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July 10, 2009
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Early Education in Pennsylvania in the News, April - June 2009 -
The Fiscal Effects of Investing in High-Quality Preschool Programs -
The Quality Imperative: A State Guide to Achieving the Promise of Extended Learning Opportunities -
Policy Brief Does Preschool Education Policy Impact Infant/Toddler Care?
- Payment issues for OCDEL providers during budget impasse
- Joint Office of Children, Youth and Families & Office of Child Development and Early Learning Child Care Bulletin: Integrating Keystone STARS into Child Care Purchasing through County Children and Youth (Child Welfare) Agencies
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Families T.A.P. Their Way Towards School -
Yes We Can Day: A Success in the Southwest Region -
Lehigh and Northampton Counties Recognize Keystone STARS Leaders -
Ready Freddy and Health Department Team up for Transition in Allegheny County
- 2009 Events
- 5th Annual Kindergarten Here I Come! Celebration - August 15, Pittsburgh
- Request for Nominees for the Ronald Cowell Award
- ECE Certification Courses offered at Edinboro University
- ECE Certification Courses offered at Alvernia University
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Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction offered at King's College
Trends & Reports
Early Education in Pennsylvania in the News April - June 2009
More than 100 articles/stories were published and broadcast on Pennsylvania's early education between April - June 2009. Stories covered the federal stimulus package, getting children ready for kindergarten, PA One Book and Week of the Young Child, as well as editorial pieces in support of early education. Although the majority of stories were positive, several tragedies at child care programs also were reported in the news. Read the article summary (pdf) for information on articles published and stories broadcast in your area. This is an excellent way to become familiar with the types of stories local news reports on early education and get story ideas to pitch to media in your community. Thanks to the community engagement groups, PA Pre-K Counts and other ECE programs, Cathleen Palm and others who provided the stories for this summary.
If you have seen stories published not included here or would like a copy of an article, email Ingrid Molinares at ingmol@berksiu.org. Please be specific in your article request - include the title, date and paper.
The Fiscal Effects of Investing in High-Quality Preschool Programs
The Brookings Institution has released a new report entitled The Fiscal Effects of Investing in High-Quality Preschool Programs (2009) by William T. Dickens and Charles Baschnagel. The authors look at the potential long-term effects of two model preschool programs on federal, state and local government budgets. They find that both programs would pay back in reduced costs and increased revenues in excess of three-fourths of their costs within a seventy-five year budget window.
The Quality Imperative: A State Guide to Achieving the Promise of Extended Learning Opportunities
The National Governors Association has released the report, The Quality Imperative: A State Guide to Achieving the Promise of Extended Learning Opportunities (pdf). Extended learning opportunities (ELOs) provide safe, structured learning environments for students outside the traditional school day. ELOs include afterschool and summer learning programs as well as before-school, evening, and weekend programs.
Research demonstrates that high quality ELOs can improve a variety of student outcomes. Participation in high quality ELOs is linked to improvements in academic achievement, school attendance, student engagement, work-study habits, and social and emotional development.
This report (pdf) outlines seven strategies that states can use to boost ELO quality to better support children, families and communities.
Policy Brief Does Preschool Education Policy Impact Infant/Toddler Care?
The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recently published a new policy brief, entitled Does Preschool Education Policy Impact Infant/Toddler Care? (2009), by Debra J. Ackerman and W. Steven Barnett. This policy brief looks at the extent to which increasing public support for state pre-k programs has helped or hurt the provision of care for younger children. The authors provide recommendations for changes to preschool policies that would benefit infant/toddler care and avoid unintended negative consequences.
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OCDEL Corner
Payment issues for OCDEL providers during budget impasse
Now that we are in a new fiscal year without a new budget, OCDEL unfortunately does not have authority to issue payments to ECE providers who do business with OCDEL. Some providers have worked to open lines of credit in the interim; please contact your OCDEL representative if you have questions.
Thank you again for your continued commitment to Pennsylvania’s young children. We will keep you updated on new developments. For more information on how you can make your voice heard during the budget negotiation process, visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website and click on “Action Alert”.
Joint Office of Children, Youth and Families & Office of Child Development and Early Learning Child Care Bulletin: Integrating Keystone STARS into Child Care Purchasing through County Children and Youth (Child Welfare) Agencies
On July 1, 2009 the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) issued a joint bulletin to county children and youth agencies (CYA) entitled “Implementation of Child Care Funding Policy Beginning State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2010-2011” (pdf). The bulletin provides CYA with policy and fiscal guidance in regards to funding quality child care services through the Needs Based Plan and Budget (NBPB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010-11. The bulletin reflects the partnership between OCYF and OCDEL as they work together to assure the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable children have access to quality child care services.
The purpose of this bulletin is to:
- Encourage CYA to include child care funding in their NBPB to fill the service gap by paying for child care while their families, teens and foster children wait for funding to become available through Child Care Works. CYA can also use NBPB for families receiving in-home services who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Child Care Works.
- Promote quality child care by requiring CYA to enroll children in family or group child care homes and child care centers that have a Keystone STARS quality rating of 2 (two) or above. C&Y agencies may request an exemption for rare instances when a STARS facility is not available.
- Assure consistent payment of providers throughout the Commonwealth by requiring the CYA to pay the provider’s published rate or Maximum Child Care Allowance, whichever is less. CYA will also pay the additional STARS add-on.
- Provide resource information regarding PA Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS and the benefits of quality child care for CYA staff to share with families.
The bulletin addresses the NBPB for FY 2010-11; however, CYA may begin to follow the guidelines immediately. Also available are the Maximum Daily Child Care Allowances, (pdf) as well as Attachment A (pdf) of the bulletin to be used by counties when requesting an exemption.
Please direct any questions to the following appropriate OCYF Regional Office:
OCYF Central Regional Office - (717) 772-7702
OCYF Northeast Regional Office - (570) 963-4376
OCYF Southeast Regional Office - (215) 560-2249
OCYF Western Regional Office - (412) 565-2339
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In the Community
Families T.A.P. Their Way Towards School
Families from across Susquehanna County are better prepared for the start of the 2009/2010 school year thanks to a summer program called T.A.P.S. or Transition Activities for Parents and Students. The three week program gave four and five year olds a taste of classroom life while their parents and grandparents met with special facilitators to focus on everything from discipline issues to using household items for educational games. The groups also worked together on craft projects (pdf) and completed ‘homework’ assignments (pdf). Families from five school districts completed the program, making comments such as “This has really made a difference for me and my child,” to “We wish it was longer!”
For more information on T.A.P.S. contact Susquehanna County CARES at stcares@epix.net.
Yes We Can Day: A Success in the Southwest Region
Yes We Can Day was a huge success in southwestern PA. One of the strategies to encourage participation was to target twenty Early Education programs in the area and ask them to join professionals from across the commonwealth in contacting legislators and Governor Rendell to support early education funding in the state budget.
Two weeks prior to Yes We Can Day, southwestern PA program directors or staff that traveled to Harrisburg for Early Childhood Action Day and others were contacted and the campaign explained. Every program director that was contacted answered with a resounding “Yes We Will” participate. Before the directors received the information electronically, the flyer, postcards and sample letter were customized with the program’s legislators’ names and contact information. In addition, the directors were asked to engage parents to participate in the campaign.
As a result of this outreach, on June 16, 2009, 292 train tracks and letters were faxed and 1066 pieces of mail were sent to legislators in the Southwest region. Thank you to all of the programs that participated in Yes We Can Day. Great job and keep up the good work!
For additional information on this event, please contact Jan Sapotichne, Assistant Director at Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, 412-421-3889 or jsapotichne@pghaeyc.org.
Lehigh & Northampton Counties Recognize Keystone STARS Leaders
The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley invited over eighty centers in Northampton and Lehigh counties to the Keystone STARS Recognition breakfast on June 25 held at the Four Points Sheraton in Allentown, PA. Providers invited to the breakfast were centers that Started with STARS and moved to a STAR 1 in fiscal year 2008-2009 as well as STAR 3 and STAR 4 centers. Forty center directors and teachers accepted the invitation to network with their colleagues. The breakfast gave directors, teachers, United Way staff, and members of the Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition and Community Outreach working groups a chance to recognize the accomplishments the centers have made over the past fiscal year.
For additional information, please contact Jan Marie Schwartz, Project Coordinator of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley at 610-253-5376 or jmschwartz@rcn.com.
Ready Freddy and Health Department Team up for Transition in Allegheny County
On June 4th, the Steel Valley Transition Team partnered with the Allegheny County Health Department to host a Kindergarten Enrollment Event. The two groups joined forces to ensure that immunizations did not serve as a barrier to enrollment (a challenge presented by parents who serve on the team). In order to raise awareness and visibility about the importance of on-time enrollment and quality transitions into school, the Transition Team funded through the Community Engagement Group has adopted Ready Freddy (a friendly green frog) as its Kindergarten Transition ‘spokes-frog’. Freddy was on hand to welcome enrolling families and even demonstrated bravery in getting his own shot.
For more information about this event, please contact Ken Smythe Leistico at leistico@pitt.edu.
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Upcoming Events
2009 Events
July 12-15 CAYL's National Conference for Elementary School Principals Cambridge, MA
July 24-26 Weekend Institute: Teaching & Learning in Out-of-School Time
July 25-26 First Annual Infant Mental Health Conference, Chatham University
August 13-14 Administrator's Summit, Best Practices in ECE: The Kindergarten Year, State College
Aug-Sept Using Differentiated Instruction Appropriately in the EC Classroom Workshop
October 26-28 Early Childhood Education Summit, State College
November 8-11 2009 Annual Parents as Teachers Conference, St. Louis, MO
5th Annual Kindergarten Here I Come! Celebration - August 15, Pittsburgh
The Children's Museum Pittsburgh invites families throughout the region to the 5th Annual Kindergarten Here I Come! Celebration (pdf). This free and fun event will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2009, from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and is sponsored by the PA State Treasury nowU PA 529 College Savings Program.
This is an exciting event to celebrate this milestone and create a healthy transition not just for children, but for their parents as well. We also work to strengthen the idea that community support is essential as part of our kids' development of character and emotional well-being.
Children can:
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Meet Mr. McFeely -
Receive a "Class of 2022" t-shirt and kindergarten story book -
Meet community helpers such as a crossing guard -
Climb aboard a real school bus -
Take part in activities such as making a craft for their first memories of school and a lot of other “fun” hands-on activities -
Have free hearing, vision, speech and language screenings -
Receive a "Class of 2022" t-shirt and kindergarten story book -
Take part in a live radio broadcast
Parents and caregivers receive valuable information on preparing children for kindergarten and can consult with experts in nutrition, after school programs, bullying, proper immunization and more.
Free admission is available for every child entering kindergarten and one parent. Kindergarten celebration activities take place from 9 am to 1 pm. Afterwards the kindergarten children and the adult accompanying them can remain in the Museum to enjoy the rest of the Museum until closing time at 5 pm.
For more information, visit Kindergarten Here I Come! website.
The museum partners with the Pittsburgh Public Schools Head Start/Early Childhood Program, PAEYC, Beginning with Books, RIF, Office of Child Development, the Carnegie Library, Family Communications and a plethora of other organizations every year on a free celebration event for kindergarten age children.
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Action Requested
Request for Nominees for the Ronald Cowell Award
The State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention is looking for nominations for the Ronald Cowell Award For Excellence in Service to Young Children with Disabilities and their Families.
Those eligible to be nominated include an individual who has had a significant impact on Early Intervention public policy development, Early Intervention practices or staff development. Priority will be given to individuals whose influence had a statewide effect. Those eligible to be nominated include may Parents, Providers of Early Intervention Services, Higher Education Personnel, Public Policy Makers, Philanthropists, and Others as determined by the selection committee. Current members of the State ICC are not eligible.
The following documentation should be submitted for each nominee:
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An essay explaining why the individual is deserving of the recognition -
Three letters of recommendation -
Other forms of substantiation of accomplishments
Nomination iformation should be sent to the following by August 13, 2009: Ms. Andrea Algatt, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, 333 Market Street, 6th Floor, Harrisburg, PA, 17126 or aalgatt@state.pa.us.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Ms. Andrea Algatt at 717-783-5058 or aalgatt@state.pa.us.
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Higher Education & Early Childhood Career Preparation News
ECE Certification Courses offered at Edinboro University
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is offering the opportunity for teachers currently certified in Elementary Education to become certified in Early Childhood Education. Students can earn certification by successfully completing four online courses:
- ELED 783-Issues and Trends in Early Literacy Education
- ELED 776-Theory and Practice in Early Childhood Education
- ELED 560-Math and Science in Early Childhood Education
- ELED 580-Assessment and Evaluation in Early Childhood Education
Students would enroll for one class in the fall, spring and summer and complete the program in the fall semester of 2010. Due to state mandated changes in teacher education, this program will only be offered for a limited time.
Those interested may apply online at online.edinboro.edu or contact Jessica Albert at 1-888-845-2890 or jalbert@edinboro.edu.
ECE Certification Courses offered at Alvernia University
Due to demand Alvernia University has agreed to offer their Early Childhood Certification Program again. Here are the program guidelines:
1. If you have a teaching certification in anything other than Early Childhood, and have student taught, you will take one semester of classes at Alvernia and complete your ECE certification by December 2009. Classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 - 7:50.
2. If you have bachelor's degree in any other field, and have not student taught, you will follow the same schedule as #1, however, in Semester 2, you will student teach. Your student teaching may be at your current place of employment. You will complete your degree by May 2010.
To participate in the Fall classes, please contact Ellen Engler at 610-796-8285 to register.
Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction offered at King's College
The Education Department and the Graduate Division at King's College announce a new program for teachers (pdf): Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction.
This new PDE-approved, 30-credit graduate program (pdf) offers a basic, core knowledge of curriculum and instruction (15 credits), plus the ability to choose an area of concentration, to gain in-depth knowledge. Concentrations include:
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PK-4 Elementary Education (15 credits) -
English as a Second Language (ESL) (15 credits) -
Mathematics Education (15 credits) -
Science Education (15 credits)
For more information, e-mail brigetford@kings.edu or call King’s College at (570) 208-5991.
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Resources for Early Learning Professionals
Parent Guides Available Through The University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development
The University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development now has available two sets of parent guides.
The first is specifically geared for foster parents who not only need to know the basics of raising a child, but also how certain parenting issues may affect a child who has been removed from his or her home and placed in foster care. You & Your Foster Child is a series of easy-to-use guides written especially for foster parents to provide information and advice on 20 topics that may be encountered while caring for a foster child. These guides are offered free of charge to foster parents, family organizations, agencies, professionals, and others who work with foster children and their families.
The second is geared for all parents. You & Your Child helps to keep parents informed. This series of easy-to-use guides provides information and advice on 50 parenting topics and is offered free of cost to parents and organizations, agencies and professionals who work with children and families.
The documents are designed back to back; one side with a bit of developmental information, the reverse side practical tips. Hard copies of all the topics can be obtained by contacting the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, or can be downloaded from the website.
For additional information, please contact Ray Firth, Policy Initiatives Director, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development at 412-244-5361 or rfirth@pitt.edu.
Quick Break Videos on Benefits of Early Education
Need a quick video to explain key benefits of early education- promoting strong brain development, preparing children for school, and building a stronger workforce and economy? Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children has prepared three five-minute videos that incorporate important research and testimonials to tell the story of the importance of quality early education.
Highlights of Pennsylvania early childhood programs are included as well as interviews with Dr. Jack Shonkoff of Harvard University, Rob Grunewald of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and PDE Secretary Gerald Zahorchak, among others.
Please take a few moments to view the videos on the PA Promise for Children website or visit our YouTube Channel. You may download the videos to use at meetings, in presentations, or to forward to friends and colleagues.
The pieces were prepared in prepared in partnership with PBS 39. Funding support provided by The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Partnership for America's Economic Success and the William Penn Foundation.
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