October 21, 2020 Benefits of Having a PD Registry Profile Do you have a Pennsylvania PD Registry profile? If not, you are missing out on features that could help you schedule professional development, request financial assistance, and more. What is the PD Registry? The Pennsylvania Professional Development (PD) Registry is an online system that functions as a “workforce registry” by tracking the professional accomplishments of registered individuals, providing important data about the early childhood workforce, and highlighting a consolidated list of available professional development opportunities. Data collected through the PD Registry—including data such as length of time in the field, education level, and wages—is also used to advocate for better education opportunities and higher wages for professionals in Pennsylvania. Benefits Early Learning and School-Age Professionals Through the PD Registry, early learning and school-age professionals can: track their employment, education, and training history; complete a professional development self-assessment to plan upcoming training; register for in-person and online professional training that offers PQAS and Act 48 credit; begin an application for financial assistance if eligible; keep track of CPR, First Aid, and Fire Safety expiration dates; and more. Program Directors Through the PD Registry, Program Directors can: track staff completion of Bureau of Certification and Keystone STARS training requirements; access verified staff qualifications for meeting Certification and Keystone STARS requirements; support staff with professional development planning; and register staff members for training using the statewide training calendar. Creating an Account If you don’t have an account, visit the PD Registry website to create one. For assistance, view this step-by-step tip sheet on how to create an account or contact pdregistry@pakeys.org. More Information Additional tip sheets and resources are available for new users, existing users, and program directors. For more information, view this document or visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
October 20, 2020 The Ins and Outs of the PD Registry Want to use the PD Registry to maximize your professional growth? Join Trying Together on October 28 for our free virtual workshop, “Connections and Conversations: The Ins and Outs of the PD Registry.” About In this Connections and Conversations Virtual Check-In session, participants will engage in virtual discussions with an Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 Quality Coach and interact with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the Pennsylvania Professional Development (PD) Registry. This session will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be provided. Join us to learn how to use the PD Registry as an asset for individual growth and as a springboard for collaborative discussion on professionals development between practitioners and leadership. This course will overview the general use of navigating an individual account, as well as the benefits leadership members can utilize as an organization administrator. Session Details Session Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Instructor: Katie Streiff Core Knowledge Area: Organization and Administration CDA Content Area: Effective Program Operation Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information. Session Rules and Guidelines These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants. Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively. Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic. Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression. Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session. Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator. Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share. To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number. Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations! More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
August 5, 2020 Virtual Community of Practice Meetings Are you interested in discussing topics of interest and current trends with fellow professionals in the early childhood field? Join ELRC Region 5 for their virtual Community of Practice sessions! About Community of Practice sessions provide early learning professionals with opportunities to discuss topics of interest, current trends in the early childhood field, and offer insight and inspiration to their fellow professionals. In August, these virtual sessions will provide an overview of using the Pennsylvania Professional Development (PD) Registry. Participants will learn how to use the PD Registry as a tool to organize staff and will receive support and clear instruction on renewal requirements for the Keystone STARS program. Available Sessions Saturday, August 8 10 a.m. | Zoom Meetings | Register Thursday, August 20 10 a.m. | Zoom Meetings | Register 1 p.m. | Zoom Meetings | Register More Information Information about the meetings will be sent to participants following registration. For questions, contact ELRC Region 5 at elrc5@alleghenycounty.us or 412.350.3577. Share this flyer with your network.
December 10, 2019 The Basics of Creative Curriculum By attending “The Basics of Creative Curriculum,” participants will explore how the environment, teacher, and family work together to provide a solid foundation for early learning experiences. Additionally, participants will learn how to manage their classrooms, create lesson plans, and systematically observe children using the Creative Curriculum Framework. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: understand the role of the environment, teacher, and parent have in a Creative Curriculum classroom; evaluate their classroom management skills and tools using the Creative Curriculum framework; and develop lesson plans based on children’s interests and developmental needs. Available Dates February 17, 2020 | 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Event ID: 308108 April 16, 2020 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Event ID: 308109 June 10, 2020 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Event ID: 308110 To register and learn more, visit the PD Registry website. More Information For questions, please contact Annie Skamangas-Scaros at 412.608.2594 or ecetacademy@gmail.com. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key
November 11, 2019 PD Registry & Career Pathway | Director Webinar Join Pennsylvania (PA) PD Registry and Career Pathway staff at the Pennsylvania Key on December 4 for their webinar, “PD Registry and Career Pathway Information for Directors.” About This webinar seeks to support program directors in their effort to help their staff use PA’s PD Registry and understand the ECE Career Pathway. Featured topics include completing a PD Registry profile, uploading education documents, and submitting information to be placed on the Career Pathway. More information on Pennsylvania’s Quality Initiatives for the Early Childhood Education workforce will be provided. Registration To learn more and register, visit the event webpage. More Information For questions, call 1.800.284.6031 or email registry@pakeys.org.
September 19, 2019 Ensuring the Safety of All PA Children in Care | Webinar Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) on October 9 for “Meeting the Requirements of CPSL: Ensuring the Safety of All Children in Care throughout PA” to learn more about how to meet the updated Child Protective Service Law requirements. About This free webinar will focus on the changes to the Child Protective Service Law. This includes the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) requirements, requirements for facility persons who have resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five years, requirements for volunteers to obtain all clearances/verifications, and the ending of provisional hires. Registration To register, visit the event webpage. More Information For more information, contact PACCA at 717.657.9000.
August 8, 2019 PQAS Instructors Invited to Apply for New Cohort To help professionals build knowledge, skills, and confidence in facilitating professional learning, WIDA recently established their Early Years Professional Learning Cohort. About The Early Years Professional Learning Cohort is a long-term professional learning program that helps participants build the knowledge and skills required to facilitate local professional learning. This program is intended for professionals who: are PQAS-certified; currently work in the early care and education field; can design, develop, and facilitate professional learning; have the ability to offer professional development through the PA PD Registry; and have access to early learning programs where they can facilitate professional learning for ECE educators. Selected participants will be asked to sign an acknowledgment and agreement document. Face-to-Face Sessions Selected participants will be required to attend four face-to-face sessions in State College, Pennsylvania on the following dates: September 10–12, 2019 October 8–9, 2019 November 13–14, 2019 March 11, 2020 Applications With 20 available spaces, applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Application quality and geographic location will be considered. Applications must be submitted by August 16, 2019. To apply, visit the online application form. More Information To learn more about the cohort, read the program overview document. For more detailed information, read the program participant guide. For questions, contact Barry Wiestling at bwiestling@pa.gov. PQAS Certification Workgroup This fall, Trying Together will launch a workgroup to help early care and education, and other interested professionals achieve their PQAS Instructor Certification. Once certified, these individuals will be able to deliver professional development training through the PA PD Registry. To receive more information about the Workgroup, complete the form below. For questions, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org or 412.567.3933. [ninja_form id=16]
July 29, 2019 New Services Available on Pennsylvania’s PD Registry In July, Pennsylvania’s PD Registry received new enhancements that will help support early childhood professionals. New Services Available Through the PD Registry website, early childhood professionals can now apply for or access: Rising STARS Tuition Assistance CDA Voucher Director Credential Early Childhood Education Career Pathway Early Childhood Career Pathway The Early Childhood Education Career Pathway is a tool to support the ECE profession in entering the field prepared for success while growing the existing professional’s capacity to advance in their intended field. This tool is now available on PD Registry. To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. Note The Career Lattice will still be used for Keystone STARS designation and Education and Retention Awards (ERA) until further notice. Additionally, early childhood educators that currently meet the expectation of particular career lattice level will be honored at that level by being grandfathered into the Career Pathway level that is equivalent if verified within the determined timeline. Many individuals have already uploaded transcripts before the new enhancements went live on July 1. You will still need to complete your profile to be placed on the career pathway. If transcripts were already uploaded, this step will not be needed again. To view tip sheets on completing the profile and uploading transcripts, please view them at the PA Keys website. More Information For more information on these enhancements, watch the recorded webinar, visit the FAQ document, and view tipsheets and more on the PD Registry. Questions? Call 1.800.284.6031 or email registry@pakeys.org. *Information provided by The Pennsylvania Key
July 9, 2019 New Clearance Required for Child Care Providers Due to a federal requirement under the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), child care providers are required to complete a new clearance—the National Crime Information Center/National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR). About The NSOR clearance will verify that a check of the National Sex Offenders Registry was conducted and if the individual can or cannot work for a regulated child care provider. This clearance is required in addition to a Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check for Employment or Volunteers, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprinting. There is no fee for the NSOR clearance. Requirements The following individuals must complete the NSOR verification certificate by July 1, 2020: any individual 18 years or older residing in the child care facility; all individuals working for Regulated Child Care Providers; any individual with an ownership interest (corporate or non-corporate) in a Regulated Child Care Provider and who participates in the organization and management of the operation. Application Process By late summer/early fall 2019, there will be a paper application process for the NSOR clearance, and in late fall there will be an electronic process in place at keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Learn More For more information on required clearances, visit the Keep Kids Safe website. Share this handout with your network. *Information provided by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning
May 29, 2019 Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Sign Up Moving to PD Registry Beginning Fall 2019, applicants will apply for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program through the PD Registry. About the Program The Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program pays 95% of tuition costs for eligible college coursework taken by early learning professionals, with a maximum benefit of $6,000 per individual each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The program covers tuition costs only and does not include books, materials, or fees. 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. 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. Access the Program Before Fall 2019 During the transition, The Pennsylvania Key is still currently accepting applications for the 2018-19 fiscal year and summer classes. Early learning professionals taking coursework beginning before fall semester are welcome to apply using the current process in the Portal. At this time, applications will not be reviewed for the fall semester. More Information For new eligibility requirements and to stay up-to-date on the ongoing changes, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. *Information provided by The Pennsylvania Key
