News

January 7, 2026

OCDEL Seeking Nominations for ECE Professionals to Be Recognized

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will recognize those in the early childhood education field who have made accomplishments in 2025.

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OCDEL is planning on recognizing early childhood education professionals in the following areas:

Academic
Years of service
Retirement

The recognitions apply to all staffing positions within an early learning program, including, but not limited to:

Directors
Classroom staff (teachers, aides, etc.)
Support staff (receptionists, janitors, kitchen staff, etc.)

Submissions can be nominations (submitted by someone else) or self-submitted (submitted by the individual to be recognized). Eligible submissions will receive a letter of recognition from OCDEL Deputy Shante’ Brown.

The deadline to submit a recognition is Wednesday, February 4.

News

November 21, 2025

Providers Charging Private Pay Rates Urged to Complete Market Rate Survey by Dec. 8

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is reminding licensed child care providers who charge private pay tuition rates to complete the annual Market Rate Survey by Monday, December 8.

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OCDEL is required to collect up-to-date information from all licensed providers every three years. The 2025 Child Care Market Rate Survey helps OCDEL to set child care subsidy payment rates that are reflective of the private pay market.

Even programs that don’t accept subsidies should fill out the survey. When all providers complete the survey, the date gives a more accurate picture of child care tuition rates in Pennsylvania.

Filling out the survey helps to set payment rates for child care subsidies over the next four years and supports policies that better reflect the real structure and value of child care services statewide. When more providers respond, rates are fairer and reflect real tuition rates. It also strengthens the case for public investment in child care for everyone.

The survey is being conducted by the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg in partnership with OCDEL and The Pennsylvania Key. The survey should be filled out no later than December 8.

Below, watch a video in which Shante Brown, deputy secretary at OCDEL, calls on providers to take part in the survey.

News

November 20, 2025

PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women Hosts Discussion on Child Care Crisis

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women hosted a virtual discussion earlier this week between business and government leaders and child care advocates about the state’s child care crisis.

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The discussion – which took place on Monday – focused on the ongoing child care crisis, which has forced many parents to leave the workforce due to the lack of access to affordable child care.

“Ensuring affordable, high-quality child care depends on bold, ongoing investment in the educators who power our commonwealth,” said Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together’s executive director. “Early educators are the workforce behind every thriving community. By continuing to invest in them, Pennsylvania can strengthen its economy, support families, and build a child care system that positions our state for long-term prosperity.”

The topics focused on during the discussion – which included Trying Together and various other organizations – will inform the commission’s future recommendations to the Shapiro Administration.

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed the state budget, which secured the following investments in child care:

$25 million for a new Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program, providing about $450 per employee annually to licensed Child Care Works providers
A $7.5 million increase in Pre-K Counts rates, enabling providers to raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce
Continued support for the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which encourages businesses to help employees cover child care costs, and the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit for working families
A $10 million increase for Early Intervention to provide coaching support and services to families and children with developmental delays and disabilities

“Child care and the early learning professionals who make this work possible play an important role in supporting child development and fueling our economy,” said Shante Brown, deputy secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). “Our child care workforce makes it possible for parents to go to work knowing their children are learning and growing in an enriching, caring environment.”

News

November 3, 2025

From Cradle to Career: How Child Care Shapes Pennsylvania’s Economy

The state Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women will host a virtual discussion on Monday, November 17 on how child care helps to shape Pennsylvania’s economy.

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The event will be a candid conversation featuring participants from business and economic development, state government, and child care advocacy. It will explore the workforce, policy, and cultural shifts needed to strengthen child care in Pennsylvania.

Panelists include Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo and Shante Brown, the deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), among others.

The discussion will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those interested can RSVP online.

News

May 14, 2025

OCDEL Provides Update on Certification Regulation Rewrite Project

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) shared a video in which its deputy secretary, Shante’ Brown, discusses an update on its Certification Regulation Rewrite project.

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The Certification Regulation Rewrite project is an effort to modernize and simplify child care regulations, making them more effective and relevant for families, providers, and children.

OCDEL has been working closely with child care professionals, advocacy organizations, early education leaders, and teams from different agencies to ensure the new regulations reflect real-world needs and experiences.

“We are deeply committed to advancing quality, equity, and access to early learning,” Brown said. “Our work is driven by understanding that every child deserves a strong foundation for success and every family should have access to quality care, but we know that quality care can only happen when providers are supported by clear, modern, and efficient regulations.”

In the video, Brown talks about the progress and partnerships that have guided the work. She also explains which stage the project is in and what it means for those working in early childhood education in the state.

“These regulations reflect real-world experiences and needs of the field,” she said. “Together we shape the process that’s not just about rewriting the regulations, but making sure those regulations serve the people who depend on them every day.”

News

December 16, 2024

Nominations Open: Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Recognition

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is seeking nominations to recognize early childhood professionals for their accomplishments.

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Individuals can nominate people in the early childhood education field who have made accomplishments in the following areas:

Academic (accomplishment recognition can include directors, classroom staff, and support staff in an early learning program)
Years of Service (completed years are recognized in increments of 10, 15, 20 and 25+ years only)
Retirement

These recognitions are applicable to all staffing positions within an early learning program, including, but not limited to:

Directors
Classroom staff (teachers, aides, etc.)
Support staff (receptionists, janitors, kitchen staff, etc.)

Submissions can be nominations (submitted by someone else), or self-submitted (submitted by the individual to be recognized) and will be collected on an ongoing basis.

The deadline to submit is Friday, January 3.

Eligible submissions will receive a letter of recognition from OCDEL Deputy Secretary Shante’ Brown. Submit a nomination.