Are you interested in participating in a fun, compensated research study? Sign up for the University of Pittsburgh’s Parents Promoting Early Learning study!
About
Parents Promoting Early Learning studies how parents and their two-year-old children (up to 38 months) interact and how such interactions help prepare the child for school. Due to COVID-19, this study will be conducted online. Laptops and WiFi are available by request.
Requirements
Study participants will be compensated and must complete:
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- two to three online video calls where the parent and child complete games and assessments,
- questionnaires and interviews about the child’s development and activities, and
- a one-year follow-up visit for more games and assessments.
Enrollment
If you are interested in enrolling, complete the study contact form.
More Information
For questions, please contact ppel@pitt.edu or 412.204.6845.
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Are you an early learning professional who is interested in earning an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or Child Development Certificate? No- and low-cost options are available for eligible professionals in Pennsylvania through the Professional Development Organization (PDO).
Professional Development Organization
The Professional Development Organization (PDO) is a grant-funded educational collaboration among four universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and numerous partner universities, colleges, and community programs across the state to advance the career pathways of the early childhood workforce. PDO funding covers tuition, expenses, and other supports to help eligible early childhood educators earn credit-bearing credentials and degrees.
Tuition-Free Courses
Tuition-free courses are eligible for early childhood professionals who:
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- are Pennsylvania residents,
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- work in a Keystone STARS program, and
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- work a minimum average of 25 hours per week over an entire work year (during non-COVID times).
To determine your eligibility, complete the online application. Once your eligibility is confirmed, a PDO Liaison from your region will contact you to discuss your professional development options.
Available Pathways
The following pathways are available to advance your academic and professional development:
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- Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA)
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- Associate’s Degree, Early Childhood Education
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- Bachelor’s Degree, Early Childhood Education
Steps To Take
If you are interested in taking advantage of this limited-time opportunity, complete these three steps:
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- Apply for Tuition Assistance
Complete the application. Once submitted, an ECE Liaison will contact you to confirm your eligibility for tuition assistance, guide you through the application at a PDO partner university, college, or program, and help you register for classes. Be sure to check your spam folder as it may contain an email from your ECE Liaison.
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More Information
For more information, contact Mimi Loughead at mimi@tryingtogether.org.
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In 2019, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department started investing $100 for every baby born or adopted in Pennsylvania to be used for the baby’s future higher education expenses through a new program called Keystone Scholars.
About the Program
To encourage families to plan early for their child’s future education, Keystone Scholars will provide $100 to all babies born or adopted in Pennsylvania on or after January 1, 2019. With Pennsylvanians currently having the highest debt load per person of any state in the nation, Keystone Scholars is meant to help families jumpstart their education savings as soon as possible. Studies show that a child with education savings is three times more likely to enroll in a two- or four-year college and is four times more likely to graduate.
The $100 will be invested by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and will grow through the years right alongside your child. The Keystone Scholars account can be used for qualified expenses when your child pursues education after high school. These expenses include tuition, fees, books, and more at vocational and technical schools, community colleges, two-year colleges, and four-year colleges.
Eligibility
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- All children born to or adopted by a Pennsylvania family on or after January 1, 2019.
Requirements
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- The child must be a Pennsylvania resident at birth and at the same time that Keystone Scholars funds are used.
- For babies born in or after 2019, families must create a PA 529 College and Career Savings Program Account in their child’s name before using funds from their Keystone Scholar account.
- Funds not used by the beneficiary’s 29th birthday will be returned to Pennsylvania’s Treasury Department.
Registration
To register, visit the Keystone Scholars website. New and expecting parents will be able to register for online access within 3-4 months after the child’s birth using information from your child’s PA state birth certificate.
Learn More
To learn more about the program, visit the Keystone Scholars website or call 800.440.4000. The following recorded webinars are available as well to answer frequently asked questions.
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Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college for the fall semester can submit applications to receive a T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship.
Eligibility
The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a variety of T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to meet the needs of the early care and education workforce in center and home-based settings. Eligible applicants must:
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- work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program;
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- make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors); and
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- be interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward a degree or credential in early childhood.
Scholarship awards are dependent upon the availability of funds and priorities of funders. Other eligibility criteria may apply are subject to change without notice. See the brochure.
Application Details
To be considered for the Fall 2020 semester, T.E.A.C.H. applications must be completed and submitted with all required documentation by Friday, August 7, 2020. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however, incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Fall 2020 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an early childhood education (ECE) advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for early childhood education advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Submit an Application
To download a scholarship application, visit the PACCA website. Completed applications must be submitted to PACCA by Friday, August 7 through one of the following methods:
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- Mail: 20 Erford Road, Suite 302
Lemoyne, PA 17043
More Information
For questions about scholarship eligibility and requirements, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000.
Saving for college isn’t impossible. All you need is a plan. The Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program two plans and many investment options that have helped over 205,000 families of all income levels answer one of their biggest financial concerns: how to afford college. Join the Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program for their webinar to learn more.
About
During the webinar, participants will learn about the following topics:
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- how you can save for college and save on your Pennsylvania income taxes;
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- how you can avoid paying any federal or state income taxes on your college savings growth;
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- how you can save for college with little impact on your chances for financial aid;
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- how you can save for a semester of college today and cover a semester in the future no matter when or how much tuition has increased; and
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- how saving can be made easy.
Registration
Webinar sessions are available on the dates listed below. Please use the links to navigate to the event’s registration pages.
More Information
For more information, please contact the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program at 800.440.4000 or PA529@patreasury.gov.
Are you interested in learning how to apply for and utilize Small Business Association (SBA) Loans? Join co-hosts Trying Together, the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Start Strong PA on April 7, 2020 for their webinar, “Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans Explained.”
About
In this webinar, Trying Together, the SBDC, and Start Strong PA will explain how to apply for and utilize the SBA Loans made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar will be hosted on Zoom. Digital access links will be emailed to all attendees on the day of the event.
Registration
Registration is required by 10 a.m. on April 7, 2020. To register, please visit the event registration page.
Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires®, including Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years old? Join Trying Together for a three-hour professional growth session that provides information on how to administer, score, and share the results of the screener with families.
Directed by Carlow University’s Coordinator of Undergraduate Education Programs, Pamela Zimmerman, this course session will include resources for making referrals to additional services. Three hours of PQAS and/or Act 48 credits will be offered.
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- Core Knowledge Competency (CKC): K4
- Keystone STARS Alignment: SQ.3.4.7, EC.3.4.3
Registration
To register for this course, complete the form below.
More Information
For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis, Professional Learning Program Manager, at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
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Parents of four-year-old children are invited to participate in a new University of Pittsburgh study named, “Parents Promoting Early Learning.” Compensation provided.
About
Parents Promoting Early Learning studies how parents and their four-year-old children interact and how such interactions help prepare the child for school. Study participants will be compensated and must complete:
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- two visits, hosted at the participant’s home or at a University of Pittsburgh office, where the parent and child complete games and assessments,
- questionnaires and interviews about the child’s development and activities, and
- a one-year follow-up visit for more games and assessments.
Requirements
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- Child is age four (or almost four)
- Parent must participate
- Both parent and child identify as either African American or White
- Both parent and child are fluent in English
- Child has never been diagnosed with a disability
More Information
For more information, call 412.204.6845, email ppel@pitt.edu, or visit the research study webpage.
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Did you know that T.E.A.C.H. has scholarship models specifically available for family child care providers? If you are a family provider who is considering pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education, T.E.A.C.H. can help you get started and graduate debt-free! Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) for their webinar on January 15 to learn more.
About
Join this webinar to learn more about the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Pennsylvania Scholarship Program and how it works for family child care providers. Presenters will provide an overview of scholarship requirements, the application process, financial aid types, and how to get enrolled in college for the upcoming semester(s). Time for questions will be provided.
Registration
To register, visit the webinar link.
Educators and innovators are invited to join Remake Learning on October 8 for “Lunch & Learn: ABC CREATE & Pre-Service Education.”
About
In this session, participants will explore things higher education institutions are doing to immerse pre-service teachers in different ways of thinking and teaching that parallel the work happening in K-12 institutions. Through this, Remake Learning hopes to build connections and understanding to propel the region’s pre-service teachers forward.
Lunch will be provided with a vegetarian option.
Register
To register, visit the Eventbrite page.
More Information
For any questions or concerns, email ani@remakelearning.org.
