OCDEL in Action
National Feature of New PA Self Evaluation Tool on Preschool Inclusion
Pennsylvania Early Intervention has been featured nationally in the latest edition of the Professional Development and Inclusion newsletter for its new PA Preschool Inclusion: Self Evaluation Tool. Parents and providers use the tool to support collaborative discussions and partnerships that benefit young children with special needs and their families, which address areas such as access to services and information, planning for full participation, and supports for inclusion.
For additional information about the self evaluation tool, view the PA Preschool Inclusion: Self Evaluation Tool, visit the FPG Child Development Institute website, or contact Patti Wirick, Early Intervention Technical Assistance Consultant Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, at pwirick@pattan.net.
Standards Aligned System Supports now available for Families!
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Standards Aligned System website has launched a new feature especially for families! The new section, For Families, provides information that can help families in finding quality child care, ways to partner with early learning programs, available resources to assist in their role as a child's first teacher, and ways families can voice their thoughts on quality early learning. Also available are nutritional, safety, and physical health supports.
The Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood are research based standards that identify key learning areas of development for children and are reflected in the Core Body of Knowledge competencies. The Standards guide practitioners to intentionally integrate developmental knowledge with the attitudes, skills, and concepts children need to make progress in all learning areas. The Standards Aligned System (SAS) links the elements of instruction, materials and resources, curriculum framework, fair assessment and interventions, and learning standards to children’s engagement in learning and their school success.
For additional information about the Standards Aligned System (SAS), please visit OCDEL's SAS Resources and Information Site.
Trends and Reports
10 years post-Neurons to Neighborhoods: What's at stake and what matters in child care?
The paper, 10 years post-Neurons to Neighborhoods: What's at stake and what matters in child care? (pdf) presented by Deborah Phillips, Professor of Psychology, Georgetown University, at the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) highlights the discussion of the relationship between the quality of child care environments and child stress, health, and developmental outcomes, and a call for an increase in compensation and training for child care workers.
Dr. Phillips makes the connection of how quality early learning impacts a child as a healthy individual, such as language development and control impulsive emotional and physical outbursts, and how stress can impact the future of a child. Among those connections are also how a secure attachment between a child and his or her lead teacher is protective against future negative physical, social and emotional impacts. Key to this success is the education and support for those teachers, including expanded mentoring or induction opportunities; supportive program and community leadership; stronger financially-supported preparation; equitable salaries that map onto preparation and skill; mentoring; and time for planning and peer collaboration.
In The News
Bartik Launches Blog: Investing in Kids, Early Childhood Programs and Local Economic Development
Timothy Bartik, Senior Economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, has launched his blog, Investing in Kids, which focuses on early childhood programs and local economic development policies. The weekly postings highlight some of the findings of his recently published book, Investing in Kids: Early Childhood Programs and Local Economic Development, as well as comments on the broader policy issues involved with early childhood programs and economic development programs.
Dr. Bartik's postings also include additional sources from other blogs and articles relating to pre-K and a variety of subjects, such as class size, teacher quality, incentives, investments in early childhood education, and the importance of learning the necessary social and emotional skills.
In addition to his work at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Dr. Bartik was also a guest presenter during the 2010 Economic Summit in Harrisburg, PA where he presented Impact of Quality Early Childhood Programs on the Economy.
Millcreek center offers child care for medically fragile children
Melissa Colucci figured she was going to have to quit her job. Her infant daughter, Madison, was born Aug. 5th with a serious heart problem. She underwent two surgeries the week she was born and wasn't allowed home until she was seven weeks old.
Even then, Madison required a feeding tube, so placing her in traditional child care wasn't an option for Colucci and her husband, Jeff. "We tried using day nurses at the house, but that wasn't working out," said Colucci, who lives in Lake City. "I thought I'd have to quit my job at the law office, and stay home with Madison and (her twin sister) Lexie."
A maintenance man at the law office provided Colucci with another option. A child care center for children with complex medical issues was going to open right next door to where she worked. Colucci couldn't believe her good fortune.
Read the entire article on the Erie Times News website. For information about Early Intervention services and supports, please visit the PA Department of Education website.
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