In May 2020 and June 2020, more than 57,000 child care providers across the country provided the Yale School of Medicine the information needed to determine whether working in child care increases an individual's risk of COVID-19 or contribute to its spread. This peer-reviewed medical study will be published in January 2021 by Pediatrics, the [...]
Pennsylvania families are currently impacted by changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many early childhood education providers have renewed commitments to serve families regardless of these shifts, leading to challenges associated with meeting these demands. The GIANT Company, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Key, a business partner of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early [...]
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning was awarded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to support child care providers across Pennsylvania. States were authorized to utilize CARES Act funding for the following: Make payments and assistance to child care providers in the case of decreased enrollment or closures, and to [...]
Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller released a Penn State University study of COVID-19’s impact on Pennsylvania’s child care industry. The study, completed by researchers at Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs, includes recommendations for distribution of a third round of CARES Act funding to ensure that [...]
AUDIENCE: Licensees subject to Chapter 20 of Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code. PURPOSE: To announce that the Department of Human Services (DHS) had resumed annual inspections of programs licensed under Article IX or X of the Human Services Code, 62 P.S. §§ 901-922, 1001-1088 and 55 Pa. Code Chapter 20. BACKGROUND: On March 6, [...]
On behalf of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Key coordinates the Child Development Associate (CDA) Assessment Fee Voucher program and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance program. For consideration for the Fiscal Year 2019-2020, submit completed applications for one or both programs by June 15, 2020. Any applications received after this [...]
Beginning April 2020, the Pennsylvania Key will administer reimbursement stipends for foreign degree evaluations on behalf of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). This stipend will cover any foreign transcripts that were processed through an evaluation service* between 7/1/2019 -6/30/2020 and will cover up to $150.00 per evaluation per individual. *Evaluation service [...]
Due to recent events, the Council is extending the deadline for the CDA Renewal Amnesty Program to June 30. We hope this extension will help ease your concerns and allow you the additional time you need to take advantage of this opportunity. Please stay safe and continue to follow CDC recommendations. This program allows anyone [...]
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. (PDF) While PDOs begin their [...]
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)’s Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA) program (administered by The Pennsylvania Key) helps cover a portion of tuition costs for early childhood educators. A change has been made for FY 2019-2020. The maximum benefit of this program has been increased to $8,000. Tuition costs net of other [...]
