Pennsylvania Child Care Association

03/23/2026

𝙱𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙽𝙴𝚆𝚂!
𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐂𝐂𝐒𝐑𝐑) 𝐩𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 $𝟒𝟓𝟎 𝐭𝐨 $𝟔𝟒𝟓.

For more information: https://www.pakeys.org/elrc-26-01/

Start Strong PA

03/20/2026

Happy Spring!

Equinox! Happy Spring / Happy Fall, depending on where you find yourself on this precious planet of ours.

03/17/2026

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗦
We invite passionate speakers to submit workshop proposals for the 2026 Early Childhood Education Summit that engage, educate, and inspire attendees committed to the development and well-being of young children. This is an opportunity to contribute valuable insights, foster professional growth, and shape the future of early childhood education in Pennsylvania.

This year's theme is …
𝑩𝑼𝑰𝑳𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑩𝑹𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑭𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬𝑺.
Children • Families • Educators • Communities

Our focus is on groundbreaking policy and program strategies that improve outcomes for children, families, and educators.

https://whova.com/call_for_speakers/NLBWDUfU1Rd7T4bVkI8ARyDZtNMHLWXMTO20TBPuphJjIRiXVc%40B9mGeZKGLA8UuH/

03/02/2026

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄
“Because early childhood educators spend so much time with the infants and toddlers in their care, they play a crucial role developing those feelings of well-being that set young learners up for a lifetime of healthy relationships. “

“When families or educators experience stress in their adult lives — such as financial strain caused by low wages and lack of health care — that can reduce their capacity for providing safe, stable, and nurturing relationships for infants and toddlers.”

Start Strong PA

Early childhood educators can play a vital role in promoting early relational health for students, famiiles, and communities.

03/01/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞c
The PA One Book Committee has announced that the 2026 PA One Book selection is The Great Cookie Kerfuffle, written by Jessica Shaw and illustrated by Pauline Gregory. As part of the program, libraries and certified early learning programs across Pennsylvania will receive copies of The Great Cookie Kerfuffle, and downloadable activity sheets will be available on the PA One Book website, along with additional activities aligned to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.

What it’s about: A friendly little farm breaks into chaos as increasing numbers of farm animals fight over a dropped cookie, until there’s trouble overhead! United against a common enemy, the animals learn that friendship and taking care of each other is more important than winning a fight.

Pennsylvania One Book Early Literacy Program The Pennsylvania One Book initiative is a valuable program that highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers and the significance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activit...

02/25/2026

“Having child care is not really a luxury,” she said. “I feel like it’s become more and more of an essential infrastructure in our society.”

Dana Eldridge and Paul Miller opened their first day care center in 2005 after nearly a decade of running a popular martial arts summer school. Over the next 15 years, they opened four more locations and expanded from school-aged children to including infants and toddlers. At its peak, Active Learni...

02/25/2026

We have lost another pioneer in early childhood education and care. Thelma Harms was widely known as the lead co-author of the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS). I remember fondly being trained in the School-Age Scales and discussing the differences between Early Childhood and school-age including deep discussions around implementing the scales in shared space. It is amazing how quickly time moves forward. She will be missed.

Honoring a true thought leader.

Thelma Harms, former director of curriculum development at FPG and a pioneering early childhood educator and researcher who helped define quality in early childhood classrooms worldwide, passed away on February 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. She was 100.

Learn more about Harms and her legacy: https://go.unc.edu/Gq63N

02/25/2026

CONGRATULATIONS! Great move-up celebration at Kings and Queens Early Learning Center in Reading on Feb. 19th. Pictured: Rep. Manny Guzman, Mildred’s mother, Daisy-Mildred’s daughter, Mayor Eddie Moran, Senator Judy Schwank, Rep. Johanna Cepeda-Freytiz, Maribel Sepulveda, longtime friend and supporter of Mildred, Mildred & Guadalupe Muniz, Centro Hispano, Paola Bisono Torres, Michelle Wunder (PACCA) and Sheri Roth, ELRC Quality Coach.

Start Strong PA

02/25/2026

𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐓
On Monday, February 23, OCDEL sent out an advisory regarding ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from carrying out immigration enforcement actions, including arrests, in protected areas such as medical and behavioral health care facilities and social services establishments. It is now possible that U.S. DHS may attempt to conduct immigration enforcement activities in these settings. Read more here:
https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/governor/documents/healthcaresocialservices-immigrationenforcement.pdf

02/24/2026

𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆!
Pennsylvania REPRESENTS at the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Public Policy Forum in Washington, DC this week. Onward to visit Pennsylvania's Congressional Delegation today. Thank you to PennAEYC Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children for organizing our delegation of PA ECE Advocates!

02/23/2026

Who said snowstorm? That didn't stop over 25 Pennsylvania early childhood advocates from attending the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Public Policy Forum in DC this week. Pennsylvania had front row table(s). Soon they will be in the Capitol connecting with Senators Fetterman and McCormick and other members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation. Pictured Danielle Olson and Kim Bastian from PACCA and Nicole Fetherman, Executive Director for LifeSpan Child Care.