What’s New

June 28, 2022: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents, caregivers, and health care providers not to use neck floats with babies for water therapy interventions, especially with babies who have developmental delays or special needs, such as spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy. The use [...]

On June 8, 2022, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) kicked off the virtual Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip. During June – August 2022, early childhood educators, community partners, and families with young children can discover highlighted Pennsylvania libraries and the resources available to support early literacy and learning. Early [...]

Register for Live Demonstration of New Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System On July 1, 2022, the new process for Keystone STARS pre-designation and designation applications launches in Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry. Moving more functionality into the PD Registry streamlines multiple processes into one system and designation for providers. Read the full ELRC-22-03 (pakeys.org/elrc-22-03) Announcement. Attend [...]

Available Now! 2022 Keystone STARS Performance Standards Recorded Webinar A recorded webinar on the 2022 Keystone STARS Performance Standards has been developed and is now available on the Pennsylvania Key's YouTube.  The webinar provides information on the updates and edits that have been made to the 2022 Keystone STARS Performance Standards.  As a [...]

May 31, 2022. The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released two documents to support the efforts of Pennsylvania early childhood program leaders to eliminate suspension and expulsion for young children. Within the document, Preventing Suspension & Expulsion in Pennsylvania Early Childhood Programs, An Early Childhood Program Leader’s Guide, find resources addressing [...]

Important Information from the Bureau of Certification Services Regarding the Effect of Act 12 of 2022 on Provisional Hiring Practices (Updated May 27, 2022) On Feb. 17, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 764 into law as Act 12 of 2022 (Act 12). Act 12 amended the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to allow most employers to [...]

ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Fall semester that begins this August should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, July 8, 2022, to be considered for the Fall 2022 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications [...]

Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) is accepting applications for an open Preschool Program Specialist position with the Pennsylvania Key. This full-time position provides support and monitors preschool sites to help meet the quality standards established by Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). This position serves Southeast Pennsylvania including Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware [...]

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is offering Work Force Support Grants to Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers through the Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC). Information about the grant, grant funding, eligibility, how to apply, and the application, can be found on the Work Force Support Grants page on the [...]