Keystone STARS
Professional Development
Guidelines
Click here to view approved Professional Development Guidelines for Keystone STARS.
Resources
Keystone Stars Core Professional Development
Environmental Rating Scale
- Environment Rating Scale (ERS) 101 – Foundations (two hours)
This two-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS Core training series. It is a prerequisite for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, FCCERS-R, or SACERS seminars. (Please note: if you have taken an ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and/or a SACERS prior to July 2007, this course is not required.)
Participants will learn: how the ERS scales measure quality, how the ERS scales are used in Pennsylvania, and how to accurately score the ERS. Upon completion of the Foundations seminar, participants will be properly prepared for the specific scale professional development seminars 201 ITERS-R, 202 ECERS-R, 203 SACERS, and 204 FCCERS-R.
- Infant/toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ITERS-R) 201 (two hours)
Prerequisite: 101-Foundations or attendance at an ITERS-R, ECERS-R, or SACERS prior to July 2007.
This two-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS core training series and meets the needs of child care facilities participating in the Keystone STARS child care quality initiative who are required to conduct an ITERS self-assessment of their infant/toddler classrooms (Birth-36 months). Participants will learn about the indicators of quality in infant and toddler settings, how the scale measures quality, and how to use the scale as a self-assessment tool.
- Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) 202 (two hours)
Prerequisite: 101-Foundations or attendance at an ITERS-R, ECERS-R, or SACERS prior to July 2007.
This two-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS core training series and meets the needs of child care facilities participating in the Keystone STARS child care quality initiative that are required to conduct an ECERS self-assessment of their early childhood/kindergarten classrooms (37 months through entrance into 1st grade.) Participants will learn about the indicators of quality in early childhood settings, how the scale measures quality, and how to use the scale as a self-assessment tool.
- School-age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS) 203 (two hours)
Prerequisite: 101-Foundations or attendance at an ITERS-R, ECERS-R, or SACERS prior to July 2007.
This two-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS core training series and meets the needs of child care facilities participating in the Keystone STARS child care quality initiative that are required to conduct a SACERS self-assessment of their school-age classrooms (majority of children in grades 1 and above). Participants will learn about the indicators of quality in school-age settings, how the scale measures quality, and how to use the scale as a self-assessment tool.
- Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R) 204 (three hours) This three-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS core training series and meets the requirements of Keystone STARS for Family and Group Child Care facilities operating in a residence. Participants will learn about the indicators of quality in mixed–age group early childhood settings, how the scale measures quality, and how to use the scale for continuous quality improvement.
Click here for more information about the Environment Rating Scales
Core Body of Knowledge (CBK)/ Professional Development Record (PDR) for Directors and Home-Based Providers
- In person, click here to log in and search the Professional Development Calendar for upcoming workshops in your area); or
- Free online session (log in to the intranet and click on PQAS to take this session); or
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)/Facilities Professional Development Plan (FPDP)
- In person, click here to log in and search the Professional Development Calendar for upcoming workshops in your area)
- FPDP Support Tools:
Keystone STARS Support Professional Development
Child Observation Modules
- Child Observation Level 1: The Basics of Observing Children (K4 C1 41) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 1: Observing Young Children’s Development (K4 C2 41) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 2: Using Observation to Support Individual Children’s Development (K4 C2 41) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 3: Using Observation to Support Individual School-Age Children’s Development (K4 C2 41) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 4: Observing as a Tool to Guide Classroom Structure and Daily Planning (K4 C2 42) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 5: Using Observation to Create Responsive School-Age Environments and Activities (K4 C2 42) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 2 – Unit 6: Sharing Your Observation with Parents, Team, or School-Age Children (K4 C2 41) – two hours
- Child Observation Level 3: Implementing and Supporting Observation of Children in Your Center (Other C2 T6) - three hours
Literacy Modules
- Literacy Module 1: Language Development and Literacy Learning (K1 C1 03) - three hours
- Literacy Module 2: Literacy Skills and Literacy Competencies (K2 C1 16) - three hours
- Literacy Module 3: Research-Based Literacy Practices
(K2 C2 16) - three hours
- Literacy Module 4: Creating Environments and Curricula for Literacy Learning (K2 C2 16) - three hours
Business Practices Modules
- Human Resource Management, Legal Issues, and Risk Management (K8 C2 94) – six hours
- Marketing Concepts and Strategies for the Child Care Provider (K8 C2 9) – six hours
- Accounting, Budgeting and Financial Management (K8 C2 95) – six hours
Orientation Workshops for New Staff
Family Child care career lattice level i series
The Pennsylvania Key recommends that family child care providers take the Better Kid Care-Family Child Care Career Lattice Level I Series, to reach STAR 1 status. This series includes the following classes required by all STARS family child care providers:
- Family Child Care...It's a Business (2 Hours-K6)
- Understanding and Supporting Children's Physical & Cognitive Development (2 Hours-K1)
- Understanding and Supporting Children's Language and Social/Emotional Development (2 Hours-K1)
As well as the following recommended classes:
- Supervising Children in Family Child Care (2 Hours, Web Only, K7)
- Child Care for Mixed Ages (2 Hours, Mail or Web, K2)
- Improving and Using Your Observation Skills (2 Hours, Mail or Web, K4)
- Space for Playing and Learning (1 Hour, Web Only, K2)
- How to Turn a "No" into a "Yes" (1 Hour, Web Only, K5)
- Powerful Communication with Parents (1 Hour, Web Only, K5)
For more information, contact Better Kid Care at 1-800-452-9108.
Family Child Care Providers may also choose a combination of the Better Kid Care required courses and 9 hours of other PQAS approved professional development in an array of knowledge areas to include K2, K3, K4, K5 or K6 from the Core Body of Knowledge.
Family Child Care STAR 1 Qualifications Performance Standard Supplemental Worksheet
Orientation for Center Staff Workshop
School-Age New Staff Orientation
Fifteen hours of professional development designed to help individuals become familiar with their new program, the children in their care, and the field of School-Age Care. Some content included keeping children safe, guiding behavior, activities, environment, professionalism, partnerships. Individuals completing this professional development meet the following:
- STAR 2 Staff Qualifications requirement for new school-age staff
- Career Lattice: Level I
To learn more about the Self-Learning modules CLICK HERE.
Pediatric First Aid
This document will explain what is approved Pediatric First Aid for Keystone STARS.