September 1, 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. Each session in December will feature a Q&A with ELRC Region 5 Quality Coaches who will answer questions about the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. The Keystone STARS program is a responsive system to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania. ELRC Region 5 Quality Coaches are also able to offer support to providers who participate in the Keystone STARS program. Available Sessions Saturday, December 12: Keystone STARS Performance Standards Q & A 10 a.m. | Zoom Meeting | Attend the Session Thursday, December 17: Keystone STARS Performance Standards Q & A 10 a.m. | Zoom Meeting | Attend the Session 1 p.m. | Zoom Meetings | Attend the Session More Information For questions, contact ELRC Region 5 at elrc5@alleghenycounty.us or 412.350.3577. Share this flyer with your network.
August 31, 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 October, these virtual sessions will focus on tips, how-tos, and tools for participants to navigate through Provider Self Service (PSS), where you can apply for or renew child care licensing, submit ELRC online attendance invoices, submit Keystone STARS requests, and update provider profiles; and STARS Management and Reliability Tracking (SMART), a document uploader for the Keystone STARS Designation process. Available Sessions Saturday, October 10: SMART Document Uploader, Provider Self Service & Keystone STARS Supporting Documents 10 a.m. | Zoom Meetings | Attend the Session Thursday, October 15: SMART Document Uploader, Provider Self Service & Keystone STARS Supporting Documents 10 a.m. | Zoom Meetings | Attend the Session 1 p.m. | Zoom Meetings | Attend the Session More Information For questions, contact ELRC Region 5 at elrc5@alleghenycounty.us or 412.350.3577. Share this flyer with your network.
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.
July 1, 2020 Keystone STARS 2020 Program Survey The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites all certified child care facilities to complete the Keystone STARS 2020 Program Survey. About the Survey This anonymous survey will help OCDEL to better understand how program leadership in Keystone STARS programs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Your participation in the survey can inform how OCDEL provides support to the field moving forward. July 10, 2020 is the deadline for submitting surveys. More Information The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning supports families and their children, from prenatal through school age, by using data, research and stakeholder guidance to assure high quality services. You can learn more about OCDEL by visiting their website.
April 27, 2020 Learning to Play, Playing to Learn: Encouraging Play Within Early Childhood Classrooms “Play acts as a mechanism into courageous, creative, and rigorous thinking in adulthood.” (T. Bruce,., 2013) The benefits of children’s play can be life-lasting, as long as the experiences are developmentally appropriate, positive, and engaging. This free online course focuses on children’s play and the role of play in early education settings. Participants will take part in varied individual and group activities that pertain to the definitions, developmental mechanics, and functions of play as well as new strategies for encouraging play within children’s earliest classrooms. Course Information Timeline: May 1 – 22, 2020 Trainers: Rachelle Duffy and Jasmine Davis CKC: K2.14.C1 Keystone STARS Alignment: EC.3.4.1 CDA Subject Area: Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development. Three PQAS and Act 48 hours available. Registration To register for this course, please visit the event registration page. All registrations must be submitted by April 29 at 5 p.m. Limited spaces are available. More Information For more information, contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
Exploring the Outdoor World Through Our Senses The outside world shapes children’s development through everyday, hands-on experiences. In this free online session, participants will explore ways to facilitate sensory experiences in outdoor play including natural materials in the outdoor environment, reusable loose parts, and classroom materials. Participants will discover the benefits of learning through the five senses and explore meaningful ways to encourage sensory learning with young children. Course Information Timeline: May 4 – 24, 2020 Trainer: Katie Gullone CKC: K2.4C2 Keystone STARS Alignment: SQ. 3.4.9 CDA Subject Area: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment. Three PQAS and Act 48 hours available. Registration To register for this course, please visit the event registration page. All registrations must be submitted by May 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. Limited spots are available. More Information For more information, contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
January 9, 2020 Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Maximum Benefit Increased For Fiscal Year 2019-20, the maximum benefit for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA) program has increased to $8,000 per individual. About Administered by The Pennsylvania Key, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)’s RSTA program helps cover a portion of tuition costs for Pennsylvania’s early childhood educators. 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, with the Fiscal Year 2019-20 maximum benefit listed as $8,000. 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. More Information on Rising STARS Tuition Assistance For eligibility requirements, the application process, and more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. *Information provided by PA Early Ed News For more information for professionals, visit Trying Together’s professional development page.
December 20, 2019 CDA Renewal Amnesty Program Begins January 1, 2020 For a limited time, early childhood professionals whose Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential lapsed or expired can take advantage of a CDA Renewal Amnesty program. About Running from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the CDA Renewal Amnesty program provides early childhood education professionals who completed their CDA but did not submit a renewal in time to keep the CDA current an opportunity to reinstate their credential. The renewal program is eligible for Rising Stars Tuition Assistance (RSTA). Professionals interested in applying for assistance must complete their profile in the PD Registry to access the Financial Assistance tab. For more information about RSTA, visit the PA Key website. Eligibility Requirements To qualify, professionals must meet the following eligibility requirements: CDA expiration date is no earlier than January 1, 2010 Applicant meets all current renewal requirements Professional applies online using the YourCouncil CDA council portal system All applications and payments ($125) must be submitted online by March 31, 2020. PDOs and New CDA Cohorts Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is implementing statewide Professional Development Organizations (PDOs). PDOs will specialize in access to credit-bearing coursework and credentials for the early childhood education (ECE) workforce. Shippensburg University and Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) were selected as the PDOs in Pennsylvania. See a regional map. While PDOs begin their work, The Pennsylvania Key contracted with several organizations and institutes of higher education, including Trying Together and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5, to offer community-based cohorts so that individuals attempting to obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can complete the 120 hours of coursework and receive additional support. This opportunity is only available for 2019-20. Space in these cohorts is limited. For more information about Trying Together and ELRC Region 5’s CDA program, contact Jan Sapotichne at jan.elrc5@alleghenycounty.us or 412.350.3604. Learn More To learn more about the CDA Renewal Amnesty program, visit the Council for Professional Recognition website. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key
October 25, 2019 What’s It Really Worth? How to Run a Profitable Child Care Business In this professional development course, participants will learn the basic principles of operating the business of a child care program. Strategies to maximize profits and minimize expenses, public funding sources, and STARS participation effects will be highlighted. This session is intended for program directors of centers, family child care homes, and group child care homes. Course Timeline: November 11 – December 9, 2019 CKC: D8.4 C2, D8.2 C3, D8.7 Keystone STARS Alignment: LM. 2.1 / CDA:5 and 6 Four professional development hours available after completion. Limited spaces are available. Questions For more information on how to register, contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network. Registration To register, complete the form below.
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
