Change Impacts ERS Visits for STARS Providers 

An upcoming change for ERS visits means that only sites intending to move up a STAR level will schedule ERS visits so they can lock in their increased STAR level before next year. When the revised Keystone STARS program launches on July 1, 2017, currently designated programs will be able to maintain their 2016-17 STAR level through 2017-18. Effective February 1, 2017, OCDEL will prioritize scheduling of Environment Rating Scale (ERS) visits to programs moving to a higher STAR level before June 30, 2017.  

Due to this prioritization, all types of STAR level maintenance ERS visits will be postponed until further notice, and will resume after the move-up ERS visits are complete. Current ERS scores will be extended for two years for programs renewing their STARS Designation. For more information, visit the PA Key website or contact your Regional Key. 

Program Quality Assessment Team Blog Goes Live
The PA Key announces the launch of an all new blog, “Let’s Talk Quality! Program Quality Assessment in PA.” Visit frequently to learn about high quality practices in early childhood and school age programming, how developmentally appropriate practices support the use of the Environment Rating Scale® (ERS®) and much more. New posts will occur each week. You can even submit questions to the team by completing the contact form found on the blog. Check it out today!
Blog URLs
programqualityassessmentinpa.org
programqualityassessmentinpa.net
programqualityassessmentinpa.com

Register to be a PA One Book Guest Reader or Host Site: Registration through March 8th 

Help support early literacy during April through Pennsylvania's One Book Every Young Child!  Individuals are invited to be a PA One Book reader during the month of April at an early learning program in your community. Registration is also open for early learning programs to host a guest reader during April. The PA One Book, Every Young Child is Pennsylvania's collaborative project using the vehicle of "One Book, One State" program to highlight the importance of early literacy development. 

This year's selection, Daniel Finds a Poem, written and illustrated by Micha Archer, is a story about a boy who goes on an adventure through a park trying to find answers to his question, "What is poetry?" 

Reading events will take place during April. Guest readers are provided with a copy of the book and can select a time and date during April that works best with their schedule. Register to be a guest reader by completing the Guest Reader Online Registration. Register to be a host site by completing the Host Site Online Registration.

Updated Flyer - Save the Date - SACC Mini-Conference 4/7/17             

Finding Kindergarten Registration Information

Many Pennsylvania counties have provided Kindergarten registration information for their school districts. Families throughout the state can access this information and help prepare their child for the important transition into Kindergarten. Early learning programs can share this information with their families as well! Find Kindergarten registration information in your community at the PA Promise for Children website.

Training Lists & Updated Events 

• Generational Differences - 2/21/17 in Lancaster 
• Art PD - 2/22/17 & 3/22/17 in Williamsport 
• Transition Conference - 2/23/17 at PaTTAN 
• Mid-State Training List - February 2016
• ERS Training List - Spring 2017 
  

Core Series Training

• STARS Orientation at CAECTI 2/21/17
  Part I from 9-12 and Part II from 12:30-3:30
• ERS Foundations in Lititz on 2/20/17 from 10-12
• ECERS-3 in Lititz on 2/20/17 from 1-4 
• ECERS-3 in York on 2/20/17 from 9:30-12:30
  

Other Training Organizations & Online Training 

• Online Director Credential Courses at Northampton
  
• Northampton online Workshops 
  
• Early Childhood Investigations Webinar schedule 
• Child Care Lounge online course list
  

Webinar Highlight

•  Handling Change Starts with Leaders Themselves: Exploring Effective Approaches to Personal and Professional Change - As leaders we often focus so much on helping others handle change, we leave someone important out of the picture – ourselves! Yet, how we take care of ourselves during times of personal or professional change directly impacts our effectiveness in helping others cope with change. This webinar will give participants a chance to take stock of where they are in the process of change, and offer practical ideas for successfully navigating current and future changes.