May 30, 2023 Fall 2023 T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application Now Open Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college in the Fall 2023 semester can now submit applications to receive a T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship and earn their teaching degree at little to no personal cost. Interested applicants must complete and submit their T.E.A.C.H. applications with all required documentation/information by Friday, July 7. About T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships T.E.A.C.H. encompasses several different scholarship programs. These programs help child care professionals complete coursework toward a degree or credential in early childhood and increase their compensation. Every T.E.A.C.H. scholarship has five key components: Scholarship – The scholarship covers most of the cost for tuition and books. Additionally, recipients receive a travel stipend each semester they are enrolled in class. Also, T.E.A.C.H. requires that the sponsoring child care program offer paid release time for the student to attend class, study, or handle personal needs. Education – In one scholarship year, each participant must successfully complete a required number of credit hours (usually 9-15) toward a degree in early childhood education. Compensation – At the end of the scholarship year, if they complete their educational requirement, participants are eligible to receive either a stipend or a raise. Commitment – Participants agree to continue working in their child care program for one year after each scholarship year. Counseling – Each recipient gets assigned a counselor able to assist the student in securing a scholarship, navigating the college processes, setting goals, and monitoring progress and needs. Eligibility The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a variety of T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to meet the needs of the early care and education workforce in center and home-based settings. Eligible applicants must: work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program; make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors); and remain interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward a degree or credential in early childhood. Apply To apply, download a scholarship application on the PACCA website and submit your completed application by Friday, July 7 through one of the following methods: Email: teachinfo@pacca.org Fax: 717.657.0959 Mail: 20 Erford Road, Suite 302, Lemoyne, PA 17043 Additionally, begin the college admissions process and contact an early childhood education (ECE) advisor at your intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants get admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for early childhood education advisors at partnering institutions if needed. Learn More Scholarship awards are dependent upon the availability of funds and priorities of funders. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis. However, incomplete applications and applications received after Friday, July 7 will not receive priority for consideration. For questions about scholarship eligibility or requirements, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000.
May 1, 2023 EITA Offering Professional Development Opportunity on the Growing Brain Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) is offering early childhood professionals a professional development opportunity to learn about brain growth in children from birth to five years of age. Aptly named, “The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old,” this virtual series details child brain development and shares ways to encourage healthy growth in young children. About “The Growing Brain” Decades of research indicate that the early years of life are a period of exponential brain development, characterized by great opportunity and vulnerability dependent on child relationships and environment. In this series, participants will develop skills and strategies to: understand the architecture and neurobiology of brain development support language, cognition, prosocial behavior, and social-emotional development and reduce toxic stress that can negatively influence brain development in very young children Session Details “The Growing Brain” is offered in several, progressive sessions. Each session is offered twice, and interested individuals can register and attend as many or as few sessions as they like. One PQAS credit is available for each session. Sessions include: Factors Affecting Brain Growth & Development In this session, participants will identify factors that negatively impact brain development, understand the impact of stress on the developing brain, and learn about strategies for supporting healthy brain growth and development. Offered: Thursday April 27 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday April 28 | 8 – 9 a.m. Communication & Language Development In this session, participants will understand communication milestones, learn strategies for supporting early communication skills, and understand multi-language learning. Offered: Thursday May 4 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 5 | 8 – 9 a.m. Cognition & Executive Function In this session, participants will review and summarize key cognitive milestones in brain development, as well as explore the layers of executive function and its importance in child development. Offered: Thursday, May 18 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 19 | 8 – 9 a.m. Social-Emotional Development In this session, participants will review key social emotional development milestones in children, as well as connect which areas of the brain are involved in social interactions and examine the role that relationships and attachment play in social-emotional development. Offered: Thursday, May 25 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 26 | 8 – 9 a.m. Understanding Behavior In this module, session leaders will discuss approaches for identifying the root cause of young children’s behavior and demonstrate effective strategies to address challenging behaviors in very young children. Offered: Thursday, June 1 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, June 2 | 8 – 9 a.m. Everyday Play In this session, participants will learn to understand the stages and types of play that unfold in early childhood, the role of the brain in this process, and how to maximize children’s learning through play. Offered: Thursday, June 8 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, June 9 | 8 – 9 a.m. Register for any or all sessions on the PD Registry. Learn More This series is presented by EITA Consultants certified in “The Growing Brain” curriculum, which was developed by Zero to Three Professional Development and Workforce Innovations (PDWI). PDWI aims to elevate the knowledge skills and abilities of early childhood professionals. For additional information on this offering, view the flyer. For additional information on “The Growing Brain,” visit www.zerotothree.org/growingbrain or the PD Registry.
April 26, 2023 Supporting Children’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing: A Closer Look at Temperament and Goodness of Fit Theory Do you ever wonder how two children with the same parents can be so different? About why some children are so easy going and others are more challenging? One major factor at play is temperament. Temperament is an important feature of children’s social emotional well-being, and describes the way in which they approach the world. In “Supporting Children’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing: A Closer Look at Temperament and Goodness of Fit Theory,” participants will explore different temperament traits and learn how goodness of fit theory supports children’s social and emotional wellbeing. Hosted by Trying Together and ELRC Region 5, this course, while available for all STAR programs, meets the STAR 3/4 PD topic requirements in PSCECE Area 4. Session Details Thursday, May 18 | 6 – 9 p.m. Virtual via Zoom Cost: $15 Instructors: Katie Streiff and Jillian Miller Standards: PSCECE Area 4: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices (3 hours) Register Learn More For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.
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.
November 2, 2022 New Opportunities Available to Families to Help Impact Early Learning in PA Two new exciting opportunities are available for families to share their experiences and make an impact in Pennsylvania’s early learning. P3D/PDO Family Voices Parents as Partners in Professional Development (P3D), with the Pennsylvania Professional Development Organizations (PDO), are recruiting a cohort of families to participate in P3D/PDO Family Voices. Family members of young children who attend an early childhood program in Pennsylvania are invited to apply. P3D/PDO Family Voices seeks a diverse group of families who have experiences with many aspects of early childhood services in Pennsylvania like child care, PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Early Intervention, Home Visiting, etc. Reimbursement for travel and child care costs are provided to participants. Learn More about P3D/PDO. Applications are due Friday, November 18, 2022 and all applicants must agree to attending the full day virtual training on December 6, 2022. Access the P3D/PDO application. Interstate Family Engagement Leadership Collaborative Families are invited to serve on the Collaborative Action for Family Engagement (CAFE)’s Interstate Family Engagement Leadership Collaborative. As a critical partner in the early childhood field, families are invited to serve in a leadership capacity on CAFE’s Advisory Board to share their expertise to implement high-impact school, family, and community engagement strategies. Family Leaders will commit to an estimated two hours a month for meetings, and compensation/reimbursement is provided for a stipend and mileage. Reimbursement for mileage will be offered for any in-person meetings or training. Please direct any questions to Jessica Webster (Pennsylvania Advisory Council). Learn more about CAFE Interstate Family Engagement Leadership Collaborative. Applications are due Friday, November 11, 2022. Access the CAFE application.
August 4, 2022 Teacher Tom’s Play Summit 2022 Tom “Teacher Tom” Hobson of Teacher Tom’s Blog will be hosting a five-day Early Childhood Development Conference from Saturday, August 13 to Wednesday, August 17 geared for early childhood professionals, parents, and grandparents. This free conference will feature twenty session covering topics such as insights, ideas, and practical tools; elevating respect for early childhood professionals; the art & science of play-based learning; and many more. Each day of the summit, participants will receive an email with a link to that day’s sessions at 12pm EST. Sessions will be available for viewing during a 24-hour window. Lifetime access to each session is available for purchase after registration. Register for free before August 13 to secure your spot.
February 21, 2022 Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care Child care providers in Allegheny County may participate in a free, 15-hour course, “Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care”. Sessions will take place via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from March 1 to March 29, at 6:30 – 8 p.m. Additional self-paced homework will be assigned via Schoology. Registration is available on the Trying Together website. Receive Credit All 15 hours must be completed to get PQAS and/or ACT 48 credit. If you are interested, we encourage you to register very soon! The link below gives details and dates for this course. If you successfully complete all 15 hours of the series PD, you can use these hours to matriculate into 1 stackable credit at Carlow University. Course Description The primary ingredient of quality in school age settings begins with the “everyday interactions” between educators and children. These simple and ordinary moments that take place during play, transition, and daily routines form the foundation for learning and growth. In this five-week course, school age learning professionals will engage with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach through a process of careful observation, discussion, and self-reflection. Educators will evaluate the impact their ordinary interactions have on child development and the overall quality of programming in their learning communities. Course experiences offer school age educators the chance to cultivate professional self-awareness and community building. Through the Everyday Interactions Matter approach, educators recognize powerful moments of connecting, sharing, learning, and belonging in their everyday interactions with school age children. About Everyday Interactions Matter Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) is a professional development initiative designed to help early childhood educators learn and grow from their own practice. Through a strengths-based process of observation, discussion, and reflection, educators take a close look at the everyday moments they share with children. Video footage of adult-child interactions serves as the raw material for facilitating professional growth.
Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care Child care providers in Allegheny County may participate in a free, 15-hour course, “Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care”. Sessions will take place via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from March 1 to March 29, at 6:30 – 8 p.m. Additional self-paced homework will be assigned via Schoology. Registration is available on the Trying Together website. Receive Credit All 15 hours must be completed to get PQAS and/or ACT 48 credit. If you are interested, we encourage you to register very soon! The link below gives details and dates for this course. If you successfully complete all 15 hours of the series PD, you can use these hours to matriculate into 1 stackable credit at Carlow University. Course Description The primary ingredient of quality in school age settings begins with the “everyday interactions” between educators and children. These simple and ordinary moments that take place during play, transition, and daily routines form the foundation for learning and growth. In this five-week course, school age learning professionals will engage with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach through a process of careful observation, discussion, and self-reflection. Educators will evaluate the impact their ordinary interactions have on child development and the overall quality of programming in their learning communities. Course experiences offer school age educators the chance to cultivate professional self-awareness and community building. Through the Everyday Interactions Matter approach, educators recognize powerful moments of connecting, sharing, learning, and belonging in their everyday interactions with school age children. About Everyday Interactions Matter Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) is a professional development initiative designed to help early childhood educators learn and grow from their own practice. Through a strengths-based process of observation, discussion, and reflection, educators take a close look at the everyday moments they share with children. Video footage of adult-child interactions serves as the raw material for facilitating professional growth.
Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care Child care providers in Allegheny County may participate in a free, 15-hour course, “Everyday Interactions Matter: Deep and Simple in School Age Care”. Sessions will take place via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from March 1 to March 29, at 6:30 – 8 p.m. Additional self-paced homework will be assigned via Schoology. Registration is available on the Trying Together website. Receive Credit All 15 hours must be completed to get PQAS and/or ACT 48 credit. If you are interested, we encourage you to register very soon! The link below gives details and dates for this course. If you successfully complete all 15 hours of the series PD, you can use these hours to matriculate into 1 stackable credit at Carlow University. Course Description The primary ingredient of quality in school age settings begins with the “everyday interactions” between educators and children. These simple and ordinary moments that take place during play, transition, and daily routines form the foundation for learning and growth. In this five-week course, school age learning professionals will engage with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach through a process of careful observation, discussion, and self-reflection. Educators will evaluate the impact their ordinary interactions have on child development and the overall quality of programming in their learning communities. Course experiences offer school age educators the chance to cultivate professional self-awareness and community building. Through the Everyday Interactions Matter approach, educators recognize powerful moments of connecting, sharing, learning, and belonging in their everyday interactions with school age children. About Everyday Interactions Matter Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) is a professional development initiative designed to help early childhood educators learn and grow from their own practice. Through a strengths-based process of observation, discussion, and reflection, educators take a close look at the everyday moments they share with children. Video footage of adult-child interactions serves as the raw material for facilitating professional growth.
