News

December 16, 2019

PDO Needs Assessment Survey: Upcoming Deadline

Early care and education professionals in southwestern Pennsylvania are being asked to take the Professional Development Organization (PDO) Needs Assessment Survey.

About

From now through December 31, 2019, PDOs are performing a needs assessment with early childhood professionals by region and will develop a strategic plan and timetable for each. The survey will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes. Responses will be used to finalize the work plan and timeline for the Southwest and other regions that Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania will serve. Following this period, community outreach will begin. Click here to take complete the survey.

During this transition, professionals who wish to obtain their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential can find credit-bearing coursework through Westmoreland County Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College.

PDOs

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced the selection of its six regional PDOs in October 2019. The PDOs were created to coordinate and facilitate access to credit-bearing coursework and credentials for early care and education professionals in Pennsylvania. PDOs support direct access across each service region for the early childhood workforce to participate in continuing education through a mixed delivery model and coordinate with the Early Learning Resource Centers in improving the quality of early learning programs.

The regional PDO selection for the Southwest region is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. The Shippensburg PDO also supports the Central, Northeast, and Northwest regions. See the regional PDO map here.

More Information

To learn more about PDOs, read the Pennsylvania Key’s announcement.

*Information provided by OCDEL

News

November 18, 2019

2019 Market Rate Survey and YOU | Webinar

Every three years, states update information regarding the prices child care providers charge families. Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) on December 4 for “2019 Market Rate Survey and YOU,” a webinar that will explain the importance of the Survey and how to enter current program information in PELICAN Provider Self-Service.

About

In this webinar, staff from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will talk about the importance of the 2019 Market Rate Survey and explain how to access Provider Self-Service, what providers will see when they login to their program, and how to ensure that current information from your program is reflected as OCDEL looks at Child Care Works reimbursement rates.

With this, OCDEL invites all Pennsylvania certified child care providers to participate in the 2019 Market Rate Survey now through December 30, 2019. The easiest way to share this information is to ensure your prices are correct in the online Provider Self-Service Portal. Updated information from child care providers will provide more accurate information to determine child care prices in Pennsylvania and will provide OCDEL with important data to compare private pay prices with the Child Care Works reimbursements known as base rates.

Registration

Attendees must register by 12:00 p.m. on December 4, 2019. To register, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at 717.657.9000, x 107.

*Information provided by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA)

News

November 8, 2019

Pennsylvania Announces 2019 Market Rate Survey

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites all Pennsylvania certified child care providers to participate in the 2019 Market Rate Survey.

About

Every three years, states conduct a Market Rate Survey (MRS) to update information regarding the prices child care providers charge families. With the last official MRS conducted in 2016, OCDEL invites all certified child care providers in Pennsylvania to submit their published private pay rates. By providing this information, child care providers help OCDEL paint a more accurate picture of child care prices in Pennsylvania and will provide an important database to compare private pay prices with the Child Care Works reimbursement base rates.

How to Participate

The survey is available online from October 7 through December 30, 2019 within the PELICAN Provider Self-Service Portal. Participation will require a username and password to enter. For assistance on enrolling in Provider Self-Service or updating your child care prices if you do not have access to Provider Self-Service, contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC).

Information from all child care providers is important, even if your private pay prices have not changed. If your prices remained the same, please update the “effective date” within the Provider Self-Service Portal. Any changes made between October 7 and December 30, 2019 will be included.

Click here for instructions on how to complete the Survey using Provider Self-Service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Market Rate Survey?

In order to comply with federal requirements and continue to draw down federal dollars from the Child Care Development Block Grant for the operation of the Child Care Works (CCW) child care subsidy program, OCDEL is required to complete a periodic Market Rate Survey (MRS). The MRS collects information from all regulated child care providers about their published private pay rates. Providers should participate in the MRS and confirm or report updates to their private pay rates using Provider Self Service (PSS) or, if not enrolled in PSS, by contacting their Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC).

What does the term “market rate” mean?

The “market rate” is interpreted as the rate which families are asked to pay, and which is published in program literature. The market rate does not reflect any discounts.

Will I be audited for updating my published rates?

Probably not. OCDEL has required verification in the past, and ELRCs have on occasion called a sampling of providers to check, but this is not the plan for this year’s MRS. However, providers should still only share published rates that they can verify if needed, and is the rate charged to most families.

What qualifies as a “discount?”

“Discounts” reflect allowances for families to pay a lower rate. For example, Comcast advertises its rate to clients, but frequently offers specials and discounts for loyal customers and new clients. Child care providers who typically charge $100 but who can offer discounts and specials to lower the price to $80 should still report their rate as $100. The MRS is not designed to capture any discounts that individual providers may choose to offer; it captures ONLY a provider’s published private pay rate.

What do they mean by “published?”

“Publishing” includes your website, your family handbook, any written contracts, or the rate visible on COMPASS.

What is the Child Care Works (CCW) reimbursement rate?

The Child Care Works (CCW) reimbursement rate is the rate that providers are reimbursed by the state for providing care to children who are eligible for CCW. This rate is based on the current market rate as provided through the MRS and is determined in part during the appropriations process. Because many providers also serve children who are not eligible for CCW reimbursement, providers must maintain a separate market rate for private pay families, and report this rate when completing their MRS rather than the CCW reimbursement rate.

Why participate in the Market Rate Survey?

It is important that each provider updates their private pay rates so that OCDEL has the necessary data to consider future Child Care Works base rate increases.

Learn More

To learn more, view the full announcement or contact your local ELRC.

*Information provided by OCDEL

News

October 30, 2019

OCDEL Announces New Community Survey

About

Every five years, states have the opportunity to learn about the well-being of families of young children in local communities. Pennsylvania is asking any individual living in the state to complete this short survey. Through the data collected, Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will better understand the resources for families living in your community. Survey responses will be used statewide and locally to inform Family Support Services, such as parenting classes and home visiting services.

Hearing from everyone is important! Whether you’re a parent or a provider of family and early childhood services, please complete and share this survey.

Take the OCDEL Community Survey

In English

Please take about five to ten minutes to complete the survey. Your input is critical to informing stakeholders about the factors that may affect the well-being of young children and families in communities across Pennsylvania.

If you wish to complete the OCDEL Community Survey in English, enter the following link into your web browser: is.gd/surveypa

En Español

Le pedimos que pase entre 5 a 10 minutos para contestar la encuesta. Sus aportes son muy importantes para nosotros ya que nos ayudarán a identificar y comprender los factores que pueden afectar la salud dentro de su familia y su comunidad en Pennsylvania.

Si desea completar la encuesta en español, meter el enlace siguiente en su navegador de internet: is.gd/encuestapa

More Information

To learn more, read the full announcement.

*Information provided by OCDEL

News

August 16, 2019

Pittsburgh Farm to ECE Provider Survey

Through an online survey, Ready Set Grow! is seeking responses from Pittsburgh early care and education providers to learn more about current practices and needed supports in the field.

Ready Set Grow!

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, the Food Trust launched Ready Set Grow!, a Farm to ECE program new to Pittsburgh, with the intention to increase Farm to Early Learning activities on a statewide level in the early care and education field.

To learn more, visit their website.

Farm to ECE

Farm to ECE is a part of the National Farm to School Network, providing activities and strategies that offer increased access to:

- healthy, local foods;
- gardening opportunities;
- and food-based learning activities to enhance the quality of the educational experience.

Farm to ECE works well in all types of early care and education settings, with activities supporting healthy eating habits, creating connections to local foods and agricultural communities, and teaching children how food grows.

Take the Survey

To submit your input, visit the Ready Set Grow! google form today.

More Information

For more information, contact Ready Set Grow via their online form.

News

August 15, 2019

Mobility Demonstration Project Seeks Feedback

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has been working with a new consortium called the Pittsburgh Mobility Collective to increase mobility options, especially to and from public transit. With this, the City posted an online survey to receive early input and feedback from Pittsburgh community members.

About

Through the addition of electric scooters, electric bikes, rental cars, and carpooling services, the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Mobility Collective seek to expand local transportation options. Pittsburgh-native Ben Bear, Chief Business Officer of Spin, said: “while electric bikes should be available and stations with some services should be available in three to four months, electric scooters might take longer because changes need to be made in Pennsylvania law to allow them.”

To ensure accessibility and affordability in all of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, a part of the proposal for this initiative involves “donating 10 cents from every trip to a special fund to help build infrastructure such as stations and to help people in disadvantaged areas use the system,” possibly including reduced rates and alternate payment methods.

To learn more, read the full article posted on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website.

Provide Your Feedback

While the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has gathered a wide array of city and regional transportation plans, studies, and workshop feedback in pursuit of community needs and values, the Department is always looking to receive additional feedback from Pittsburgh community members.

To submit your feedback, complete the Mobility Demonstration Project: Early Input survey.

News

August 9, 2019

Power to the Profession Task Force Seeks Feedback

The Power to the Profession (P2P) National Task Force recently shared their next decision cycle draft, encouraging review and response. These Decision Cycles address the resources, infrastructure, and accountability structures needed across states and systems to support a prepared, diverse, well-compensated early childhood education profession. The draft is available in English and Spanish.

About the Task Force

The Power to the Profession (P2P) Task Force, in collaboration with thousands of educators, individual stakeholders, and partner organizations, is working toward a bold and audacious vision for a unified early childhood education profession. This profession will have clear roles and responsibilities, professional cohesion, and commensurate compensation. This will ensure every child, beginning at birth, has the opportunity to benefit from high-quality early childhood education, delivered by an effective, diverse, well-prepared, and well-compensated workforce.

Read the Decision Cycles 7+8 Discussion Draft.

Provide Your Feedback

Feedback will be accepted through September 13, 2019, and should be submitted via the online survey. Additional written comments can be submitted via email at p2p@naeyc.org.

More Information

For questions, review the updated P2P Frequently Asked Questions. Community members are also invited to sign up for Virtual Office Hours to ask questions, give feedback, or explore how you can build on your work to advance the early childhood education profession.

*Information provided by the P2P Task Force

News

July 3, 2019

Allegheny County Community Health Assessment Survey

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and its advisory coalition are developing the next Community Health Assessment (CHA). As part of this process, they have created a survey for residents to help identify the priority health issues impacting their communities.

About the Survey

This survey has a particular focus on health equity and will be used to design a new Community Health Improvement Plan, which will outline goals and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of all Allegheny County residents. By taking the survey, you are helping ACHD identify the key needs of Allegheny County communities.

The survey will be available from June 26 through October 4, 2019. This survey is open to all residents of Allegheny County over 18 years of age. ACHD is also working with various organizations to make paper versions of the survey available to residents. Both versions are identical – if you take the online version, there is no need to complete a paper version. All answers are private and anonymous.

Take the Online Survey

If you’re interested in sharing your voice, complete the survey today!

Spanish Survey

La encuesta de salud de la comunidad del condado de Allegheny está disponible en español. Haz click aquí para realizar la encuesta.

Partner Organizations

ACHD is looking for partner organizations to help distribute the CHA survey to populations that they serve. Partners are encouraged to distribute and collect these surveys to community residents. Strategies for distribution include bringing paper surveys to events, making surveys available at their locations, and seeking other opportunities for Allegheny County residents to complete the survey.

If you are a local organization that is interested in helping with this effort, please contact Alaina Conner via the ACHD website or by calling 412-578-8364.

*Information provided by the Allegheny County Health Department

News

May 28, 2019

Creative Learning Educator Survey Open For Responses

Are you an educator that encourages creative learning and expression? The Heinz Endowments and the University of Pittsburgh are looking to receive your input via the Creative Learning Educator Survey.

About

The Creative Learning Educator Survey was established to learn more about creative learning opportunities for youth in the Pittsburgh region. The survey will take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, with questions related to teaching artistry and creative learning. Results from this study will be utilized to better inform how to support our region’s creative learning programs and organizations.

After completion, participants will be entered into a raffle to win an iPad. Participation is voluntary.

Learn More

To learn more and participate in the survey, visit their website.

For questions, contact Principal Investigator, Tom Akiva at tomakiva@pitt.edu or Project Coordinator, Esohe Osai at ero19@pitt.edu.

News

November 8, 2018

ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in ELPIC Survey

The Early Learning Instructional Coaching (ELPIC) program is working with educators across PA to develop an Early Learning Administrator Leadership (ELAL) endorsement to support educational leaders in utilizing instructional coaching, professional development (PD), and professional learning communities (PLCs) to leverage change in pre-k-4 learning environments. For educators with a Level I or Level II Instructional Certification, completion of the four-course sequence would result in an endorsement.

In order to best develop an endorsement that works for educators from both the K-12 and ECE worlds, ELPIC created two surveys that ask about current needs across the state and seeks to determine how the ELAL endorsement might address those needs.

Participants’ responses will be kept confidential. Data from across the state will be aggregated and used to support the endorsement proposal that will be submitted to PDE.