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Tag: OCDEL

News

July 1, 2026

OCDEL Announces Requirements for Programs Using Keystone STARS – Alternate Pathways

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Policy and Professional Development has released an announcement regarding requirements for programs using an OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathways in Keystone STARS.

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The announcement includes guidance on:

  • Changes to the requirements for OCDEL-approved Keystone STARS – Alternate Pathways programs
  • Addition of Cognia as an OCDEL-approved Keystone STARS – Alternate Pathway
  • Initial steps for programs using an OCDEL-approved Keystone STARS – Alternate Pathway
  • Designation requirements for OCDEL-approved Keystone STAR Alternate Pathway programs
  • Reminders for OCDEL-approved Keystone STARS-Alternate Pathway programs
  • Next steps

Keystone STARS, the state’s quality rating and improvement system, promotes quality in early childhood education programs for children and families. OCDEL recognizes that there are state and national accrediting organizations that similarly serve to ensure early childhood education programs provide high quality and enriching programming to children and families.

To give credence to these organizations and their accreditation standards of quality, OCDEL offers several approved Keystone STARS – Alternate Pathways. Programs that are accredited  through an OCDEL-approved Alternate Pathway and wish to use the pathway for a Keystone STARS designation must apply for an initial Alternate Pathway designation in the Professional Development (PD) Registry system.

Additionally, these programs are required to complete annual renewals of their Alternate Pathway designation in the registry system. Failure to do so will result in the program dropping to a STAR 1.

The full announcement is available on The Pennsylvania Key.

News

June 15, 2026

OCDEL Kicks Off 2026 Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has unveiled its 2026 Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip, which features a theme of exploring the natural world.

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Each year, OCDEL’s initiative helps families, teachers, and early childhood partners to explore ways to support young children’s love of reading and learning.

This year’s theme, From Ground to Sky, encourages children to explore the natural world, from the rocks beneath their feet to the trees high above them, by looking closely, asking questions, and discovering how nature connects to their everyday lives.

The initiative’s Nature Journal – which can be printed in English and Spanish – is a family travel companion that includes:

  • Inclusive early learning activities designed for all young children
  • Hands-on nature experiences to do in the backyard, a park, or on a walk
  • Family-friendly activities that support learning through play and exploration

All activities in the Nature Journal are aligned with Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards, which help children to build important skills in language, literacy, curiosity, observation, and self-regulation that will be necessary as they begin school.

The Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip’s map highlights special areas in Pennsylvania to find native rocks and trees – such as Cook Forest State Park, Archbald Pothole State Park, Chatham Arboretum, Keystone State Park, and other locations.

To view the initiative’s numerous activities – which include everything from a building and sorting rock challenge to differentiating the buds, leaves, branches, and other parts of a tree – visit the 2026 Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip website.

News

June 10, 2026

OCDEL Makes Clarification About Program Licensure Requirements

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has made a clarification regarding program licensure requirements.

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OCDEL’s Bureau of Policy and Professional Development and Bureau of Certification Services (BCS) have released an announcement to clarify the applicability of program licensure requirements. 

BCS is responsible for receiving applications, conducting inspections, and issuing a certificate of compliance to certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania. The certificate is a document issued by the state to a legal entity permitting it to operate a specific type of facility at a specific location for a specific period of time according to department regulations. 

Under the state code, certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania fall under one of the three categories – child care center, group child care home, or family child care home. 

The state code requires that legal entities must obtain a valid certificate of compliance to operate at a specific location. Upon meeting the requirements, the certificate of compliance will be issued by the state to a legal entity prior to commencement of operation at a specific location. 

For more information and to find details on programs subject to the requirements, read OCDEL’s announcement.

News

June 9, 2026

Application Process Open to Serve on PA State Advisory Council Subcommittees

The Pennsylvania State Advisory Council (SAC) is accepting applications for family and professional leaders who are interested in serving on one of the council’s five supporting subcommittees. 

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Participation on a SAC subcommittee is an opportunity for participants to help shape discussions, provide feedback, and support initiatives that affect the state’s early childhood education system, children, and families.

The subcommittees serve as focused workgroups that provide specialized expertise, develop recommendations, and support the implementation of initiatives aligned with the council’s broader goals and priorities.

The SAC advises the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) on planning for the expansion and coordination of effective early learning and development services for young children and their families.

Family members, early childhood education professionals, advocates, community partners, and system leaders are encouraged to apply to serve on a subcommittee.

The application can be completed online. To learn more about the State Advisory Council, visit the organization’s website.

News

April 14, 2026

TEACH Scholarship Application Available for Fall Semester

Early childhood educators who want to advance their education while continuing to work can now apply for the TEACH scholarship for the fall.

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The scholarship is aimed at supporting both staff retention and program quality by enabling working educators to advance their education.

Those interested in receiving a scholarship for the fall semester, which begins in mid- to late August, should apply by Friday, July 11.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but priority consideration is given to complete applications that are submitted by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications may experience processing delays.

TEACH is supported by the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the state’s Department of Education. The licensed program is administered by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA).

For information on eligibility, program requirements, how to apply, and how to download an application can be found on PACCA’s website.

News

April 8, 2026

Early Language and Literacy Chat

Join the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) this winter to discuss hot topics around early language and literacy development. From January through March 2020, 3o-minute chat sessions will be hosted on the second and fourth Friday at 8:30 a.m and repeated at 1:30 p.m. Participants will gain access to resources to share with families and use in their classrooms and centers. PQAS credit hours and infant/toddler hours available.

Available Dates

    • January 10, 2020: Those First Words
    • January 24, 2020: Conversations with Kids
    • February 7, 2020: Books, Books, Books!
    • February 21, 2020: Print is Everywhere
    • March 6, 2020: Sounds All Around!
    • March 20, 2020: Celebrating Dual Language Learners

More Information

For more information, visit the event Padlet page.

News

Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy

Join the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) from January through March 2021 for their 30-minute “Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy” webinars.

About

These 30-minute webinars will be offered at no cost to participants. Each session will be offered at 8:30 a.m. and repeated at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. This series runs from January through March 2021. Chat topics will include the following:

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. Registration closes the Wednesday prior to each session at 4:30 p.m.

More Information

PQAS, Infant/Toddler, and Act 48 hours are available. Participants must attend two sessions in order to get one credit hour. For questions, contact Jodie Holmberg at jholmberg@pattan.net.

News

April 6, 2026

Comment Period Open for IDEA Part C Application for Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program

The review and comment period is now open for the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program.

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The review period for the application opened on March 20 and the comment period began on April 1. It will remain open until Friday, May 8.

Each year, the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides access and opportunities for interested parties – such as families, early intervention providers, and other professionals – to review and make comments on the IDEA Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention program for the federal fiscal year.

Those interested in reviewing the proposed grant application can find the document on the state’s Early Intervention Services website in the right-hand menu of the webpages. 

Hard copies can be obtained by emailing ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov or by calling 717-346-9320. 

The opportunities to provide public comment include:

  • Visiting Part C Grant Public Comment, which allows for online comments.
  • Submitting written comments regarding the proposed grant application can be directed to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, ATTN: Public comments for Part C Grant Application, 607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA 17120
  • Submitting written comments to ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov. 

Comments will be accepted through May 8. All comments will be reviewed and considered by the department before the final grant application is submitted.

News

March 31, 2026

PennAEYC Honors Educators with 2026 VOICE for Children Award

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) will honor five educators during its 2026 VOICE for Children Celebration in April.

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The VOICE for Children Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania that recognizes early care and education professionals, who are not paid advocates but go above and beyond in their daily work in the field by being grassroots leaders through advocacy and public policy efforts.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10 at the Hershey Lodge, located at 325 University Drive in Hershey.

This year’s honorees include two educators who have worked with Trying Together – Sue Polojac, M.Ed., who is the director of the Rae Ann Hirsch Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education at Carlow University, and Meghan Strawcutter, M.Ed., the executive director for LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center in Homer City.

PennAEYC’s  2026 Voice for Children Award Honorees include Strawcutter; Charles Coe, MSW, MPH, MSN, CPNP, LCSW, C-ACYFSW, the chief executive officer and founder of Incredible Kids Learning Center in Philadelphia; and Nicole Fetherman, M.Ed., the executive director of LifeSpan School & Daycare in Quakertown.

This year’s Distinguished Career Award Honorees include Polojac and Anu Sachdev, Ph.D, a faculty member of East Stroudsburg University.

Sue Polojac

Polojac has more than three decades of experience in early childhood education. Since joining Carlow University in 2020, she has directed the growth and expansion of the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, a model that allows early educators to pursue full-time work in the field. Through her leadership, the program has strengthened the connection between higher education and the early childhood community and provided educators with real-world pathways to professional advancement while addressing workforce shortages. 

Previously, Polojac served as the director for the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant and the Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five for the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

Meghan Strawcutter

Strawcutter has been the executive director of LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center for 10 years as well as serves on such committees and advisory boards as the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Provider Advisory Board, where she advocates for high-quality child care and early education and the professionals that serve the early childhood education field.

Her teaching experience includes instructing undergraduate students at Westmoreland County Community College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has more than 18 years of professional experience in educational settings, including six years as a teacher in a Keystone STAR 4 and NAEYC-accredited early learning center. In 2015, she began working alongside a financial investor to develop LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center, a nonprofit child care center and preschool from the ground up.

News

March 27, 2026

OCDEL Announces Opportunity to Increase Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Bonuses

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced an increase in the bonus amount given through the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention (CCSRR) Program. 

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The 2025-26 enacted state budget includes $25 million for retention and recruitment funding to qualified DHS certified providers. While the initial bonus amount was set at a maximum amount of $450, OCDEL recently announced an increase in that amount to $645.

Updated bonuses will be issued to qualified child care providers whose applications were submitted by the January 29 deadline, met all eligibility criteria, and were approved. No additional new applications will be accepted. 

Early Learning Resource Centers will send qualified providers a Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention award agreement amendment. Providers will need to sign and submit to the ELRCs the award agreement amendment to be eligible for the increased bonus amount of $645 for eligible staff. 

The completed amendment is due to the ELRC by April 3 or the provider forfeits the bonus increase and the previous award agreement amount of $450 will be final.

Retention bonus payments will be released to qualified providers by May 15. Providers are encouraged to contact their quality coach with any questions.

See the official announcement for more information.