the PA ECE Career Pathway and is calling early childhood educators to join a focus group or share feedback on the project. Learn More Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has been chosen as one of three states to participate in the National ECE Workforce Center’s Action Research Partnership. The initiative, which is expected to last for a year to 18 months, kicked off in September. The goal is to create a more comprehensive, flexible, and supportive ECE Career Pathway system that recognizes the value and complexity of the profession. The four phases of the Action Research Partnerships include: An introduction to the learning and action approach that focuses on building relationships, establishing learning norms, and developing a shared understanding of policy or practice goals System assessment and goals identification in which participants assess what can help drive system change and set measurable goals Teams collaborating on change activities guided by National ECE Workforce Center staff; this will involve identifying successful strategies, addressing challenges, and refining actions Wrapping up and sharing learnings during which teams gather to reflect on progress, aims, and sustainability Those interested in taking part in a focus group or providing feedback for the Action Research Partnership should fill out the Career Pathway feedback form.
December 8, 2025 OCDEL Creates Internal Evaluation Process for ECE Professionals with Foreign Degrees Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and The Pennsylvania Key have developed an initiative to support early childhood education professionals who obtained education outside of the United States by creating an internal process for foreign degree evaluations. Learn More The new resource will help to reduce administrative and financial burdens to early childhood education professionals and limit out-of-pocket expenses. As of December 1, foreign degree evaluations for individuals applying for placement on OCDEL’s career pathway will occur seamlessly through services provided by education credential evaluators. As part of the initiative, each applicant will receive support during the evaluation process with evaluators and have their documents linked in their Pennsylvania PD Registry account. This will allow applicants and other support teams to obtain evaluated educational documents as needed. The service is available at no cost for the duration of the current fiscal year. After this fiscal year, the service will be available at a substantial discount. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences with OCDEL to help inform future implementation and improvements. For applicants seeking reimbursement for previously evaluated documents, the foreign degree voucher program will continue reimbursements through December 31, after which all ECE Career Pathway applicants will be encouraged to seek evaluations through the new process. More information can be found on the Pennsylvania Key’s internal education evaluation webpage.
November 21, 2025 Providers Charging Private Pay Rates Urged to Complete Market Rate Survey by Dec. 8 The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is reminding licensed child care providers who charge private pay tuition rates to complete the annual Market Rate Survey by Monday, December 8. Learn More OCDEL is required to collect up-to-date information from all licensed providers every three years. The 2025 Child Care Market Rate Survey helps OCDEL to 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 in Pennsylvania. Filling out the survey helps to set payment rates for child care subsidies over the next four years and supports policies that better reflect the real structure and value of child care services statewide. When more providers respond, rates are fairer and reflect real tuition rates. It also strengthens the case for public investment in child care for everyone. The survey 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 no later than December 8. Below, watch a video in which Shante Brown, deputy secretary at OCDEL, calls on providers to take part in the survey.
