The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making some changes to the Rising STAR Tuition Assistance program. Rising STARS helps cover a portion of tuition costs for early learning professionals. Funding has been secured through June 30, 2019. Beginning immediately, degree waivers for programs outside of the approved degree list (PDF) will no...Read More

Spanking a child may increase aggression in a child, and may actually do long term harm to a child, says a new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP recently released an updated policy statement about the harmful effects spanking can have on children. The use of spanking is also ineffective in...Read More

In response to traumas within communities, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) would like to highlight resources for early learning programs, schools, community partners and families. Click here to view the page.Read More

Deadline extended to November 9, 2018! Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) in coordination with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (PAELIC) is currently accepting proposals to investigate the cost of providing high quality early care and education across Pennsylvania. Part I of this project, CHILD...Read More

You may have heard about Pennsylvania’s 2018-19 state budget which includes $4 million to expand evidence-based home visiting programs. The additional funding is expected to help about 1,000 families. Want to know more about evidence-based home visiting? Click here!Read More

Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today announced increased funding for evidence-based home visiting programs in communities affected by the opioid epidemic included in Governor Tom Wolf’s 2018-2019 budget. The Department of Human Services currently supports four evidence based home visiting programs: Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Nurse Family...Read More

Beginning immediately, an exemption has been added to the CDA Voucher Guidelines. Students currently enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program may submit documentation on school letterhead indicating you are enrolled and currently working in a STARS facility. Meeting the 20 hours weekly will be waived. The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is...Read More

Beginning August 2018, the Program Quality Assessment blog Let’s Talk Quality! Program Quality Assessment in PA will have a new URL! Let’s Talk Quality (www.letstalkqualitypa.com) is a shorter and easier URL to use. Please be sure to change bookmarks or clear any history in your browser using the old URL. What is Let’s Talk Quality?...Read More

All users in the system who have fully completed their Professional Development (PD) Registry profile will be automatically entered into a random drawing to win a new Apple iPad! Two winners will be notified by November 15, 2018. Contest ends on October 31, 2018. How to enter: 1. If you have already completed your profile,...Read More