An Overview of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1

• An Overview of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanias
  QRIS System PAs Early Learning Keys to Quality
• Rebecca E. Gomez, M.Ed.
• Southeast Regional Key

2
Background and Inception of PAs System

• Created in 2002 as a quality rating system and
  operated within fixed number of providers through
  a case management system
• Since the inception of Keystone STARS, the
  performance standards have been the bedrock of
  the program
• They are guided by the principle that quality
  early learning programs are the foundation for
  childrens success, and that investment in the
  early care and education of PAs children is an
  investment in the future
• The Keystone STARS Performance Standards reflect
  research-based practices to improve outcomes for
  children
• They are organized into 4 STAR levels that build
  upon each other in order to support continuous
  quality improvement Accreditation is the top
  tier of the System (NAEYC, NAFCC, NAA, COA and
  NACCP).

3
Governance A System-Oriented Reorganization

• Office of Child Development and Early Learning
  (OCDEL) created in September 2004
• The goal of OCDEL is to create a seamless system
  to serve young children and their families
• OCDEL, through its volunteer committees, analyzed
  all programming and decided to develop the
  Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality
• The new structure brought programs for children
  and families from the Departments of Public
  Welfare and Education under one umbrella
• PA Early Learning Keys to Quality launched in
  July 2005.

4
PA Early Learning Keys to Quality

• Vision
• All Pennsylvania families will have access to
  high-quality early care and education and
  school-age child care opportunities for their
  children that foster success in school and in
  life.
• Mission
• To create a quality improvement system in which
  all early learning programs and practitioners are
  encouraged and supported to improve child
  outcomes. Improvements in programming are
  designed to increase the capacity to support
  childrens learning and development increase
  educational attainment among practitioners
  enhance professional skills and competencies in
  support of childrens learning and development.

5
Goals to Define Work

• Establish new early learning programs
• Build the capacity of child care as partner for
  school readiness
• Improve professional preparation development of
  teachers administrators
• Assure access for most disadvantaged
• Engage parents and other stakeholders
• Fully coordinate efforts of Welfare Education
  Departments Office of Child Development and
  Early Learning.

6
Aligning the System with Vision, Mission, and
Goals

• STARS Standards, Training/Professional
  Development, Assistance, Resources and Supports
• Bring Professional Development and Program
  Quality together into the 6 Regional Keys with
  partners PA Key and OCDEL (lesson learned)
• Create a SYSTEM - all resources (financing etc.)
  examined to insure alignment with State
  objectives and linkages to STARS quality program
  improvement within DPW and PDE
• STARS Advisory Committee reviews standards and
  recommends protocol/program changes.

7
System Administration A Regional Approach
8
Regional Key Responsibilities Professional
Development System-Building

• Provide integrated PD and TA to support facility
  and practitioner participation and movement in
  STARS
• Provide PD and TA to support practitioners and
  facilities to maintain Certification compliance
• Facilitate access to PD and TA to assist
  practitioner movement along the career lattice
• Coordinate regular communication and purposeful
  collaboration to facilitate the integration of PD
  and TA opportunities build long-term
  cross-system and interagency relationships.

9
Professional Development System

• Conduct Professional Development and Technical
  Assistance inventories to determine the regions
  needs and resources
• Develop early childhood education professional
  development and technical assistance plans and
  administer funds in the region directly and via
  subcontracts
• Develop credit-bearing offerings and promote
  articulation agreements to assist in transferring
  credits from two-year to four-year colleges.

10
System Coordination PA Key/ OCDEL

• Responsible for statewide coordination of system
  components such as
• Management of statewide professional development
  credential programs, reimbursement strategies,
  registry
• Provision of technical assistance to community
  engagement groups in Regional Keys
• Facilitate Early Childhood Mental Health Project
  housed in Regional Keys
• Coordinate Environmental Rating Scales
• Statewide workgroups and advisory groups (e.g.
  Cross-systems Technical Assistance workgroup).

11
System Coordination PA Key/ OCDELcontinued

• Responsible for statewide coordination of other
  Quality Initiatives that are built on the STARS
  Program
• Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts
• Head Start Supplemental Programs.

12
Financing the QRIS System

• Significant Commonwealth Investment up-front
• CCDF 180,205,000
• Federal TANF Transfer to CCDF 168,534,000
• Direct Federal TANF Spending on Child Care
  24,499,000
• State CCDF Maintenance of Effort Funds
  46,629,000
• State Matching Funds 52,933,000
• Total Funds Available 472,800,000
• Other funding sources - e.g. Accountability Block
  Grant for Pre-K Counts
• 21 Quality Set-Aside.

13
Paying for STARS SFY 06/07

• 6,527,422 Regional Keys (STAR Management)
• 5,072,729 Professional Development and
  Technical Assistance (through Regional Keys)
• 2,128,986 Community Engagement (58 Community
  grants through the Keys)
• 22.5 million - Payouts to providers
• 10,674,907 PA Key (PD, ERS, TA to Keys)
• 46,753,937 Total 06/07 for Keystone STARS.

14
STARS Supports SFY 07/08
07/08 2 tiers 5-25 subsidy and 26
15
STARS Merit Awards SFY 07/08
07/08 2 tiers 5-25 subsidy and 26,
16
Education and Retention Award
07/08 - Over 5 Subsidy in the program to qualify
Director - BA in ECE Staff - BA in ECE Staff - AA in ECE Staff - CDA
STAR 2 3,090 2,320 1,545 525
STAR 3 3,605 2,705 1,805 615
STAR 4 4,120 3,090 2,060 700
17
Keystone STARS/ Child Care Works Subsidy Add- On
Programs with STAR 2 and above receive a per
child add-on to Child Care Works Subsidy Rate as
of September 2007
Daily Increase for STAR 2 STAR 3 STAR 4
Full-time 0.25 0.75 1.00
Part-time 0.15 0.40 0.50
18
Outreach and Community Engagement

• Engage local stakeholders, planning groups,
  certification representatives, institutions of
  higher education, parents, school district
  representatives, and the community at large in
  early care and education
• Oversee the work of the Community Engagement
  contractors in each of the local areas
• Develop opportunities for increased financial
  resources partnering to support quality ECE
  within the region.

19
Pennsylvanias Promise for Children
20
PAs Promise for Children
21
Lessons Learned

• System versus Silo

SERK
Mental Health
Early Interv.
CCIS
Support Systems
TA/PD/ERS
Parents
Higher Ed
Advocacy
Head Start
Policy Makers
Schools
Regulatory
22
Lessons Learned, contd

• Think about accountability what if there is a
  burned out STAR? How do you review, suspend,
  remove STARS? Could be legal considerations
• How much does it cost, or take, for programs to
  make the improvements you require? How does this
  relate to financing? (substitutes, PD/TA costs,
  materials, etc.)
• If the program is a statewide QRS, how do you
  maintain statewide consistency, while allowing
  for regional flexibility?

23
Final Thoughts and Next Steps

• Working on CQI in higher at risk programs,
  supporting quality in diverse early learning
  settings thinking about new strategies
• Leadership at all levels
• Supporting people doing the work
• Accountability better data and statistics for
  decision making at the program level and the
  state level
• Continuous Quality Improvement for the Continuous
  Quality Improvement System.

24
Contact Information

• Rebecca E. Gomez, M.Ed.
• Southeast Regional Key
• 1500 S. Columbus Blvd. Floor 2
• Philadelphia, PA 19146
• rgomez_at_seregionalkey.org
• 215-271-1267