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

The Commonwealth has transitioned to a new vendor for digital fingerprinting.  The new vendor, IDEMIA, is now accepting registrations and completing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprinting for Pennsylvania agencies. Get more info.Read More

The Pennsylvania Key welcomes Marnie Aylesworth as the new director. Marnie has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 25 years. She holds a Master’s degree in early childhood education and is in the final stages of her dissertation for her Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction (ABD). Her current research is focused...Read More

Early childhood professionals, your voices have been heard! In response to feedback and to meet the growing needs of Pennsylvania’s early learning workforce, the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announces the PD Registry will undergo a redesign in the coming months. The new registry will be live early 2018. Upcoming releases...Read More

Pennsylvania will have a partial solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017. To prevent direct viewing that can damage the eyes, keep children and staff in early care and education programs inside between noon and 4:30 pm. Even with the specific, approved solar viewing glasses and close supervision it is too difficult to be sure...Read More