Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week

Teachers play an important role in shaping the lives of Pennsylvania’s youngest learners. Teachers are support systems. Connectors. Change makers. Courageous community leaders. Creative, compassionate, committed champions for kids. They work with children, families, and partners to ensure each child has opportunities to learn and grow.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, PA's Promise for Children shares moving and inspirational stories of how teachers made an impact on the lives of children. You're invited to share how a teacher has made an impact in your life or that of your child, and celebrate the impact of teachers.

May Release of PA Early Ed News

The May 2023 release of the PA Early Ed News is now available. Read the monthly e-newsletter to discover the latest developments in early childhood education and care in Pennsylvania.

Past editions are also available.

Family Newsletters   

Share with families in your program the May editions of family-friendly newsletters. Each newsletter contains activities that align with the PA Early Learning Standards, book recommendations, and resources.

• Learning is Everywhere
• Kindergarten Here I Come
• Kindergarten Here I Am

Virtual Office Hours for Family and Group Child Care Home Providers

Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers or Group Child Care Home (GCCH) providers with questions concerning their program or need resources are invited to join Janine Pagano, Family Child Care Coordinator, during the Virtual Office Hours. Janine can help answer questions or provide resources for FCCH and GCCH providers. Join the Virtual Office Hours on:

• May 10, 2023: 1:00 pm-2:00 pm and 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm
• June 13, 2023: 1:00 pm-2:00 pm and 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm
• July 12, 2023: 1:00 pm-2:00 pm and 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm

Sign in to Zoom at the specified date and time to join Virtual Office hours. For more information, contact Janine at [email protected] or 724-761-0801.

Renewing Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Pennsylvanians throughout the state may get information in the mail about renewing their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. If they and/or their children get health coverage through the state, they must complete a renewal every year. If this renewal is not completed, they and/or their children could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

When this packet arrives, they must complete and return it by the date printed on the packet. They can send it in by mail or deliver it in-person at any local County Assistance Office. They can also complete the renewal by phone at 1-866-550-4355 or online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS.

Environmental Health Understanding and Training Survey

Deadline May 19, 2023

The Healthy Childcare Partnership is a group of statewide organizations involved in childcare formed in 2022 (under the EPA Children’s Healthy Learning Environments in Low Income and Minority Communities Across Philadelphia -Cooperative Agreement -GRANT NUMBER (FAIN): 96392901); who are investigating pathways for more awareness, understanding, and training about environmental hazards and how they impact kids and staff. 

To pinpoint areas of focus, the Partnership has created a Childcare Programs Environmental Health Survey. Providers should complete the survey by Friday, May 19, 2023, so the Healthy Childcare Partnership can respond directly to interests and needs for training and policies which will keep children and staff safe and healthy in and outside of childcare spaces.

Final-form Rulemaking: 14-545. Subsidized Child Care Eligibility Regulations

In regards to the Department’s final-form rulemaking, 14-545, Subsidized Child Care Eligibility, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has scheduled its meeting to consider the final-form rulemaking for Thursday, May 18, 2023, beginning at 10 AM, as listed in its Public Meeting Agenda, which can be viewed at this link. Please note, the IRRC will have a link to view the hearing on its website, which can be viewed here. 

For a list of some FAQs, please click here.

Certified Child Care Providers: Deadline Extended to Order Two Free Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The deadline for Pennsylvania certified child care providers to order one or two Carbon Monoxide Detectors has been extended until June 30, 2023. 

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making these detectors available to certified child care providers, but the ordering and placement of detectors is not a regulatory requirement. Certified child care providers should have received an email from School Health on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, with directions. See the original release for more details.