kobrien

Register for Upcoming Live Demonstration of New Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System On October 1, 2021, the new process for Keystone STARS pre-designation and designation applications launches in to Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry. Moving more functionality into the PD Registry streamlines multiple processes into one system and designation for providers. The PD Registry team [...]

This message is in English and Spanish. Para leer este mensaje en español, desplácese hasta la versión en inglés. Share Your Experience as a Child Care Professional during COVID-19 with Yale University School of Medicine for a Chance To Win $500! Dear Child Care Professional, Child care providers have had it rough during the COVID-19 [...]

In recognition of the hardships and challenges of the last year, the Pennsylvania Key is offering an opportunity to receive a one-time refund of the application fee for any Director Credentials and School-Age Professional Credentials earned between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. To apply for this refund, select the appropriate credential below and [...]

The Bureau of Policy and Professional Development has developed, or partnered to develop, different online trainings that are applicable to the field of early childhood.  The trainings are centered around Pennsylvania’s’ Prenatal to Third Grade (P3) Systems Building Logic Model and Health topics related to childhood obesity prevention.  These asynchronous courses are free and offer [...]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is announcing a competitive Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidance. This RFA is intended to support providers in preparing to serve and enroll children by September 2021. The RFA is being released in May 2021 to give providers time to [...]

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Key invite early learning programs interested in implementing Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as their chosen Program Observation Instrument (POI) to enroll in myTeachstone. myTeachstone is an online professional development platform that streamlines CLASS implementation. It enhances skills as seen through the lens [...]

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) was awarded funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSA). This funding will further support child care providers across Pennsylvania. Child Care Providers are authorized to use CRRSA funds to sustain business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of uses to [...]

Better Kid Care Online Modules to Fulfill Health and Safety PD Requirement ¡Y también disponsible en Español! - Updated Feb. 2021 On behalf of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Key and Penn State's Better Kid Care collaborated in 2018 to create new online courses to meet the requirements for [...]

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 [...]