SPECIAL EDITION! | August 2022

Special Edition:
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)

ECE PDO at PHMC and ECE PDO@PASSHE Share Project Updates

Pennsylvania's Professional Development Organizations (PDOs) across the state continue to grow the educational pathway for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) workforce. With a multitude of flexible learning options developed by institutions, the number of students and graduates continues to climb. 

 

The ECE PDO at PHMC is eager to begin the new fiscal year. Joining the Philadelphia region this is Temple University offering pathways to Bachelor’s degrees, Innovative Educational Consulting Services, and CDA coursework offered in both English and Spanish. 

 

Returning partners will continue to offer coursework through various modalities to students in Philadelphia and the Southeast Region. Innovative ECE pathways to CDA, AA, BA with or without Certification, reflect diverse teacher preparation opportunities for the incumbent workforce. Pathways that offer student supports, including tutoring, technology, books, and materials, along with a multitude of resources for health and wellness, contribute greatly to persistence and completion. 

 

The ECE PDO@PASSHE is also looking forward to the start of the new year with several new educational partners helping to expand the opportunities in all levels of the ECE pathway. With the Community College of Beaver County and Lackawanna College offering CDA coursework and Penn Highlands Community College and PennWest Clarion University offering Associate’s degrees, there are more CDA and The Professional Development Organizations across the state continue to grow the educational pathway for the ECE workforce. With a multitude of flexible learning options developed by institutions, the number of students and graduates continues to climb. 

 

The ECE PDO at PHMC is eager to begin the new fiscal year. Joining the Philadelphia region this is Temple University offering pathways to Bachelor’s degrees, Innovative Educational Consulting Services, and CDA coursework offered in both English and Spanish. 

 

Returning partners will continue to offer coursework through various modalities to students in Philadelphia and the Southeast Region. Innovative ECE pathways to CDA, AA, BA with or without Certification, reflect diverse teacher preparation opportunities for the incumbent workforce. Pathways that offer student supports, including tutoring, technology, books, and materials, along with a multitude of resources for health and wellness, contribute greatly to persistence and completion. 

 

The ECE PDO@PASSHE is also looking forward to the start of the new year with several new educational partners helping to expand the opportunities in all levels of the ECE pathway. With the Community College of Beaver County and Lackawanna College offering CDA coursework and Penn Highlands Community College and PennWest Clarion University offering Associate’s degrees, there are more CDA and AA options than ever before. Millersville University is the latest PASSHE University to join the PDO with very flexible Bachelor degree options available for the working student. 

 

The Pre-Apprenticeship and High School CDA program allows for high schoolers across the state to take coursework leading to their CDA and AA along with their high school schedule of courses. Pre-Apprentices receive a myriad of coaching and mentoring supports necessary to complete the CDA program as they earn both credits and experience in the ECE classroom. The ECE PDO@PASSHE has partnered with Carlow University, The Learning Lamp, First Start Partnerships, Shippensburg University, and Keystone College to both enroll and assist area high school ECE students in achieving approximately 9 college credits, their CDA and employment into the field upon graduation! 

 

Visit ecepdo.phmc.org as the summer progresses for more information on this work for the Philadelphia and Southeast Regions.  If you are interested in learning more about the ECE PDO at PHMC and opportunities to build ECE pathways at your institution, connect with us at ecepdo.phmc.org.  If you are located in the Northeast, Northwest, Southwest or Central part of the state, visit ecepdo.org for more information on ways your institution can become a partner.   

Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators

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


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


An asynchronous course on the Pennsylvania Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators can be viewed in Pennsylvania's Professional Development (PD) Registry.


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.

Early Childhood Education Alternative Career Pathway Level A and B Credentialing System

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. The purpose of this credential is to:


  • 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.

Colleges and Universities Offering Credential Work in Pennsylvania Asked To Complete Online Application

Pennsylvania IHEs who intend to provide credential coursework (for the Director Credential and/or School-Age Credential) for the Fall 2022 semester and upcoming school year should complete a Pennsylvania Early Childhood Credential Provider Application. The purpose of this application is to better provide resources and understand the nuances of Pennsylvania's credential coursework. Moving forward this application will need to be submitted annually.


Complete this application via Microsoft Forms.


Contact Workforce Coordinator, Amy Barrett (amybar@pakeys.org) with questions and concerns.

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Integration Plan Continues to Move Forward

PASSHE launched its System Redesign in 2017 to better meet the growing needs affecting colleges and universities nationwide. The multi-phase, Systemwide strategy is transforming education and university business models. The first two phases, which are complete, gathered information and stabilized university finances, enhanced governance and leadership, froze student tuition for four consecutive years, integrated six universities into two, and secured additional state funding.  Phase three will develop, prioritize, fund, and implement strategies that expand student opportunities, driving System growth and its economic impact on the state.


More information about both north and west integrations is available on PASSHE's website.

New Resource for Child Development Associate (CDA) Instructors and Students in Development

In partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Workforce Development team at the Pennsylvania Key is developing a resource for instructors and students based on the successes and challenges for Pennsylvania-based CDA candidates. 


Beginning in late Fall 2022 or early Winter 2023, some instructors will be invited to participate in a focus group to use the resource with their students and to provide feedback. This will be available in English and Spanish. More information is coming soon.


Questions? Contact Workforce Coordinator, Amy Barrett (amybar@pakeys.org).

Save the Date: Opportunities for State and National Professional Development

Attendees should check with the venue for cancellations or rescheduled events.


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