December 5, 2025 Registration Open for UnConference: Kindergarten Transition Registration is now open for Trying Together’s UnConference: Kindergarten Transition scheduled for Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Learn More The UnConference will highlight multiple aspects of preparing children for kindergarten, from early intervention practices and engaging parents to play-based learning and emotional regulation. Attendees will hear from a keynote speaker as well as a panel of experts on kindergarten registration and readiness. Participants will also attend sessions in the morning and afternoon that are led by local and national early childhood organizations. More Details The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. The fee to attend is $25. Registration is required and now open. Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street. A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee. The event will begin with keynote speaker Swati Adarkar, the former deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Then, participants will listen to a panel of experts who will discuss how early intervention plays a critical role in supporting kindergarten transitions and how to support and improve on-time kindergarten registration and readiness. A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available for attendees. Trying Together will host the event in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, United Way of SWPA, and Hi5!. Workshops Attendees will take part in two sessions – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – led by local and national early childhood organizations. During registration, participants will be asked to make selections for the two workshop time slots. Workshops include: How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey The Power of Play About UnConference The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops. The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues.
March 12, 2025 Trying Together’s Director of Public Policy to Discuss Current State of Early Childhood Education in Virtual Event Trying Together’s director of public policy will take part in an upcoming virtual event with Carlow University during which she will discuss the current state of early childhood education, preschool, and child care. The discussion will cover federal, state, and local policies and will focus on where things stand today and how to prepare for the future. It will also provide an overview of the Pennsylvania budget process and early childhood funding at the state and federal levels. Learn More Politics and Policy: The Early Care and Education Landscape will take place virtually from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 7. The discussion is part of the Sister Mary Paul Hickey Educator Workshop Series collection. Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy, will lead the discussion. In her role at Trying Together, Neff mobilizes early childhood educators to share their expertise with policymakers and engages families to tell their stories. She also develops policy recommendations to create a more equitable and accessible system. Act 48 and PQAS hours are available for the event. Those interested in attending should reserve a spot online. A Zoom link will appear via email a few days before the event.
March 5, 2025 Trying Together Releases Winter 2025 Professional Development Catalog Trying Together has released its 2025 winter catalog to help educators find professional growth opportunities that align with their career goals. The catalog provides course details and credentials. Learn More In the past year, Trying Together awarded nearly 4,500 PQAS credits to support continuous improvement in early learning programs. It aims to increase the number by regularly updating its Professional Development Catalog to make it easier for educators to continue to learn. All courses listed in the catalog are led by a certified PQAS instructor and are Act 48 approved. The courses are broken down into nine sections: Basics of Learning and Engagement Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Assessments and Supportive Services (Early Intervention) Behavior and Social-Emotional Learning Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) Health and Safety Advocacy and Public Policy Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Professionalism in Practice For more information on how Trying Together can assist educators in their learning goals, email learning@tryingtogether.org or call 412-421-3889.
January 7, 2025 American Red Cross First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED Training Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 are partnering to provide First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to early childhood professionals. About the Course This PQAS-certified in-person course provides life-saving skills in alliance with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs. Certification will be issued upon successful completion of the course. This certification is valid for two years. Session Details Saturday, 2/22/25 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Trying Together 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Register The cost is $38. PLEASE NOTE: Successful course completion requires full participation in classroom and skill sessions, as well as successful performance in skill and knowledge evaluations. Participants will be conducting strenuous activities, such as performing CPR on the floor. If you have a medical condition or disability that will prevent you from taking part in the skills practice sessions, please let your instructor know so that accommodations can be made for the practice portion. The CPR and AED evaluations must be completed with the manikin on the ground. Questions? For questions about the sessions, contact Holly Cessna at holly.cessna@alleghenycounty.us.
December 4, 2024 Let’s Chat About Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 10: Supporting Early Communication January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours. More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.
Let’s Chat About Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 10: Supporting Early Communication January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours. More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.
Let’s Chat About Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 10: Supporting Early Communication January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours. More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.
Let’s Chat About Webinars Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development. Learn More The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: January 10: Supporting Early Communication January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours. More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.
November 6, 2024 Managing Events in the PD Registry for PQAS Instructors The Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) is offering some reminders on the process for managing events in the Professional Development (PD) Registry for approved PQAS instructors and professional learning organizations. All rosters must be complete and accurate within two weeks, including marking an event as complete. Instructors are expected to communicate with participants when a training is verified on the PD’s Learning Record. The system will close events automatically after 60 days. To get an event reopened, email pqas@pakeys.org with the event’s ID number, title, and dates. Reminder for Applicants Seeking PQAS Approval When submitting an application for Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CCR PQAS approval, make sure that a current Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CCR Instructor Card is uploaded within the Education Tab > CPR, First Aid, Fire Safety Requirements Section > Pediatric CPR/First Aid Dropdown. If you do not upload the correct documentation, your application will be marked incomplete. Applying for Faculty or Standardized PD Instructor Approval For PQAS applicants applying for faculty instructor or standardized professional development instructor approval – including First Aid/CPR, Fire Safety, and Water Safety – skip the portion requesting payment after submitting your PQAS application by clicking on any tab or exiting your screen. Application payment is not required. If you pay the application fee, it will be refunded when your application is processed. More information on PQAS can be found on The Pennsylvania Key website.
September 5, 2024 Green Cleaning Event for Early Learning Providers Women for a Healthy Environment will host a professional development session on green cleaning in October that is designed specifically for early child care providers. Learn More The event, which provides two PQAS and Act 48 credits, will focus on creating a safe, healthy space for the development and well-being of young children. The workshop will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to make impactful changes in daily cleaning routines. The event will instruct attendees how to: Protect the health of children in their care and learn how to create a safer environment by using green, non-toxic alternatives Recognize the distinctions between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, and why each is critical in a child care setting Look for effective, eco-friendly products that reduce exposure to toxic substances, ensuring a healthier space for children. More Details Attendees will take home a green cleaning kit. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. The session will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Allegheny branch, located at 1230 Federal St. Space is limited. Registration is now open.
