Regional Keys
*Notification of 2013-14 Regional Key Structure*
2012-13 Regional Map - see Notification of 2013-14 Regional Key Structure for 2013-14 map
Find Your Region
Responsibilities of the Regional Keys include:
- developing a Regional Quality Improvement Plan for professional development and technical assistance;
- engaging local stakeholders, planning groups, certification representatives, CCIS and CAO representatives, institutes of higher education, United Way organizations, intermediate units, school district representatives, and the community at large in early childhood education initiatives;
- implementing STARS in the region by processing applications, providing information, offering STARS orientation training, assisting providers in the self-study process, and designating providers with a STAR level by determining that they have met all of the STARS performance standards;
- administering early childhood education professional development and technical assistance funds in the region directly and via subcontracts;
- conducting technical assistance and professional development inventories to determine the region's needs and resources;
- developing credit-bearing offerings and promoting articulation agreements that make it easy for child care professionals to transfer credits from two-year to four-year colleges; and
- developing community leadership to work with and raise the awareness of civic and community leaders to recognize the need for high quality early care and education and school readiness in their communities.
Notification of 2013-14 Regional Key Structure
In the spirit of continuous quality improvement, it’s important that OCDEL periodically re-evaluate the current structure and make adjustments to best meet the needs of early learning providers across the state. As a result of this program monitoring, OCDEL determined that a restructuring of the Regional Key regions was needed.
Effective July 1, 2013, the Regional Key structure will move from six to five Regional Keys.
OCDEL will work with each Regional Key to ensure as smooth a transition as possible and little to no gap in services to providers.
Providers from the transitioning counties may attend one of three “town hall” meetings in Cambria Lycoming and Northumberland counties to ask questions. They will be held between May 13-17; exact dates and locations will be made available shortly. Additional opportunities will be available to providers to participate on an OCDEL conference call if they are unable to attend one of the town hall sessions.
Providers from the transitioning counties will continue to work with their current STARS specialist through the fiscal year and will be contacted by their new specialist between now and July 1.