News

October 28, 2024

OCDEL Offers Scholarship Through Pitt’s Infant Mental Health Certificate

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is offering a scholarship for professionals serving children and families in prenatal, infant, toddler, and preschool programs.

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The scholarship enables participants to take part at no cost in a pilot program through the University of Pittsburgh’s Infant Mental Health Professional Development certificate. It is aimed at the state’s licensed child care providers, Head Start/Early Head Start and PA Pre-K Counts programs. 

Traditionally, the course has been provided to Infant/Toddler Early Intervention, OCDEL-funded home visitors, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health, and Rapid Response team members. 

The course is being extended to providers as a result of ongoing discussions and evaluation of requests for professional development from the field. Its extension is due to the challenges faced by providers across the state who support the mental health and well-being of young children and families. 

The scholarship seeks to enable early learning professionals to partner with others and better support families in Pennsylvania.

Those interested can apply through The Pennsylvania Key on behalf of OCDEL’s Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development. The application for the 2025 Infant Mental Health (IMH) Certificate & Learning Circle – Scholarship closes on Nov. 15.

Information on applicant criteria, the approval and evaluation process for candidates, course consideration, registration information, the course structure, and FAQs can be found on The Pennsylvania Key’s website.

News

August 29, 2024

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.

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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.

News

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.