July 6, 2023 State Budget Fails to Significantly Invest in Early Care and Education Amid Historic Labor Shortage The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, recently issued the following statements regarding House Bill 611, which still awaits the signature of the Senate President Pro Tempore and Governor to become the enacted 2023-24 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA. First Budget in a Decade to Not Expand Pre-K Counts and State Funding for Head Start “The Pre-K for PA campaign is deeply disappointed by the failure to expand the state’s publicly funded pre-k programs – PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. When nearly 90,000 eligible 3- and 4-year-olds do not have access to these once-in-a-lifetime early learning opportunities, and pre-k and Head Start programs can’t keep teachers in their classrooms because of inadequate reimbursement rates, this budget bill is simply unacceptable. Public investment in high-quality pre-k has historically been a consensus issue in Pennsylvania; aligning political parties, rural, urban and suburban communities, and families across the commonwealth on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that improves the life chances of Pennsylvania’s children. In fact, a February 2023 Susquehanna Polling and Research poll showed that 98% of PA voters believe that early learning is important, and 78% of PA voters support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs, which was an increase from 65% in 2022. Unfortunately, HB 611 is a noticeable departure from a decade of growing investment in high-quality pre-k and threatens the stability of the early care and education sector and the futures of the 90,000 young children that lack access.” With no new funding and all PA Pre-K Counts contracts up for renewal as part of a complete competitive rebid in FY 2023-24, Pre-K for PA urges the Shapiro Administration to maintain (to the greatest degree possible) the current per county slot allocation to ensure stability in access for our youngest learners.” Budget Fails to Address Historic Labor Shortage & Furthers Impact on Working Families “With a child care sector that is on the brink of collapse, the Start Strong PA Campaign is shocked by the lack of investment to address the child care teacher shortage in the state budget bill. Policymakers ignored calls from chambers of commerce, working parents, child care providers, military leaders and others to stabilize the sector by investing in child care wages. Failing to invest in the workforce, which supports all other sectors, will continue to harm the commonwealth’s children, working families and the overall economy. HB 611 currently allocates slightly more than $100 million in new state funding to maintain the status quo in the child care system. This includes supporting the current child care subsidy caseload and utilization, as well as maintaining the increase in subsidy rates as one-time federal funding lapses. While maintaining the 60th percentile of market rates is important to help alleviate inflationary pressures on child care providers, it has not stabilized the child care workforce. This maintenance of effort of the subsidy system is simply woefully inadequate given the scale of the commonwealth’s child care crisis. Across Pennsylvania, child care providers are closing classrooms and entire programs due to this historic child care teacher shortage. According to a February 2023 Start Strong PA survey of more than 1,000 child care providers across the state, 85% of responding providers had open and unfilled positions amounting to more than 3,600 open staff positions resulting in 1,500 closed classrooms, and a combined waitlist of more than 35,000 children. Low wages within the child care sector are driving this staffing shortage. The average wage of a Pennsylvania child care teacher is less than $12.50/hour. At this earning potential, 21 percent of the child care workforce relies upon Medicaid for their health care coverage and SNAP to put food on the table. There is no county in the commonwealth where this wage covers the cost of living. For families with young children, access to child care is a critical factor in their ability to go to work and ensure their children are in a safe and nurturing environment. Nearly 70 percent of all households with children younger than age 6 have all available caregivers in the workforce—that’s over 537,000 households. For all other business sectors, the child care sector is the workforce behind the workforce. When families can’t get child care, their children suffer, their income drops and the state’s economy is shortchanged. In a time of severe labor shortages and billions in state budget surplus, the commonwealth’s failure to ensure parents have access to child care is a tragic outcome. For all Pennsylvanians, when businesses aren’t fully staffed, or staff are unreliable due to lack of child care, they cannot produce goods or provide services, creating shortages and increasing prices. So, whether one has young children or not, Pennsylvania’s child care crisis should matter to all of us.” Infant and Toddler Early Intervention and Maternal Health Increases Included in Budget “The budget bill also contains an increase of $15.4 million for Infant and Toddler (Part C) Early Intervention in the Department of Human Services budget. This is short of Governor Shapiro’s March budget proposal, which called for a $20.2 million increase. While the additional $15.4 million will serve more children and sustain a rate increase initially achieved through one-time federal stimulus funding, Thriving PA is disappointed more was not done to support the Early Intervention system holistically. This includes solutions to address workforce shortages needed to create a viable and sustained service delivery platform. Additionally, Preschool (Part B) Early Intervention received a $10.4 million increase in the Department of Education budget, which was what Governor Shapiro included in his March request. A $2.3 million increase in the Department of Health budget was included in HB 611 in order to implement recommendations included in the Maternal Mortality Review Commission report. Thriving PA appreciates support for these funds, which will help address maternal mortality and morbidity in Pennsylvania.” Summary House Bill 611, which is not yet the enacted 2023-24 Pennsylvania state budget, includes: Level funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program. Level funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. Increase of $103,747,000 to maintain the status quo in the child care subsidy program (increases of $13,370,000 million for the state Child Care Assistance line item and $90,377,000 million for the Child Care Services line item). Level-funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item and $25,000 for the Nurse-Family Partnership line item, which is a technical adjustment from previously enhanced federal matching funds. $15.4 million for the Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) program through DHS. $10.4 million for the Early Intervention Part B (age-three-to-five) program through PDE. Start Strong PA Message to Early Care and Education Professionals, Families, and Advocates Early Care and Education Professionals, Families, and Advocates: You raised your voices time and time again. Our data was strong and compelling, but policymakers have ignored calls from working parents, child care providers, chambers of commerce, military leaders, and others urging investment in child care wages to stabilize the workforce. We feel your frustration and will soon give you an efficient way of communicating with your elected officials about how our child care crisis continues to impact you, your program, the families you serve, and our communities at large. Learn More To learn more, visit the websites for any of the ELPA campaigns: Start Strong PA Pre-K for PA Childhood Begins at Home Thriving PA Source Information for this post was taken directly from the Pre-K for PA press release. Some text may have been added, paraphrased, or adapted for readability and comprehension. 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July 5, 2023 New Nationwide Report Ranks Pennsylvania 22nd in Child Well-Being The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released its 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book on state trends in child well-being. The 50-state report ranks Pennsylvania 22nd overall in child well-being, showing declines in major indicators of child health, safety, education, support, and happiness. About the Kids Count Data Book Since 1990, the Casey Foundation has ranked states annually on overall child well-being using a selection of indicators. Called the KIDS COUNT index, these indicators capture what children and youth need most to thrive in four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Each domain has four indicators, for a total of 16. These indicators represent the best available data to measure the status of child well-being at the state and national levels. Indicators include: Economic Well-Being children in poverty children whose parents lack secure employment children living in households with a high housing cost burden teens not in school and not working Education young children (ages 3 and 4) not in school fourth-graders not proficient in reading eighth-graders not proficient in math high school students not graduating on time Health low birth-weight babies children without health insurance children and teen deaths per 100,000 children and teens (ages 10-17) overweight or obese Family and Community children in single-parent families children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma children living in high-poverty areas teen births per 1,000 This year’s Data Book presents a picture of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child well-being in the United States. Foundational Information & Report Context Importance of Child Care According to one estimate, shortcomings of the child care system cost the U.S. economy $122 billion a year through lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue. Access & Barriers to Child Care Despite gains in recent years, the United States is still failing to deliver early childhood education to more than half of its children (54%). The National Survey of Children’s Health reports that 13% of children birth to age 5 (2.8 million) had a family member who faced work challenges due to child care. More than half of working parents with infants or toddlers reported having been late to work or leaving early at least once in the previous three months due to child care problems, and almost a quarter (23%) have, at some point, been fired for it. According to an analysis by the advocacy organization Child Care Aware, the average annual cost of care for one child in America was $10,600 in 2021—one-tenth of a couple’s average income or more than a third (35%) of a single parent’s income. Child Care Aware also has estimated that center-based infant care costs more per year than in-state tuition at a public university in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Child care costs have risen 220% since the publication of the first KIDS COUNT Data Book in 1990, significantly outpacing inflation. Issues & Inequities Within Child Care Of children eligible for subsidies under federal rules, only 1 in 6 receives them. The shortcomings of the child care system disproportionately affect the financial well-being of women, single parents, parents in poverty, families of color, and immigrant families. Parents tend to need child care earlier in their career when lower salaries match their limited experience. Young parents spend an average of 14% of their household income on child care, twice the share the federal government recommends. Researchers estimate women were five to eight times more likely than men to experience negative employment consequences related to caregiving in 2022. Cost of Providing Child Care Labor costs can account for more than 80% of a child care provider’s expenses. Child care workers make less than workers in 98% of our nation’s other professions, despite the vital role they play in preparing the next generation to thrive. The median pay for child care workers, who typically must hold a range of credentials, was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022. That’s less than the median pay for: customer service representatives ($18.16), retail sales positions ($14.26), and restaurant jobs ($14) that don’t require the same level of education. Ninety-four percent of child care workers are women; 14% are Black and 4% are Asian, and across all races, 24% described their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. Staffing shortages have left those within the field “more stressed” (85%) and “exhausted/burnt out” (75%). These shortages were a factor for the more than one-third of owners and operators who said they were considering shutting down. Key Findings Nationwide Data Negative Trends Half of the indicators tracked in the 2023 Data Book worsened since before the pandemic, while four stayed the same, and only four saw improvement. The most recent data available show that fewer parents were economically secure, educational achievement declined, and more children died young than ever before. In 2022, 74% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, the worst figure in the last two decades. Also, more young children did not attend school, and the percentage of high school students graduating on time stalled. In 2021, the child and teen death rate was 30 deaths per 100,000 children and youths ages 1 to 19, the highest rate seen since 2007, with continued increases in deaths by suicides, homicides, drug overdoses, firearms, and traffic accidents. Positive Trends The number and percentage of children without health insurance improved between 2019 and 2021. Thus, efforts to expand access to stable and affordable coverage helped children and families. Over the last two years, the teen birth rate improved, a smaller percentage of children lived with parents who lacked a high school diploma and there was improvement in the number of children living in high-poverty communities. Racial Inequities in Child Well-Being Data suggest that the United States fails to provide American Indian, Black and Latino children with the opportunities and support they need to thrive, and to remove the obstacles they encounter disproportionately on the road to adulthood. Nearly all index measures show that children with the same potential are experiencing disparate outcomes by race and ethnicity. A few notable exceptions: Black children were more likely than the national average to be in school as young children and to live in families in which the head of the household has at least a high school diploma. American Indian and Latino kids were more likely to be born at a healthy birth weight. Latino children and teens had a lower death rate than the national average. However: Black children were significantly more likely to live in single-parent families and in poverty. American Indian kids were more than twice as likely to lack health insurance and almost three times as likely to live in neighborhoods with more limited resources than the average child. And Latino children were the most likely to be overweight or obese and live with a head of household who lacked a high school diploma. State Data New Hampshire ranks first in overall child well-being, followed by Utah and Massachusetts. Mississippi (at 48th place), Louisiana (49th) and New Mexico (50th) are the three lowest-ranked states. States in Appalachia, as well as the Southeast and Southwest (where families have the lowest levels of household income) populate the bottom of the overall rankings. In fact, except for Alaska, the 15 lowest-ranked states are in these regions. Although they are not ranked against states, children in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico experienced some of the worst outcomes on many of the indicators the Foundation tracks. Pennsylvania Data Negative Trends The number of children whose parents lack secure employment and the number of teens not in school and not working increased over the last two years. Additionally, fewer than half of: young children are in school, fourth-graders are proficient in reading, and eighth-graders are proficient in math. Statistically: 55% (up from 53% in 2016) of 3-4 year olds are not in school. 66% (up from 60% in 2019) of fourth-graders are not proficient at reading. 73% (up from 61% in 2019) of eighth-graders are not proficient in math. More children and teens are: dying, overweight or obese, and in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma. Positive Trends Though Pennsylvania’s rate of uninsured children is 4% and approximately 126,000 children cannot access affordable, quality health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), more Pennsylvania children are insured now than in 2019. Additionally, the percentage of low birth-weight babies is down from 2019. Fewer children are: living in households with a high housing cost burden (25% from 27% in 2019), in single-parent families (34% from 35% in 2019), and living in high-poverty areas (9% from 12% in 2016). Also, fewer teenagers are giving birth (12% from 13% in 2019). Despite significant drops in indicators, Pennsylvania outranked most states in education. For more detailed Pennsylvania data, view the KIDS COUNT Data Book state profile. Policy Recommendations The Annie E. Casey Foundation encourages policymakers to take the following actions: Federal, state and local governments should invest more money in child care. Public and private leaders should work together to improve the infrastructure for home-based child care, beginning by increasing access to startup and expansion capital for new providers. To help young parents, Congress should expand the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School program, which serves student parents. Learn More To learn more, read the full report or visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation website. Source Information for this post was taken directly from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Some text may have been added, paraphrased, or adapted for readability and comprehension. Related Content & Resources Support Resources for Families The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 2023 Food Resources State Departments Asking Child Care Providers to Complete Insurance Survey Allegheny County Family Resource Map Highlights Supports for Locals Housing Resources Available for Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Families Trying Together Shares Advocacy Tools for Families and Child Care Providers ELRC Region 5 Now an Infant Formula Bank
May 18, 2023 State Department of Education Announces 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher Of The Year Finalists The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) recently announced the names of 12 educators nominated for the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. Area educators are among them. About the Teacher of the Year Program The Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring K-12 teachers in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions to Pennsylvania’s school-aged children. The PDE encourages local education agencies (LEAs) to recognize the efforts of teachers in their community who have worked to achieve excellence in the classroom by nominating outstanding educators. Each LEA may nominate one deserving educator from both elementary and secondary levels. Members of the PDE choose twelve (12) finalists from applicants and recognized in Harrisburg each fall. Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year is announced at a state awards ceremony in December, and represents the Commonwealth at various national, regional, and local functions, which culminate in the National Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White House. 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalists The finalists for the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year are: Local Finalists Brittney Bell, Carmichaels Area School District (Greene County, PA) Rachel Kalberer, Norwin School District (Westmoreland County, PA) Other Finalists Anthony Angelini, Conewago Valley School District Jonathan Bickel, Eastern Lebanon School District Ashlie Crosson, Mifflin County School District Benjamin Hoffman, Kutztown Area School District Heather Kilgore, Chester County Intermediate Unit Stephanie Machmer, Jersey Shore Area School District Aspen Mock, Forest Hills School District Justin Ward, Laurel Highlands School District Sharon Williams, Rose Tree Media School District Sally Ann Wojcik, School District of Philadelphia Learn More To learn more, visit the official Pennsylvania website.
March 22, 2023 OCDEL Ends Option for Director Instructor PQAS The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) recently ended the option for individuals to apply for the Director Instructor (DI) Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS). Effective March 21, applications for DI PQAS will no longer be accepted or processed, and the DI PQAS will no longer be available as an option for individuals to provide training to child care staff. Additionally, individuals holding a DI PQAS will no longer have access to train child care staff, as trainings will be made obsolete on April 28. Learn More Directors may pursue a PQAS application and create their own content in alignment with competencies for which they are approved based on expertise and/or education. Visit PQAS Applications – The Pennsylvania Key for information on applying to become a Professional Development Instructor. For child care staff seeking professional development in material similar to the outdated modules, OCDEL is supplying course content to replace the outdated modules within the PD Registry. All content in the PD Registry is offered by approved Professional Development PQAS Instructors in order to count for various professional development requirements. To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
Additional Course to be Required for PQAS Certification The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) recently adopted a new set of Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PA PSCECE), which require an additional self-paced Professional Development (PD) Registry course for Professional Development Instructor Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) approval, beginning July 1. The new course, “Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry,” meets enhanced PSCECE standards. Changes to PQAS Application Requirements Currently, instructors seeking Professional Development Instructor PQAS approval must complete the following self-paced PD Registry courses: Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Engaging Adult Learners The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators On July 1, Pennsylvania will add “Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry” to this list of required courses, as part of the PQAS application requirements for all new PD Instructor PQAS instructors. PQAS-approved instructors who have already updated courses to align with PA PSCECE do not need take this additional course. However, if you currently have PQAS approval, but have not submitted any courses since May 2022, you must complete the additional course prior to submitting any new courses into the PD Registry. Learn More To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
March 21, 2023 2023-24 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently announced its 2023-24 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA). This is a full, competitive rebid opportunity to disperse all available funding to select, eligible grantees for a five-year grant period beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, and is intended to support providers in preparing to serve and enroll children by September 2023. All FY 2022-23 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees wishing to serve children in FY 2023-2024 must apply as part of this competitive rebid process. Those seeking to become new Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees may also apply. About Pre-K Counts Grants The ceiling or limit on the potential number of slots that may be awarded to any applicant will depend upon a county’s unmet need percentages and the amount of funding available. Funding is contingent upon approval by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Grants are funded via state dollars, therefore, carryover funds are not permitted. All grant dollars identified in this FY 2023-24 application must be encumbered or spent by June 30, 2024. Eligibility Eligible applicants include: existing PA PKC grantees new applicants from: school districts PDE-licensed nursery schools Head Start grantees child care centers and group child care homes designated at Keystone STAR 3 or STAR 4, and third-party entities applying for PA PKC funding to administer the lead agency responsibilities for entities that are eligible to provide the classroom services under the categories listed above Eligible applicants must: provide assurance that they operate in full compliance with Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance submit a Letter of Intent possess a: vendor number (SAP#) administrative unit number (AUN) master provider index number (MPI) federal ID number or tax ID number, and MyPDESuite login ID Eligible applicants are encouraged, but not required to: thoroughly review: Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidance view the “Getting to Know PA PKC Rebid Webinar Series,” found under “Quick Links” on the Pre-K Counts How to Apply webpage Applicants should view this series prior to submission of a Letter of Intent to ensure an understanding of the program requirements and expectations of compliance if an application is successful. The application review process will include evaluation of the extent to which the applicant demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the PA PKC statute and regulations Letter of Intent Interested applicants must submit Letters of Intent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov by 3 p.m. on March 28, 2023. Because of the need to establish access to the eGrants procurement system, applicants must submit a completed Letter of Intent to apply for funds using the template posted at PKC How to Apply. The Letter of Intent represents the applicant’s intent to apply for PA PKC funding and must include: the legal name of the eligible entity that will apply the AUN associated with the applying legal entity’s proposed PA PKC provider type preliminary information about requested funding program model provider type, and area to be served. Except for the legal entity and AUN, information submitted in the Letter of Intent may be modified in the final eGrants application. Programs that do not submit the Letter of Intent will not be able to access or submit a funding application in eGrants. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants submitting a fully complete Letter of Intent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov by 3 p.m. on March 28, 2023 will be notified when the PA PKC application is open in eGrants. Learn More To learn more, consult the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidelines or visit the Pennsylvania Keys website. Any questions should be sent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov.
February 22, 2023 ELPA Poll Shows Strong Support for Investments into Early Childhood A new poll, commissioned by the Early Learning PA Coalition and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research from February 1 – 7, 2023, found that 98% of PA voters believe that early childhood education is important. The poll also showed strong voter support for increased investment for early care and education programs like pre-k, high-quality child care and home visiting services. There has been significant growth in voter’s overall support from a June 2022 poll, where 90% of voters said they found early childhood education to be important. Poll Details Partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition released the new polling data on voter support for early childhood care and education programs during a press conference held on Tuesday, February, 21, 2023 at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, PA. According to the poll: 78% of PA voters support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs, which is an increase from 65% in 2022; 78% of PA voters also support increasing state funding to help more low-income working families afford high-quality child care, up from 67% in 2022; 68% of PA voters support increasing state funding to provide voluntary home visiting services to eligible families , up from 60% in 2022; and 81% of PA voters favor allocating state funding to increase wages of child care workers. “As we start budget season here in Harrisburg, the partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition urge Governor Shapiro and all members of the General Assembly to respond to this level of voter support for growing the Commonwealth’s investments in early care and education,” said Kristen Rotz, President of the United Way of Pennsylvania and principal partner in the Early Learning PA Coalition. “Pennsylvania must make these programs more accessible to children and families that qualify and further stabilize and strengthen the system by addressing historic teacher shortages caused by low wages.” said Rotz. Visit the Pre-K for PA Facebook page to watch the February 21, 2023 press conference in full.
August 3, 2022 2022 Market Rate Survey Webinar The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) will be hosting a webinar for child care providers who want to learn more about the 2022 Market Rate Survey. About the Market Rate Survey Every two years, the federal government requires that states conduct a Market Rate Survey of child care. Information from the Market Rate Survey provides the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) with important data to compare private pay prices with the Child Care Works (CCW) base rate reimbursements. Rather than pulling information from Provider Self-Service as conducted in 2016 and 2019, this year the Market Rate Survey requires child care providers to fill out a survey form. Webinar Information The webinar, 2022 Market Rate Survey and YOU, will take place on August 17, 2022, at 11 a.m. Topics will include the importance of the Market Rate Survey, the elements of the survey, and how the information may be used. There will be time for questions and discussion. The team from Penn State Harrisburg, Institute of State and Regional Affairs who are coordinating the survey collection and evaluation will be joining the webinar. They will also share the new complementary study they are working on to assess the Cost of Care. Register for the 2022 Market Rate Survey and YOU Webinar.
June 14, 2022 Survey: Marketing Needs for Child Care Providers The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is asking child care providers for input on their marketing needs. About OCDEL is conducting a survey to understand the marketing needs and challenges of licensed child care providers in Pennsylvania. Survey responses will help OCDEL inform future decisions and programs. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, June 24, 2022. Take the survey.
February 21, 2022 Provisional Hire Waivers No Longer Needed Effective February 17, 2022, Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers are no longer required to submit a Provisional Hire Waiver Request for Child Care (CD 353) to allow child care employees to work in a certified child care facility on a 45-day provisional basis. About On February 17, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 764 into law as Act 12 of 2022 (Act 12), which amends the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to allow most employers to hire an applicant on a provisional basis for up to 45 days. For certified child care operators, to do so, all the following conditions must be met: The applicant has received the results of the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) and out of state clearances, if applicable, and submitted the results to the employer. The employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions received the result of the applicant’s PA Child Abuse History Clearance and either the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check or the FBI Criminal History Background Check before the start of employment. The applicant must have applied for the outstanding check (Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check or the FBI Criminal History Background Check) and submit proof of application to the employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions. The employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions requires that the applicant not be permitted to work alone with children and that the applicant work in the immediate vicinity of a permanent employee. The employer must have no knowledge of information that would disqualify the applicant. The applicant must affirm in writing they are not disqualified from employment by reason of being listed on the abuse registry or being convicted of a disqualifying offense. If the results of the applicant’s background checks reveal that the applicant is disqualified from employment due to section 6344(c) (relating to grounds for denying employment or participation in program, activity, or service) of the CPSL, the applicant must be immediately dismissed by the employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions. Questions? Comments and Questions should be directed to the child care provider’s Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning: Central Region 800-222-2117 Northeast Region 800-222-2108 Southeast North and Southeast South Region 800-346-2929 Western Region 800-222-2149
