News

March 31, 2020

Understanding the Impact of Coronavirus on K-12 Education

As of early March, the COVID-19 coronavirus has put about 300 million students out of school around the world, as communities and whole countries try to contain its spread.

Join EdSurge for weekly live webinars on how K-12 schools are coping, the move to remote learning, and how students and educators are being impacted by the virus. EdSurge K-12 Editor Stephen Noonoo and other editors and reporters will host different panelists each week to discuss the latest developments in this rapidly evolving situation.

Series Topics

Some of the topics series panelists will discuss include:

    • equity;
    • special education;
    • universal design for learning;
    • parent communications;
    • social-emotional learning;
    • remote instruction for early learning; and
    • lessons learned from Chinese educators (Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.).

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

March 24, 2020

Questions Answered for Families During Time of Uncertainty

Join the PEAL Center on Wednesday, March 25 for their webinar, “Questions Answered for Families During Time of Uncertainty.”

About

In this webinar, PEAL Center team members will review the latest information and identify key information for families who have children with IEPs. Their goal is to ensure that families understand their rights under IDEA while encouraging collaborative problem solving and creative solutions. By attending, participants will hear about critical and timely information, including evolving guidance, resources for families, strategies for progress monitoring at home, and answers to questions you may have.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

November 15, 2019

Pennsylvania Expands Home Visiting Support

In October 2019, the Wolf Administration announced that, under the guidance of the Department of Human Services (DHS), it is expanding home visiting supports to first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs covered by Medicaid. The expansion, made possible in collaboration with physical health Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), will guarantee at least two home visits to new parents and families with children with additional risk factors across Pennsylvania, expanding access to evidence-based models that promote and support healthy child and family development.

About

Since 2015, investments totaling nearly $16.5 million in state funds have helped increase the number of children and families who can receive home visiting supports in communities around Pennsylvania. Guaranteeing a minimum of two home visits to all first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs through Medicaid continues this work.

“Being a parent can be a challenge for anyone,” said Secretary Miller. “Because children don’t come with an instruction manual, home visiting programs create support systems for families to learn to better understand children’s needs, monitor milestones, and identify other opportunities for support that can continue to facilitate healthy long-term growth.”

The home visiting expansion is effective January 1, 2020 through the MCOs’ 2020 agreement. Under the new agreements, MCOs will be required to establish an evidence-based, standardized maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation program for all first-time parents and parents of infants with additional risk factors. All parents and children identified through this effort will receive at least two home visits at no cost, and depending on need, may be referred to other established home visiting programs to continue these services. DHS expects that these programs will be in place with eligible new parents receiving home visiting services by July 1, 2020.

“There is no more important focus of my administration than giving all children and families a strong start,” Gov. Wolf said. “By expanding access to evidence-based home visiting programs, we will put more kids, parents, and families on a path to a healthy, happy future.”

What is Home Visiting?

Evidence-based home visiting family support programs have a family-centered focus and strength-based approach that works with both the child and parent. A home visitor can help parents gain the skills and connect to resources necessary to improve their family’s health, safety, economic security, and success in early childhood education.

Studies of various nurse-family partnership programs have shown positive impacts for the mother and baby during pregnancy and after birth, such as a decrease in domestic violence and smoking during pregnancy, a significant decrease in pre-term births, and a majority of babies being born at a healthy weight. Home visiting can also improve parents’ child development knowledge and skills, help develop social support systems, and improve access to education, health, and community services.

Examples of services include:

    • monthly parent meetings;
    • regularly scheduled home visits with trained family development specialists; and
    • routine screenings to identify post-partum depression and detect potential problems with vision, hearing, growth, and learning age-based milestones.

What You Can Do

While there have been increased investments in home visiting, only 15,900 children are estimated to be served in the current state fiscal year. That’s only five percent of the children who would benefit from these services the most. Join the statewide campaign Childhood Begins at Home in advocating to maintain and build on state investments in evidence-based home visiting.

More Information

For more information, read the full release.

*Information provided by the Governor Tom Wolf Administration

News

August 30, 2019

Webinar | Including and Teaching Young Children with Disabilities

Join Dr. Susan Sandall on September 12 for her upcoming webinar, “Building Blocks for Including and Teaching Young Children with Disabilities.”

About

This edWebinar will provide information about the development, use, and latest revision to “Building Blocks for Teaching Preschoolers with Special Needs”, a multi-tiered framework for planning and providing individualized support and instruction for young children with disabilities or other special needs. Learn about the four levels of support as well as practical, research-based practices for use in inclusive classrooms and other early learning environments. Presenters will also highlight various forms and resources for planning, teaching, and monitoring children’s progress.

This webinar is suitable for pre-k teachers, early childhood faculty, school and district leaders, and curriculum and instruction department chairs.

Register

To register and learn more, visit the edWeb website!

About the Presenter

Dr. Susan Sandall is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington (UW). She has directed personnel preparation projects, developed curriculum materials for all age groups, and published materials on educational practices to facilitate optimal outcomes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities.

*Information provided by EdWeb

News

July 3, 2019

Adjusted WIC Income Guidelines Effective Starting July 1

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting July 1, 2019, adjusted income eligibility guidelines will be used to determine the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

About Income Guidelines

Income eligibility for the WIC Program is determined using income standards as prescribed under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The income limit is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.

The annual revision for 2019 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services on February 1, 2019. In accordance with the established income guidance, the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations.

See the Revised Guidelines

Click here to view the revised WIC Income Guidelines.

More Information

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania WIC website or call 412.350.5801.

*Information provided by the USDA

News

June 14, 2019

Family Involvement Conference XLV

Join the Pennsylvania Coalition for Parent Involvement this October for the Family Involvement Conference.

About

The Family Involvement Conference is presented to you by the Pennsylvania Coalition for Parent Involvement Ltd. in collaboration with the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE).

This conference is based upon the premise that active family involvement in the education process is the key to effective schools and student achievement. Its goal is to bring together, in a common forum, school administrators, teachers, community members, and parents, to interact and address issues that are vital to academic success and the well being of our children. This includes afterschool and out-of-school-time programs, special needs children and early childhood education.

Join with colleagues and parents to share ideas about how to make this partnership a reality in your school.

Registration Fees

Registration fees vary depending on selected type:

    • Individual Rate with Meals: $450 per person
    • Individual Rate without Meals: $220 per person
    • Group Rate with Meals (5+): $425 per person
    • Group Rate without Meals (5+): $180 per person
    • Day Attendees (with lunch): $135 per person, per day

Registration

Participants must register for this event, and forms may be submitted via mail, email, or fax.

To learn more about how to register, visit the Family Involvement Conference website.

Learn More

For questions, call 610.250.9455 or visit the Family Involvement Conference website.

Share this flyer with your network.

News

November 29, 2018

Skate with Santa at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink

Looking to celebrate the holiday spirit with your young children? Enjoy a special opportunity to take to the ice with Santa Claus just days before Christmas! Bring along the kids and the camera to capture these holiday memories at the Schenley Ice Skating Rink. This event includes great music and the chance to skate outdoors in beautiful Schenley Park.

For more information, call 412-422-6523 or visit www.pittsburghpa.gov/schenley/rink.

Admission Costs

  • Adults:  $5
  • Seniors:  $4
  • Veterans with ID:  $4
  • Youth (17 and under):  $3
  • Skate Rentals:  $3
  • Skate Sharpening:  $5

Schenley Skating Rink accepts credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay.

News

October 18, 2018

Worst Case Scenarios: Child Care Provider Emergency Planning and Management

Register today for the Worst Case Scenarios min-conference. Pre-registration is required.

Child care providers, whether a single family home provider or staff at large center, need to have a plan and be prepared for challenging situations that could threaten children and staff, including the impact on children and staff with special health care needs and disabilities. The goal of this conference is to provide information that will improve caregiver’s knowledge of what to do in emergency situations, and familiarize them with the local people to contact.

The cost is $15 per person for the half-day conference which includes a continental breakfast. PQAS hours are available.

View this flyer for event and registration details.