News

March 8, 2023

ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in Workplace Well-Being Research Study

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced an opportunity for for early childhood education (ECE) professionals to participate in an early access research study – Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science! – to measure the impact of the Healthy Minds program‘s newest offering.

In 2022, OCDEL partnered with Healthy Minds Innovations, a non-profit organization dedicated to the science of human flourishing, to bring the Healthy Minds@Work app to Pennsylvania ECE professionals.

About

ECE teams of two or more from each center or program who have not yet used the Healthy Minds app are invited to apply for the research study, which is set to begin in April 2023. Participation details include:

  • Participation in a four-week well-being program, tailored to suit the participant’s needs with short, 3-10 min activities using the latest tools.
  • Three 20- to 30-minute sessions of research activities (surveys and web-based mini-games). These sessions will occur:
    • Upon enrollment
    • Immediately following the four-week Healthy Minds program
    • Three months later
  • Some users will be invited for an optional interview with the Healthy Minds Innovations team.

Participants will also have the chance to receive an Amazon.com gift card.

The Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is designed to improve the sense of belonging and inclusion; decrease stress and burnout; and reconnect with the individual’s sense of purpose at work.

Healthy Minds Innovations will keep all responses private and share only aggregated findings to improve the program and support other organizations. Participation in the Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is optional.

A live kick-off event will be announced soon.

For more information on how to participate in the program as an ECE program or center team, visit the PA Keys website or contact Marnie at healthyminds@pakeys.org.

News

November 2, 2022

Call for Presenters for 2023 Annual PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Meeting

The Pennsylvania Key in support of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is calling for presenters for its annual Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Grantee Meeting. The meeting will be held March 8 – 9, 2023 at the Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Poconos, PA. This event is in-person; however, a web-based option will be offered should health/safety restrictions prohibit attendance at the in-person event.

Those interested are asked to submit a proposal that aligns with the theme, Building Bridges that Support Growth, Development and Connections. Attendees will be able to earn professional development credits including Act 48 and PA ECE Registry hours. The deadline to submit your proposal is Friday, November 18, 2022.

Presentation Topics

Presentation topics should align with the following topics/areas of interest.

Topics for Teachers:

  • Project Approach
  • MyTeachstone
  • Peer Learning Circles
  • Creative Curriculum
  • LearnERS
  • Authentic Assessment
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Developmental Appropriateness
  • Transitions and Parent Engagement
  • Inclusive Practices
  • Purposeful Play and Conversations
  • Child Data, Outcomes and Implementation

Topics for Administrators:

  • Fiscal Responsibilities
  • Homelessness
  • Unique Collaborations/Community Partnerships
  • Business Practices – What’s the Purple Cow?
  • Inclusive Policies
  • Recruitment, Retention and Teacher Support
  • Developmental Appropriateness – What to look for in Pre-K classrooms
  • Community Needs Assessment & Enrollment Practices

Presenters will be notified of acceptance, including additional details about the event, by no later than Friday, December 16, 2022.

For questions or more information, contact a team member at conferencehelp@pakeys.org.

For more information and to access the online proposal submission form, visit the PA Key website.

News

September 7, 2022

PD Registry Fall Spanish Speaking Virtual Office Hours

The Pennsylvania Key will host recurring office hours for Spanish speaking early childhood education providers interested in learning more about the Professional Development (PD) Registry.

Learn More

The PD registry is a system for the workforce that connects to many of the OCDEL initiatives for early childhood education programs in Pennsylvania. Office hours will be held the same day, at two times of the day to meet the needs of both center and family child care settings. Below is a list of topics to be discussed during office hours.

Please note, that a Spanish speaking provider can connect to any of the office hours with questions related to the PD Registry. Spanish Speaking providers can also reach the PD Registry help desk by sending an email (in Spanish) to registry@pakeys.org. Please put “AYUDA” in the subject line.

Sessions

  • September 14, 2022 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

  • October 12, 2022 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

  • November 9, 2022 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

All meetings can be accessed on Zoom.

Share this flyer with your networks. (English) (Spanish)

News

July 27, 2022

PAS and BAS Community of Practice Pilots

The Program Quality Assessment team is offering two cohorts of the Business Administration Scale (BAS) Community of Practice (CoP) and is planning to offer a Program Administration Scale (PAS) CoP to eligible child care providers.

About the Program Administration Scale

The PAS CoP pilot will consist of 10 virtual sessions, each two hours in length, plus a pre-session for technology usage and a post session for final questions and next steps. Each session offers a deeper look into the items of the PAS and provides additional resources as well as networking opportunities.

Program directors who would like to participate should fill out an interest survey.

About the Business Administration Scale

Two cohorts of the BAS CoP is available for eligible family child care providers.

The CoP consists of 10 sessions, each 1.5 hours, plus a pre-session for technology usage and a post session for final questions and next steps. Each session offers a deeper look into the Items of the BAS and provides additional resources as well as networking opportunities.

Cohort 1 will run from September 2022 to March 2023 and Cohort 2 will run from January – June 2023. The cost is $70.

Family child care providers who have participated in the BAS professional development sessions are eligible for the CoP cohorts. Family child care providers who would like to participate should fill out an interest survey.

More Information

The expectation is that participants attend the entire series they choose. PQAS hours will be awarded for each session, and a certificate of completion will be awarded for those who complete all sessions. In addition, a variety of resource materials will be provided for each session.

 

News

July 26, 2022

Free Training Available: Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs

The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, in partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key, is offering Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs this fall.

About

The training content and activities are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations.

The series contains four modules:

  • 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 this series: one for center-based providers and one for family child care (based) providers. Sessions will begin as early as August and as late as December. See this flyer for session dates and registration details.

Trainings are available at no-cost to participants. PQAS and ACT 48 available. Attendance of full series is required for credit.

News

January 5, 2022

Bilingual Assistance Offered for ARPA Stabilization Grant Applications

The Pennsylvania Key will host recurring office hours for Spanish speaking early childhood education providers interested in applying for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization grant.

About

All types of child care settings–center, group, and home-based–are invited to participate in this effort, geared to support Spanish speaking owners, directors and administrators.

During the office hours, a bilingual (Spanish/English) representative will be available to translate on the call, as well as a Registry Specialist who can answer questions and provide demonstrations relating to the PA PD Registry and the ARPA Stabilization Grant.

How to Participate

The first series is Assistance with APRA Grant applications in the PD Registry. Registration is not needed to participate.

  • Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

  • Thursday, January 20, 2022, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The ARPA Stabilization Grant application will be available in the PD Registry until January 31, 2022. In February 2022, monthly office hours will continue to occur in Spanish to help with Career Pathway level processing, financial aid for the CDA, and additional topics that meet the need of the Spanish speaking early childhood professionals in Pennsylvania.

Questions?

For more information, please email Alejoh@pakeys.org (English) or Reblam@pakeys.org (Spanish).

News

October 21, 2021

Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Providers

The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, in partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key, is offering a new curriculum series, Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs.

Learn More

The training content and activities are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations.

The series contains four modules:

  • 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 this series: one for center-based providers and one for family child care (based) providers. Sessions will begin as early as November and as late at February. See this flyer for session dates and registration details.

Trainings are available at no-cost to participants. PQAS and ACT 48 available. Attendance of full series is required for credit.

News

January 9, 2020

Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Maximum Benefit Increased

For Fiscal Year 2019-20, the maximum benefit for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA) program has increased to $8,000 per individual.

About

Administered by The Pennsylvania Key, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)’s RSTA program helps cover a portion of tuition costs for Pennsylvania’s early childhood educators. Tuition costs net of other funding sources such as scholarships, stipends, discounts, or grants (except the Pell Grant) are used to determine the amount of assistance, with the Fiscal  Year 2019-20 maximum benefit listed as $8,000. It is recommended completed applications be submitted at least four weeks prior to the start of the course, or prior to the tuition due date, whichever is first.

More Information on Rising STARS Tuition Assistance

For eligibility requirements, the application process, and more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

*Information provided by PA Early Ed News

For more information for professionals, visit Trying Together’s professional development page.

News

December 9, 2019

STARS 101 & 102

STARS 101 & 102 is a web-based course that meets the requirement for STAR 2 SQ.2.1 Part 1 and Part 2. It is an introduction to the idea of Continuous Quality Improvement which is the basic premise for the Keystone STARS Quality Rating System. In addition to the philosophy of CQI, the process of change and how to begin your journey through the Keystone STARS system will be discussed.

About

The following elements of assessing and building quality will be covered: Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies and Big Ideas Framework, Continuous Quality Improvement, PA Early Learning Standards, and Caring for Our Children Basics (CFOCB) as a resource and supporting interactions with children and families.

This is a live, interactive webinar. PQAS hours offered. Participants are expected to fully participate; this is not a log-in and leave event. Arriving 15 minutes late may result in no credit for the session. Please note, no refunds will be provided for cancellation or no show.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

    • identify the benefits of continuous quality improvement through Keystone STARS, for children families and programs;
    • identify what determines STAR Designation;
    • describe Program Observation Instruments (POI) used for STARS designation;
    • identify and implement the Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies/Big Ideas Framework;
    • identify and implement PA Early Learning Standards;
    • identify and implement Caring for our Children Basics practices;
    • identify and implement assessment tools that support program quality; and
    • identify and implement interactions with children and families.

Available Dates

    • December 16, 2019 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 306488
    • January 20, 2020 | 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Event ID: 308100
    • February 3, 2020 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 308101
    • March 16, 2020 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 308102
    • April 30, 2020 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 308103
    • May 27, 2020 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 308106
    • June 29, 2020 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Event ID: 308107

To register and learn more, visit the PD Registry website.

More Information

For questions, please contact Karen Rucker at 717.314.8368 or krucker@respectingchildren.com.

*Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key

News

STARS 101 & 102

STARS 101 & 102 is a web-based course that meets the requirement for STAR 2 SQ.2.1 Part 1 and Part 2. It is an introduction to the idea of Continuous Quality Improvement which is the basic premise for the Keystone STARS Quality Rating System. In addition to the philosophy of CQI, the process of change and how to begin your journey through the Keystone STARS system will be discussed.

About

The following elements of assessing and building quality will be covered: Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies and Big Ideas Framework, Continuous Quality Improvement, PA Early Learning Standards, and Caring for Our Children Basics (CFOCB) as a resource and supporting interactions with children and families.

This is a live, interactive webinar. PQAS hours offered. Participants are expected to fully participate; this is not a log-in and leave event. Arriving 15 minutes late may result in no credit for the session. Please note, no refunds will be provided for cancellation or no show.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

    • identify the benefits of continuous quality improvement through Keystone STARS, for children families and programs;
    • identify what determines STAR Designation;
    • describe Program Observation Instruments (POI) used for STARS designation;
    • identify and implement the Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies/Big Ideas Framework;
    • identify and implement PA Early Learning Standards;
    • identify and implement Caring for our Children Basics practices;
    • identify and implement assessment tools that support program quality; and
    • identify and implement interactions with children and families.

Available Dates

To access this course, use the links below or enter the event ID on the Pennsylvania PD Registry website.

More Information

For questions, please contact Karen Rucker at 717.314.8368 or krucker@respectingchildren.com.

*Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key