Special Edition:
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
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ECE PDOs Partner with IHEs to Affect Local Efforts to Transform Professional Pathways for Early Educators |
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Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) play an integral role in ensuring early educators have the skills, competencies and knowledge that is needed to best support early development. However, the role and competencies of early educators have not always been clearly defined and many faculty find it difficult to balance the unique needs of early educators working in child care with the priorities of their institution. This is not a challenge that is unique to Pennsylvania.
The PDOs do more than cover tuition costs. PDOs also provide funding to IHEs in order to address inequities in the ECE credentialing system, especially as they pertain to child care staff. Holy Family University in Philadelphia has partnered with PHMC to ensure all early educators have access to a meaningful BA Program. Through this partnership with PHMC, Holy Family was able to finalize a program-to-program articulation agreement with Community College of Philadelphia. This was the first 2+2 agreement for Holy Family and offers a seamless opportunity for students to advance from AA to BA and increase their Career Pathway level, a pathway that is very common for child care based early educators. Additionally, through PDO support Holy Family has expanded this effort to include a Pre- ECE Pathway which provides a transfer option designed to support students who may be missing a PDE requirement or who have an AA in a non-PK4 area. This program allows for requirements to be taken at Holy Family and means Holy Family can support students as they work to meet the PDE requirements (GPA and Basic Skills) through tutoring services and Basic Skills Workshops before moving into the PK4 Pathway. This is one example of the win-win relationship that is set up with PDOs and IHEs partner to meet the needs of the early childhood workforce.
PDOs are the first step an interested candidate takes to learn more about regional career pathway options. This means PDOs have a close connection to both the ECE workforce and to partners providing these pathways. PDOs bridge these relationships and work with IHE partners to determine the best method for introducing needed student supports. This means PDOs cast a wide net of support to students directly and through partnerships with IHEs. From technical supports — such as computers and Wi-Fi that facilitate online learning, to bilingual curricula, apprenticeships, mentorship and coaching, CPR training, and tutoring access-- to supports that lead to better alignment, awareness and collaboration across the region.
ECE PDO @ PASSHE newly launched “PDO Podcasts” offer news, views, tips, and tools geared to include, inspire, and ignite an enthusiasm for learning. PASSHE also organizes regionalized Facebook groups to offer supportive environments that invite sharing of mutual experiences and challenges and create touchpoints of connection with colleagues and instructors. This fall PASSHE PDO held listening sessions specifically geared toward raising the voices of early educators in their regions. With the goal of highlighting the experience and expertise of participants, PASSHE was able to dig deeper into the methods that are have had a lasting impact and the perceptions of the field. One participant’s reaction to how the work of the PDO has allowed her to move forward on her career pathway clearly demonstrates the need for an aligned, low-cost system. Pallavi Priyadarshini is a multi-lingual early childhood educator in Erie who is currently taking advantage of the free tuition provided by ECE PDO@PASSHE. With a CDA credential under her belt, Pallavi is now studying to earn her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Edinboro University. “The support offered by the PDO has helped me to excel. The flexible online environment makes it very easy to balance home, work, and school. We are so fortunate to be able to get the CDA and degrees without cost. The PDO has made this possible for me,” she said.
For the past three years, PDOs have supported IHEs as they make adjustments to their programs in order to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the ECE workforce and this work will continue. Later this winter and into the spring, each PDO will release new opportunities for IHEs to join the effort. Through this process, partners can request funding to align their program with the needs of the ECE workforce and the cost of offering this pathway. In return for this effort, the PDOs can direct participants towards ECE specific pathways that prepare them for success. The work of the PDOs can be forward facing, as the examples provided by PASSHE or less noticeable such as the systems building example provided by PHMC. Either way, changes that the PDOs support depend heavily upon the needs of the region and even more on the innovation and responsiveness of ECE Leaders looking to build a better system.
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Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators |
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In response to the recent National context, Pennsylvania is adopting a new set of PA PSCECE. This set of standards and competencies will replace the PA Core Knowledge Competencies (CKCs) and have been adopted from the national Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. The PA Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators are the general knowledge and skills that educators need to know and be able to demonstrate. They are not the standards and competencies needed for specific professions and occupations within the early childhood field.
The PA PSCECE will replace the CKC’s in the Spring of 2022, once the PD Registry is updated to reflect the new Professional Standards and Competencies. During this transition time, OCDEL recommends all early childhood educators and IHEs view the asynchronous course on the new Professional Standards and Competencies and become familiar them. PQAS instructors will continue to code courses in the PD Registry with the current CKCs. PD Registry training targeted to PQAS instructors on the new PA PSCECE will be available in the Spring 2022. This training will provide updated information on coding courses using the new Standards and Competencies.
OCDEL is working with PDE to update PK-4 Certification guidelines to reflect the new PA Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. Stay tuned for more information.
Viewing options for the PA PSCECEs are listed below.
Competencies for Administrators
When the transition to the PA PSCECE is complete, it is important to note they do not include Program Organization and Administration Standards and Competencies. For those, the field will continue to use K8 of the Core Knowledge Competences (K8 begins on page 44). Revised competencies for administrators will soon be under development.
Available Training and Additional Resources for Implementation
Faculty and Instructors at Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), Career and Technology Education (CTE) and post-secondary education programs interested in connecting work to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) or the Pennsylvania Key please visit the Higher Education page on the Pennsylvania Key website.
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Early Childhood Education Alternative Career Pathway Level A and B Credentialing System |
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Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) through its partnership with the Pennsylvania Key (PA Key) is seeking to contract with an individual to develop two, system-supported Early Childhood Education Credentials. This work will add two additional, system-supported options for child care staff to Pennsylvania’s Career Pathway-an alternative Level A ECE Competency Credential and an alternative Level B ECE Competency Credential.
- Offer IHEs the flexibility they need to leverage the incumbent workforce’s prior learning and experience in more diverse ways; Such as work-based learning
- Allow the incumbent workforce to learn from trusted members of their community while also knowing their efforts will be of value towards a degree]
- Act as an accelerant to the adoption of and alignment to the National and/or PA ECE Standards and Competencies for both community and IHE partners
- Develop a framework of professional development that engages all levels of early childhood educator and lends itself to shared competencies, skills and knowledge across the profession.
- Speed the credentialing of the workforce while reducing costs and keep funding in state.
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Congratulations to the Community College of Philadelphia for their recent NAEYC Accreditation! |
The Early Childhood Education Program at CCP has served Philadelphia and surrounding counties for half a century preparing teachers for childcare/preschool and the primary grades. Drawing students from all Philadelphia neighborhoods and from a range of ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and experiential backgrounds, the Program is representative of our diverse, multicultural society.
The Program offers a two-year Associate in Arts degree, which prepares graduates to work as teachers, childcare practitioners and directors, parent educators, children's recreation staff, teacher assistants and instructional aides. In 2017, engagement with District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund and First Up led to the creation of a model Apprenticeship Program funded by the William Penn Foundation and Vanguard Charitable Trust. Using a supportive network of on-site coaches and faculty mentor/advisors, apprentices follow a mapped sequence of courses and work-related experiences designed to develop NAEYC Standards-aligned competencies and leading to the Associates degree.
The Program also currently offers Child Development Associate credential classes, with face-to-face and online/hybrid options. An Early Childhood Education Proficiency Certificate was created in 2017. Awarded after successful completion of three Education courses, this certificate for early care and education professionals provides a stackable credential and an impetus for degree completion. The ECE Program has worked diligently to develop and cultivate relationships with schools and childcare centers throughout the Philadelphia region. Partnerships include The Barnes Foundation, the Please Touch Museum, Smith Playground and Playhouse, the Kimmel Center, the Arden Theater, as well as continued collaborative work with the Charlestown Playhouse.
For more information related to the ECE program at Community College of Philadelphia, visit their website.
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Save the Date: Opportunities for State and National Professional Development |
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Attendees should check with the venue for cancellations or rescheduled events.
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Find more information about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania
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The Pennsylvania Key | 200 N. 3rd St. | Harrisburg, PA 17101
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