The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Deputy Secretary, Suzann Morris, shares information about Governor Wolf’s proposed 2018-19 budget. Hear what she has to say about the impact this proposed budget has for families and early learning programs throughout Pennsylvania. Click here to listen to the recording.Read More

On February 13, 2018, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) announced initiatives included in Governor Wolf’s 2018-19 budget proposal in support of Pennsylvania families and children. The budget items will provide opportunities for a brighter future by expanding access to services for self-sufficiency and sustainability. The proposed 2018-19 budget includes investments in high-quality early...Read More

News from our friends at PennAEYC: The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a two-year budget deal, which was signed by President Trump on February 9, 2018. This means the continuing resolution process and government shutdowns are over. The spending plan would double the investment in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)!...Read More

In his budget address this week, Governor Wolf set important spending priorities for increasing investments in young children including: $40 million so that 4,390 additional three and four year olds can attend PreK and Head Start $25 million to help working families afford childcare $4.5 million increas in Pennsylvania’s home visiting programs that work with...Read More

The February 2018 release of the PA Early Ed News features info about what role early education plays in ESSA, how a pilot program grant will promote financial sustainability for early childhood programs, how OCDEL’s new multi-tier system of support promotes future reading and writing success, and more. Read the February edition and then sign up...Read More

All elementary schools are encouraged to implement Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory in the 2018-2019 school year in preparation for enhanced ESSA requirements.  The Kindergarten Entry Inventory is available to all school districts at no cost. Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) is a reliable reporting tool that offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking...Read More

Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced it was awarded a grant for early childhood programs to increase their financial sustainability and demonstrate strong child outcomes. The Heinz Endowments awarded $300,000 over two years to DHS, in partnership with Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11, to pilot regional shared-service alliances to support improving high-quality early...Read More

Governor Tom Wolf recently announced a $1.4 million grant to increase the quality of Pennsylvania’s early childhood learning professional workforce. The Higher Education, Early Child Care, and Community-based Partnership Working to Implement Innovative and Sustained Pathways grant will enable greater access for early childhood education staff to participate in and complete a credit-bearing Child Development...Read More

As part of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) continuing efforts to support high quality child care, OCDEL will increase the subsidy base rates that are below the Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA) for STAR 3 and STAR 4 child care providers. Effective January, 1, 2018, all STAR 3 and STAR 4...Read More

On January 1, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) kicked off the We Are Pennsylvania Early Care and Education campaign. During this 14-week campaign, visitors will be able to meet some of the faces of staff who work with families, early learning programs, and community partners to ensure that families have access to safe and supportive...Read More