The ITERS-3 is a program observation instrument used to assess the quality of care in environments for infants and toddlers, from birth to 36 months.Read More

Barbara Bredell-Searle Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning – Bureau of Certification and Bureau of Policy & Professional Development published an announcement (Announcement C-24-01) on June 17, 2024, to clarify the intent of 55 Pa. Codes regarding toxics when it comes to plants. When you look at 55 Pa. Code 3270.66(d), 3280.66(c), or...Read More

Sunsetting of PA Position Statements for the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) In an effort to simplify guidance and strengthen consistent use of program observation instruments for continuous quality improvement, effective August 1, 2024, use of the PA Position Statements for the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) and School-Age Environment Rating Scale (SACERS) will discontinue. Programs may...Read More

The third editions of the Environment Rating Scales, like the first and second editions, cover a broad range of development including language, cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development as well as addressing children’s health and safety.Read More

The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Team would like to announce the addition of four asynchronous professional development courses to the Pennsylvania PD Registry.Read More

Guest Blogger – Mercedes Fleet-Mount I am Mercedes Fleet-Mount, Owner and Program Director of Bright Little Scholars Early Learning Centers. I joined the Business Administration Scale Community of Practice (BAS CoP) in September of 2021. When I signed up for the program, I had some knowledge about the BAS. This CoP allowed me to have the...Read More

Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation Program                                                                                               ...Read More

By Pam Schaffner We are suffering from “COVID fatigue.” When is this pandemic going to be over? Many people are asking this question of themselves. No one expected the catch phrase “three weeks to flatten the curve” would turn into over 2 years. We have also been hearing that once the pandemic phase is over,...Read More

Beth Simon It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog post. It has been 10 days since the heartbreaking incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas when I’m writing this. Ten days that parents, families, friends, teachers, the Uvalde community, and the nation have been reeling from another senseless act of...Read More

By Amy Hoffman Have you heard the news? The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) team at the Pennsylvania Key has a lot to offer to programs. You may already know that we (usually) conduct external assessments to support early learning and school-age programs; this involves an assessor visiting your program and observing a wide range of...Read More