Serving Region 3: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana & Lawrence Counties
GRANTS & awards
New: Dec./Jan. Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Grant
Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement Grant
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development, has released the Announcement ELRC 23 #05 Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement Award.
This Announcement announces the Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Awards, a one-time Award paid to eligible child care programs with a Department of Human Services (DHS) regular Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and designated as a Keystone STAR 2, 3, or 4. This Award is paid through Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs), on behalf of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), directly to eligible child care programs.
Keystone STARS is an initiative of OCDEL to improve, support, and recognize the quality of Pennsylvania’s early learning and school-age programs. Providing financial awards, including tiered reimbursement, to Keystone STAR 2, 3, and 4 providers is one strategy implemented by OCDEL to improve early learning outcomes. To further support all Keystone STAR 2, 3, and 4 programs within the early childhood education (ECE) industry, DHS approved a one-time Keystone STARS CQI Award using federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) funds.
For additional information, including general provider eligibility requirements, policy exceptions, award amounts, allowable and ineligible expenses, award process and timelines, please see the Announcement ELRC 23 #05 Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement Award.
If you are a child care provider in ELRC Region 3 please contact Kathy Hanley if you have specific questions about this grant at khanley@earlylearningconnections.org
ARPA Stabilization Grant - Update
Expired - ARPA Stabilization Grant Applications
Available Now in PD Registry
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grant application is now available to eligible child care providers in the Professional Development (PD) Registry.
Learn how to apply by viewing the tutorial video or the tip sheet.
Additional information, including instructions, FAQs and previous announcements can be found on the ARPA Stabilization Grants Page on Pennsylvania Key website. Eligible providers are encouraged to review these materials thoroughly BEFORE submitting an application. In addition, your ELRC is prepared to help you think about the best use of the funds in your program.
PLEASE NOTE: If at any time during the application process you disagree with information that is listed for your location, you should STOP and contact your regional ELRC. Stop the application process and contact your ELRC immediately if you disagree with any of the following information entered by the system in each provider’s application:
The licensed capacity listed in the application under the “Licensing & Affiliations” section as “capacity.” This should be the same number as your CER issued by Certification. The Keystone STAR designation in the application listed under the “STARS Add-on" section. The CCW enrollment counts for March 13, 2020, and/or March 11, 2021, listed under the “Child Care Works Add-on" section.
Click here to apply.
The application will be available in the PD Registry until Jan. 31, 2022. There is a robust amount of funding, but as with all things, grants are based on the availability of funds.
ARPA Stabilization Grant - Update
ARPA Stabilization Grant Update - Calculation
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grants available to eligible child care providers. This email will help eligible certified child care providers (child care center, group child care homes, family child care homes) understand how much ARPA Stabilization Grant funding they can anticipate receiving when they submit an application.
OCDEL partnered with Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) to develop an evidence-based methodology to distribute ARPA Stabilization Grants to eligible certified child care providers throughout the commonwealth. The American Rescue Plan Act Stabilization Subgrants for Child Care Providers Summary Report will provide information on how stabilization grants will be calculated for eligible certified providers.
View the ARPA Subgrants for Child Care Providers Summary Report
OCDEL and ISRA also collaborated to create a certified provider Stabilization Grant Estimator. This tool allows certified providers to input information specific to their program and better understand how much their stabilization grant could be when they apply. The dollar amount the tool provides is only an estimate. The actual grant amount may differ when the application is submitted for approval.
Try the ARPA Stabilization Grant – Certified Provider Estimator
See past and upcoming Announcements regarding OCDEL ARPA Stabilization Grants here: www.pakeys.org/arpastabilizationgrants.
ARPA Stabilization Grant Update - Eligibility
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grants available to eligible child care providers. This email will help you understand whether your certified child care center, group child care home, or family child care home is eligible.
Is your certified program eligible?
Eligibility for the Stabilization Grants has been established in ARPA, by the federal Office of Child Care (OCC) and Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Fiscal Code (HB 1348). To qualify, certified child care providers must:
Have a regular or provisional Certificate of Compliance on or before March 11, 2021;
At the time of application, be either open and available to provide child care or be in a temporarily closed status due to a COVID-19 pandemic related reason; Providers in a temporarily closed status must plan to reopen by Sept. 30, 2021; andAt the time of application, a providers’ Certificate of Compliance cannot be in the Revocation or Refuse to Renew status with the OCDEL Bureau of Certification Services.
Note: Some relative Child Care Works (CCW) providers may also be eligible for an ARPA Stabilization Grant. Information about the relative provider eligibility and application process will be shared directly with those providers.
On Aug. 18, 2021, OCDEL issued communications on creating an account and claiming your organization in the PD Registry. Having an organization claimed in the PD Registry is a requirement for eligible providers to apply for a stabilization grant. If you missed that communication, you can access it here.
Questions?
Send questions about creating an account and claiming your organization in the PD Registry to registry@pakeys.org. Please include your program’s MPI number.
Send questions about eligibility for the Stabilization Grant to your ELRC (find your ELRC)
Stay Tuned!
Next week’s Stabilization Grant Update will focus on information you need to prepare to apply, allowable expenses and how to think about your budget.
See past and upcoming Announcements regarding OCDEL ARPA Stabilization Grants here.
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Now Available for Licensed Child Care Providers In Region 3
Early learning Connections announces the implementation of the Rapid Response Team.
The Rapid Response Team is a short-term support that provides resources and classroom management techniques to help in the prevention of a child's suspension or expulsion from a licensed childcare.
Licensed childcare providers, as well as parents/guardians of children attending licensed childcare providers, in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana and Lawrence Counties can request support by contacting:
Jennifer Lohr, RRT Coordinator
Call: 724-287-2761x316
email: RRTRegion3@earlylearningconnections.org