October 3, 2024 New Civil Rights Compliance Form Required for Submitting Licensing Applications and Renewals Certified child care providers must use a new Civil Rights Compliance form when submitting a new licensing application, according to Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). Learn More Prospective child care providers seeking a new license will utilize the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) form (HS 2126 9/24). The prior form (HS 2126 8/22) is now obsolete and will be returned to providers if submitted on Oct. 1 or later. The new CRC form must be included in packets submitted as part of any new license request. For licensing renewals, a licensee must also now submit the new CRC Renewal form. The prior attestation form (HS 2125 8/22) is obsolete as of Oct. 1. The new CRC form must be submitted as part of a renewal application. The renewal notice will still be sent out 130 days prior to expiration. Visit the Pennsylvania Key’s website for more details or to access the form.
September 9, 2024 PA Promise Releases Book List for Families and Friends Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children has compiled a list of books that are best for families and friends. Learn More As part of its monthly Learning is Everywhere Calendar, PA Promise for Children has released a printable list of 12 Family and Friends Books. Book List for Families and Friends includes: Ciencia Magica enla sala de estar (Richard Robinson) Please, Baby, Please (Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee) Who’s In My Family (Robie H. Harris) More More More Said the Baby: Three Love Stories (Vera Williams) Annie Rose is My Little Sister (Shirley Hughes) Lion in the Living Room (Caelaach McKinna and A.R. Stone) Crazy Hair Day (Barney Saltzberg) Toot and Puddle, You Are My Sunshine (Holly Hobbie) Guess How Much I Love You (Sam McBratney) Max’s First Word (Rosemary Wells) Hunter’s Best Friend at School (L.M. Elliott) Harold and the Purple Crayon (Crockett Johnson) About PA Promise for Children Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children, also known as PA Promise, is a campaign to help families make good choices about their child’s early learning and choose quality early learning programs that are right for their family. The state’s Office of Early Learning and Development (OCDEL) is the primary partner for PA Promise.
September 4, 2024 OCDEL Issues Hazardous Waste Handling, Storage, and Disposal Advisory The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning has issued an announcement regarding hazardous waste handling, storage, and disposal of biological contaminants. Learn More The advisory, released by OCDEL’s Bureau of Certification Services, includes an update on federal requirements by the U.S. Department of Human Services’ Office of Child Care. The announcement gives guidance on what must be done to maintain compliance with requirements for hazardous waste handling, storage, and disposal of biological contaminants. The announcement’s effective date is Oct. 1. The announcement applies to: All DHS-certified school-age programs provide care exclusively to school-age children Early Learning Resource Centers OCDEL staff Requirements All DHS certified child care programs must ensure that cleaning and toxic materials are: Kept in an area or container that is locked or inaccessible to children Stored in an original labeled container or in a container that specifies the content Stored away from food, food preparation areas, and child care spaces Used in a way that does not contaminate play surfaces, food, or food preparation areas, and does not constitute a hazard to children Trash must be removed from facilities at least once per day and from the facility grounds at least once per week. More requirements are listed on the Pennsylvania Key’s website. More Details A pre-recorded, on-demand webinar is available for certified child care providers. The webinar provides an overview of the announcement. Any questions about the announcement should be directed to regional child care offices: Central Region: 800-222-2117 Northeast Region: 800-222-2108 Western Region: 800-222-2149 Southeast – North Region: 800-346-2929 Southeast – South Region: 800-346-2929
September 2, 2024 Free Training Available: Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assistance is collaborating with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to offer Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs starting in October. Learn More The content and activities in the four offered modules are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations. The four modules of business practices content in the series include: Budgets, Projections, and Planning Financial Reports and Internal Controls Marketing for Child Care Programs Staff Recruitment and Retention for Center-Based Child Care Programs There are two versions of the series – one for center-based providers and another for family child care providers. Business Practices for Child Care Programs Topics During the fiscal management portion of the series – which focuses on budgets, projections, and planning – attendees will: Learn a process for building a budget and how to use it for decision-making throughout the year Understand how to project business costs, generate additional income, and plan strategically for future goals On the topics of financial reports and internal controls, the series will teach attendees how to: Introduce financial reports that can help to better manage a program’s finances Understand the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen a program’s fiscal health For the child care program marketing section of the series, attendees will learn to: Be able to articulate the features and benefits of the program and understand how to use them as marketing tools Appreciate how data can inform marketing efforts to achieve greater success, become more cost-effective, and use time more efficiently On the topics of staff recruitment and retention, participants will learn best practices related to recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new employees. It will also cover: Having a framework for building and effective orientation plan for new employees and being familiar with the components of a staff handbook Identifying strategies for providing feedback to employees Modules PQAS hours are available for those taking the course. Courses are offered in English and Spanish. Center-based modules include: Budgets, Projections, and Planning; Monday, Nov. 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Financial Reports and Internal Controls; Monday, Dec. 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Marketing Your Program; Monday, Jan. 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Recruiting and Retaining Staff; Monday, Feb. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Family-based modules include: Budgets, Projections, and Planning; Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Financial Reports and Internal Controls; Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Marketing Your Program; Monday, Nov. 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Spanish family-based modules include: Budgets, Projections, and Planning; Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon Financial Reports and Internal Controls; Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon Marketing Your Program; Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on the series, visit the Pennsylvania Key’s website.
August 29, 2024 OCDEL Bureau of Certification Services’ Western Office Moves to New Address The Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Certification Services – Western Office has moved to a new address in Pittsburgh. Learn More As of Aug. 29, the OCDEL bureau has moved to the following address: Western Region Office 301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 370 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 The phone numbers for the Western Region OCDEL office remain the same: 412-565-5183 and (800) 222-2149. An updated regional map with contact information for each Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning is also available.
Training: Evaluation of Educator Effectiveness PA Pre-K Counts lead teachers, administrators, and evaluators are encouraged to register to attend a free online training on the revised Act 82 Educator Effectiveness (EE) process. Learn More The Pennsylvania Key will present Application of Act 13 of 2020: Evaluation of Educator Effectiveness in Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms in support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). The revised Act 82 Educator Effectiveness process is used to evaluate professional and temporary professional employees in PK-12 education across the state. The goal of EE models is to reform the way school professionals are evaluated as well as the critical components of training and professional growth. PQAS and Act 48 credits are available for those completing the course, which is being offered on the following dates: Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Event ID: 371083 Dec. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Event ID: 371088 A Zoom link for accessing the online training will be provided with registration confirmation. Registration is now open.
Training: Evaluation of Educator Effectiveness PA Pre-K Counts lead teachers, administrators, and evaluators are encouraged to register to attend a free online training on the revised Act 82 Educator Effectiveness (EE) process. Learn More The Pennsylvania Key will present Application of Act 13 of 2020: Evaluation of Educator Effectiveness in Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms in support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). The revised Act 82 Educator Effectiveness process is used to evaluate professional and temporary professional employees in PK-12 education across the state. The goal of EE models is to reform the way school professionals are evaluated as well as the critical components of training and professional growth. PQAS and Act 48 credits are available for those completing the course, which is being offered on the following dates: Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Event ID: 371083 Dec. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Event ID: 371088 A Zoom link for accessing the online training will be provided with registration confirmation. Registration is now open.
August 19, 2024 OCDEL, Penn State Project ECHO to Host Series for Spanish-Speaking Families The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Penn State Project ECHO will release a new series this fall that features the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and focuses on the needs of Spanish-speaking families. Learn More The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), which launches in the fall, will feature the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program, which is aimed at serving Spanish speakers. The CDC’s tools and resources allow families and early care providers to jointly engage in the early identification of developmental delays and disabilities among children from birth through age 5. Participants in the series will learn how to help support families with developmental milestone monitoring. It will highlight the utilization and promotion of the CDC’s Milestones Tracker App, which is a free developmental tracker resource offered in English and Spanish. The series is for early care providers only and registration is not limited to those who work only with Spanish-speaking families. The series will run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following Wednesdays: Sept. 25 Oct. 9 Oct. 23 Nov. 6 Nov. 20 Dec. 4 More details and registration information will be announced in the September Early Ed News. Any questions should be sent to Ilecia Voughs at ivoughs@pattan.net.
July 24, 2024 Changes Announced for DOH Staff Visits to Child Care Providers The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will continue their collaboration regarding immunizations for children and staff at child care providers. However, there will be some changes this year regarding visits to providers and the reporting of each child’s immunization status. Learn More A letter from OCDEL to child care providers states that, beginning in July, DOH field nurses and local Municipality Department of Health field staff will visit randomly selected providers to offer immunization education and resource materials for staff and parents or caregivers. A review of child immunization records can be provided if requested by the child care provider. Providers will be able to ask questions and request specific educational resources from the field nurses and staff who visit their facilities. Additionally, the DOH will send out electronic surveys to all child care providers regarding the immunization status of every enrolled child at their facility. These surveys will serve as the mandatory reporting requirements for child care settings outlined in DOH regulations. The surveys are expected to be sent out later this summer. Child care providers who are randomly scheduled for a visit should expect a phone call or email from DOH or the local municipality. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to the DOH’s Janine Strick at 717-878-5681.
July 15, 2024 Pennsylvania Meets U.S. Department of Education’s Highest Recognition of Parts B and C of IDEA Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports has announced that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that the state meets the requirements and purposes of Part C and Part B of the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). Learn More The state’s Infant Toddler Early Intervention program is under Part C of IDEA. It provides services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families from birth until the child’s third birthday. Services are developed by a team and written into an individualized family service plan. Services are delivered in a natural environment for the child and family. Part B covers special education services for children and their families from preschool through 12th grade. It includes performance measures for the state’s Preschool Early Intervention program. This is the department’s highest recognition regarding the performance of the state’s Part C and Part B programs.
