If you would like to connect directly with the Bureau of Certification Services, all questions and correspondence should be directed to ra-dpwocdnet@pa.gov or you can connect with your Regional Office. View the Regional Map here.
OCDEL’s Bureau of Certification Services issues periodic information about meeting child care regulations through the Certification News.
OCDEL also publishes a monthly PA Early Ed News.
Archived Issues of Certification News
2022
- Aug. 4, 2022: Announcement ELRC-22-05, Sunset or Obsolete Keystone STARS Policy Announcements
- July 21, 2022: Announcement C-22-05, Obsolete Bureau of Certification Services Policy Announcements
- May 27, 2022: UPDATED: Important Info Regarding the Effect of Act 12 of 2022 on Provisional Hiring Practices
- May 16, 2022: Updated information from the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning
- May 13, 2022: Announcement ELRC 22-03 UPDATED: Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System within the Pennsylvania Professional Development Registry
- May 2, 2022: Announcement ELRC 22-03 Streamlined Keystone STARS Designation System within the Pennsylvania Professional Development Registry
- April 21, 2022: Office of Child Development and Early Learning Announces Availability of Child Care Technology Access Awards
- April 19, 2022: Announcement C-22-04 Updated Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning Regulations and Requirements for Child Care Facilities
- March 31, 2022: Announcement C-21-09 Reinstating and Extensions of Child Care Certification Regulation Suspensions Due to Act 73 and Act 14
- March 29, 2022: Office of Child Care (OCC) Compliance Announcements, Health and Safety FAQs
- Feb. 18, 2022: Important Information from the Bureau of Certification Services Regarding the Effect of Act 12 of 2022 on Provisional Hiring Practices
- Feb. 3, 2022: Child Care Providers Needed for Online Focus Groups to Share Experiences in Keystone STARS
- Jan. 28, 2022: CDC Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Operating ECE Programs
- Jan. 24, 2022: Updated OCC Compliance Announcements
- Announcement C-22-01 Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Requirements and Access to Free Training through Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organizations (ECE PDOs)
- Announcement C-22-02 Health and Safety Training and Professional Development Requirements
- Announcement C-22-03: Updates to Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Abusive Head Trauma, and Child Maltreatment Requirements
- Jan. 11, 2022: Announcement C-22-01 Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR Training Requirements and Access to Free Training through ECE PDOs
2021
- Dec. 20, 2021: Announcement C-21-11, Addition of COVID-19 to List of Reportable Communicable Diseases
- Dec. 12, 2021: Announcement C-21-10 Obsolete Certification Announcements for Certified Child Care Providers- Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Face Coverings in School Entities
- Dec. 10, 2021: Special Announcement: Message from Acting Secretary Meg Snead – Mask Guidance
- Dec. 7, 2021: Announcement C-21-09 Reinstating and Extensions of Child Care Certification Regulation Suspensions Due to Act 73
- Nov. 29, 2021: Announcement ELRC 21 #10, Non-Traditional Care Add-on Rates
- Nov. 4, 2021: Bureau of Certification Fall Newsletter
- Oct. 18, 2021: Regulatory Reinstatement
- Sept. 30, 2021: Special Announcement
- SUNSET DATE Sept. 30, 2021: Announcement: C-20-04 Revised Suspension of Regulatory Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- SUNSET DATE Sept. 30, 2021: Announcement 20 #15, Changes to Policy Regarding Parents/Caretakers Caring for Their Own Children in a Child Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Sept. 23, 2021: ARPA Stabilization Grant Applications Available Now in PD Registry
- OBSOLETE Effective Dec. 10, 2021 Sept. 21, 2021: Announcement 21 #07 Change in Policy Regarding Eligibility for Owners/Operators of a Child Care Facility
- OBSOLETE Effective Dec. 10, 2021 Sept. 15, 2021: Announcement C-21-08: Compliance with Acting Secretary of Health’s Face Covering Order
- Aug. 31, 2021: Announcement C-21-07, COVID-19 Policy Updates
- OBSOLETE Effective Oct. 18, 2021 Aug. 24, 2021: Announcement C-21-06, Ending of Child Care Certification Regulations Suspensions Under the State Disaster Emergency Declaration
- Aug. 24, 2021: Announcement ELRC 21 #06, Restoring Child Care Works Invoicing, Attendance and Payment Policies
- July 12, 2021: Announcement C-21-05, Obsolete Certification Announcements for Certified Child Care Providers
- SUNSET DATE July 1,2022 July 12, 2021: Announcement ELRC 21 #05, Keystone STARS During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- July 6, 2021: Announcement ELRC 21 #04, Child Care Works Payment During the Novel Coronavirus
- July 6, 2021: Bureau of Certification Summer 2021 newsletter
- SUNSET DATE July 1, 2021: Announcement ELRC – 20 #13 Updates to the Child Care Works School-Age Blended Rate Payment Policy for the 2020-21 School Year
- Replaced by Announcement C-21-07 June 28, 2021: Announcement C-21-04, Best Practices for Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus
- OBSOLETE Effective Jan. 6, 2022 June 21, 2021: Guidance for Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) and COVID-19 Vaccinations: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- June 10, 2021: Updates for Face Coverings
- May 24, 2021: Announcement C-21-02: Act 62 of 2020 Fire Safety Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities
- May 18, 2021: Extension to Submit Comments for Pennsylvania’s Draft CCDF State Plan for FY 22-24
- April 19: 2021: Corrected Link: Register Now for Conversations to Support Continuous Quality Improvement
- April 15: 2021: Register Now for Conversations to Support Continuous Quality Improvement
- April 14, 2021: Announcement C-20-12 Revised Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
- April 1, 2021: Announcement C-21-01 Waiver of Child Care Facility Regulations
- March 10, 2021: REMINDER: March 12, 2021 Deadline for Special Initiative for Janssen, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
- March 10, 2021: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021
- March 8, 2021: Pennsylvania Voluntary Lead in Child Care and School Drinking Water Testing Program
- March 3, 2021:Special Initiative for Janssen, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
- Feb. 18, 2021: Announcement ELRC 21-#02 Increase to Child Care Works Base Payment Rates
- Feb. 2, 2021: Monitoring Coordination Across Dually Licensed Programs and Programs with PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs
- Jan. 13, 2021: Application Now Open for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award for Child Care Workers
- Jan. 8, 2021: COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award for Child Care Workers
- Jan. 4, 2021 – ACT 24 Reporting Tool Update
2020
- Announcement 20 #18 – Keystone STARS Designation Maintenance for Facilities Temporarily Closed Due to COVID-19 (Released Dec. 28, 2020, via ECE Recap)
- ACT 24 Reporting Tool Login Update (Dec. 23, 2020)
- DHS CARES Act-Round 3 Final Reporting Update (Dec. 17, 2020)
- DHS CARES Act Funding Tracking Final Report is Live (Dec. 9, 2020)
- New Online Portal Launching on December 9 to Report COVID-19 Act 24 Funds (Dec. 8, 2020)
- Request to Complete the Professional Development Survey (Dec. 3, 2020)
- Certification Regulations Training Video for Child Care Providers (Dec 1, 2020)
- 2020 Child Care Regulation Changes Training for Child Care Providers and Question and Answer (Q&A) Sessions (Nov. 25, 2020)
- Ended Sept. 30, 2021 Announcement C-20-13: Reopening of Certified Child Care Facilities Temporarily or Permanently Closed Due to COVID-19 (Nov. 24, 2020)
- CARES Act Reporting Requirements for Child Care with Tracey Campanini, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (Nov. 20, 2020)
- Announcement 20 #17 Child Care Works Payment During the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency (Nov. 20, 2020)
- Announcement ELRC 20 #16 Internal Assessment Process (IAP) Guide (Oct. 12, 2020)
- Ended Sept. 30, 2021 Announcement C-20-09-Revised, Emergency Temporary Relocation of Facility due to the Governor Issuing a Declaration of Disaster – Specific to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Revision (Oct. 7, 2020)
- DS Announcement 20 #02 COVID-19 Related Policies Announcements and Communications that are Sunset or Obsolete (Sept. 30, 2020)
- Announcement DS-03 Inclusion of All Children in Early Childhood Education Programs in Pennsylvania (Sept. 30, 2020)
- Announcement C-20-12, September OCDEL Provider Survey and COVID Alert PA App (Sept. 29, 2020)
- Sept. 8, 2020: Announcement 20 #15, Changes to Policy Regarding Parents/Caretakers Caring for Their Own Children in a Child Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Sept. 1, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20 #14, Keystone STARS Designation Process for FY 20-21
- Aug. 28, 2020: Announcement: Today is the Launch of the Licensed Facility COVID Data Collection Tool
- Aug. 26, 2020: Announcement: Message from Tracey Campanini, OCDEL Deputy Secretary: Licensed Facility COVID Data Collection Tool
- Replaced by Announcement C-21-09 Aug. 20, 2020: Announcement C-2-04 Revised Suspension of Regulatory Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Aug. 17, 2020: Announcement ELRC – 20 #13 Updates to the Child Care Works School-Age Blended Rate Payment Policy for the 2020-21 School Year
- Aug. 10, 2020: Announcement C-2-09 Emergency Temporary Relocation of Facility due to the Governor Issuing a Declaration of Disaster – Specific to Novel Coronavirus
- July 31, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20 #12, 2020 Keystone STARS Performance Standards and Program Manual
- July 27, 2020: DHS Guidance for Annual Licensing Inspections during COVID-19 Pandemic
- July 21, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20 #10 Child Care Works Payment for Child Care Providers Closed Due to a Positive COVID-19 Case
- July 20, 2020: OCDEL COVID-19 FAQ
- July 17, 2020: Announcement ELRC – 20-#11 Restoring Child Care Works Payment Practices Based on Attendance and Invoicing for All Children
- July 10, 2020: Announcement C-2-08 COVID-19 Operations for Licensed Child Care
- SUNSET DATE Sept. 29,2020 July 8, 2020: Announcement: C-20-06R Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
- ENDED Sept. 30, 2021 July 7, 2020: Announcement C-20-07, REVISED Fire Safety Training for Child Care Centers may be obtained online during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- ENDED Sept. 20, 2021 July 1, 2020: Announcement C-20-07, Fire Safety Training for Child Care Centers may be obtained online during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- June 30, 2020: What Department of Human Services (DHS) Certified Child Care Providers Need to know about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Funding
- SUNSET DATE Aug. 31, 2020 June 25, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20 #09, Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- June 24, 2020: Announcement: C-20-06 Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities operating during the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
- June 12, 2020: Renewal Inspections for Child Care Facilities to Begin June 22, 2020
- June 4, 2020: COVID-19 Phased Reopening: Philadelphia Child Care Providers
- June 3, 2020: COVID-19 Phased Reopening: Child Care Providers in Yellow Counties
- SUNSET DATE Sept. 30, 2021 May 29, 2020: Announcement: C-20-04 Revised Suspension of Regulatory Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- SUNSET DATE June 30, 2020 May 28, 202o: Announcement: ELRC-20 #08 Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- May 27, 202o: COVID-19 Phased Reopening: Child Care Providers in Yellow Counties
- May 21, 2020: CARES Act Funding and Attestation Form Process
- May 19, 2020: Certification Inspection Instrument and Worksheets for all Child Care Facility Types Renewal Inspections
- May 15, 2020: COVID-19 Phased Reopening: Child Care Providers in Yellow Counties
- May 12, 2020: Child Care Providers Operating in Red and Yellow Counties in the
Governor’s Phased-in Approach to Reopen Business - May 7, 2020: Reopen Guidance for Child Care Providers During COVID-19
- May 7, 2020 COVID-19 Phased Reopening: Child Care Providers in Yellow Counties
- May 2, 2020: Phased-In Approach to Reopen Business: What it means for child care programs
- SUNSET DATE May 31, 2020 April 21, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20 #07: Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- April 13, 2020: Updates from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning
- April 3, 202o: FCCH Continuing Operations Verification Letter
- March 25, 2020: Clarification of Closure Notices and Child Care
- March 24, 2020: ANNOUNCEMENT: C-20 #03 (Revised) Closure of early learning programs due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- March 23, 2020: Announcement: ELRC-20#05 REVISED, Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- March 22, 2020: Updates from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning during COVID-19
- March 19, 2020: Update: Exemption of Directive to Temporarily Close
- March 16, 2020: Attention All Child Care Providers Regarding the Provisional Hire Waiver Application
- March 14, 2020: Announcement, Reporting Early Learning Programs Closings Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- March 13, 2020: Announcement ELRC 20-#03 Child Care Works Payments During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
- March 13, 2020: Operational Recommendations for Early Childhood Providers Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- March 12, 2020: The following message is only applicable to Montgomery County Providers
- February 7, 2020: Important Message from the Bureau of Certification Regarding Clearances and the Coronavirus
- January 27, 2020: Important Information from the Bureau of Certification Regarding the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification Certificate and the Waiver Application for Provisional Hire
- January 6, 2020: Webinar: Immunization Strategies for Success in Early Care and Education Programs
- January 2, 202-: Important News from the Bureau of Certification Regarding the Provisional Hire Waiver
2019
- December 31, 2019
- December 11, 2019
- November 27, 2019
- November 6, 2019
- November 1, 2019
- September 4, 2019 and September 9, 2019 and September 23, 2019
- August 29, 2019 and August 30, 2019
- July 9, 2019 and July 15, 2019 and July 19, 2019
- June 4, 2019
- April 23, 2019
- February 22, 2019 and February 28, 2019
- January 31, 2019
2018
- October 12, 2018 and October 24, 2018
- September 6, 2018andSeptember 26, 2018
- July 19, 2018
- June 8, 2018 and June 10 2018
- May 17, 2018 and May 14, 2018
- April 9, 2018 and April 19, 2018
- January 5, 2018 and January 9, 2018
2017
- December 8, 2017 and December 20, 2017
- November 1, 2017 and November 9, 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 3, 2017, August 17, 2017 and August 21, 2017
- July 17, 2017 and July 24, 2017
- June 2017
- May 12, 2017
- Apr. 15, 2017
- Apr. 1, 2017
- Mar. 20, 2017
- Feb. 13, 2017
- Jan. 25, 2017
- Jan. 4, 2017
2016