Keystone STARS Orientation will begin at 9:00 am

Tom W. Corbett, Governor I Ronald J. Tomalis, Secretary of Education l Gary D. Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare www.education.state.pa.us | www.dpw.state.pa.us

Office of Child Development & Early Learning

Keystone STARS Orientationwill begin at 9:00 am

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Keystone STARS Orientation

Justin Esposito and Adrienne Smyth, OCDEL



Who is with us?

A. STARS Specialists/Managers B. STARS DesignatorsC. Grants/Fiscal ManagersD. PD/TA ManagersE. OCDEL Program Office Staff



Keystone STARS Orientation“Rules for discussion”

• Use Emoticons as Webinar is in progress.

• Use chat to ask questions.

• Remember all chat can be seen by everyone!



Today’s FocusFor participants to gain a better understanding of:• The Office of Child Development and Early

Learning (OCDEL)• Roles and Responsibilities of ODCEL, the PA

Key, and the Regional Key• Types of Professional Development• Keystone STARS• Early Learning Services (ELS) Announcements• PELICAN



Office of Child Developmentand Early Learning

Because every child is Pennsylvania’s future



Office of Child Development and Early Learning

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) promotes opportunities for all Pennsylvania children and families by building systems and providing supports that help ensure access to high quality child and family services.



PA Keys to Quality and Early Learning Themes for 10/11

1. Assure quality program design, implementation, and integration.

2. Meet the diverse needs of families and engage stakeholders.

3. Assure sound financial and performance management, document program impact, and maximize resources.









Roles and Responsibilities of System Partners

Partners:•OCDEL•PA Key•Six Regional Keys

Categories:•Evaluation & Accountability•Leadership•Administration & Management•Professional Development (PD) & Technical Assistance (TA)•Community Outreach



OCDEL (Evaluation & Accountability)1. Develops an evaluation framework to assess

the process and outcomes of Keys to Quality.2. Establishes participation and STAR level

targets in cooperation with Regional Key leadership.

3. Monitors through the Program Review Instrument (PRI) specific deliverables of the contract.

4. Supports the development and implementation of the PELICAN Keys to Quality Data System.



PA Key (Evaluation & Accountability)1. Supports development and implementation of web

based PD calendar and practitioner registry at www.pakeys.org.

2. Assist OCDEL in evaluating data and providing feedback by region on amount and types of PD and TA delivered.

3. In consultation with OCDEL, supports development of policies and procedures to ensure consistent, reliable implementation of TA, PD, and STARS designations.

4. Manages ERS assessments system.



Regional Key (Evaluation & Accountability)1. Assesses, evaluates and improves the success

of regional implementation of Keystone STARS.2. Maintains regional data on Early Childhood

Education (ECE) quality and practitioner PD/education.

3. Provides regional support to providers using the Early Learning Network.

4. Achieves monthly and annual STARS provider movement targets.

5. Completes quarterly PRI reports.



OCDEL (Leadership)1. Develops benchmarks for quality improvement

in the early learning system and tracks progress in achieving these benchmarks.

2. Identifies and targets financial resources of ECE programs with the PA Key, Regional Keys, and STARS Advisory.

3. Reviews and revises the STARS standards, policies and procedures.



PA Key (Leadership)1. Implements Pennsylvania’s quality

improvement agenda with OCDEL.2. Leads the work on engagement of the higher

education community.3. Coordinates state-wide policies and practices 4. Facilitates coordination of cross-sector behavior

supports.



Regional Key (Leadership)1. Provides overall leadership to their Region in

achieving the quality benchmarks set forth for Keystone STARS.

2. Meets regularly and engages on a county and regional level to ensure a strong working relationship and shared vision for the quality improvement system with stakeholders.

3. Develops a plan for delivering PD opportunities which assist practitioners to attain higher levels on the PA career lattice.



OCDEL (Administration & Management)1. Directly contracts with, supervises, and

partners with the PA Key and Regional Keys.2. Supervises and monitors the work of the PA

Key and Regional Keys by developing contracts and work plans for administration and implementation of Keystone STARS and the PA Professional Development (PD) system.



PA Key (Administration & Management)1. Oversees statewide administration of the PD system.2. Implements Environment Rating Scales.3. Manages state-wide PD contracts.4. Oversees administration of Director’s Credential, School Age

Professional Credential, Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS), voucher program, practitioner registry, and online PD calendar.

5. Manages programs such as PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start State Supplemental, Head Start Collaboration Office, Early Head Start, Keystone Babies.

6. Manages Community Engagement including PA Promise for Children.

7. Manages multiple special initiatives and foundation grants.



Regional Key (Administration & Management)1. Creates a regional quality improvement plan for

PD and TA.2. Develops a PD and TA budget for the regional

quality improvement allocation.3. Assumes responsibility for fiscal management

of regional quality improvement allocation.4. Implements STARS in the region.



OCDEL (PD/TA)1. Provides an allocation of PD/TA and funds

through contracts with the PA Key and each of the Regional Keys.

2. Develops policies and procedures.3. Serves as a link to the PA Department of

Education.4. Approves PD and TA plans for each of the

regions with the PA Key.



PA Key (PD/TA)1. Provides leadership and coordination of cross-

systems PD and TA.2. Offers PD and TA to Regional Keys and their

partners through PDII’s, webinars etc.3. Reviews and develops statewide curriculum

materials and PD modules.



Regional Key (PD/TA)1. Implements PD and TA supports and collaborates with

other TA sources regionally.2. Administers Early Childhood Education PD and TA

funds in the region and supports ECE cross systems PD regionally.

3. Ensures that PD is credit-bearing.4. Ensures that PD instructors and TA providers satisfy

PQAS requirements and evaluate the services.5. Monitors TA providers on the STARS Technical

Assistance Accountability Program (STARS-TAAP).6. Supports PD and TA of Keystone STARS programs in

PA Pre-K Counts and other initiatives.



OCDEL (Community Outreach & Coordination)1. Regularly meets with the STARS Advisory Committee.2. Develops and plans statewide meetings and

conferences to improve programs and practitioner skills in delivering ECE services.

3. Provides consultation to the PA Key and Regional Keys regarding the CEG’s and outreach around STARS in the community.

4. Develops guidelines, review applications, and determines funding levels for CEGs.

5. Informs Regional Keys of CEGs funding allocation.



PA Key (Community Outreach & Coordination)1. Oversees the development of outreach

materials.2. Provides and develops TA, PD, and outreach

materials for the CEGs.3. Manages the PA Promise for Children

campaign and BUILD listserve.4. Coordinates cross-sector initiatives.



Regional Key (Community Outreach & Coordination)

1. Conducts outreach.2. Maintains up-to-date information on all PD and

TA activities in the region.3. Ensures awareness and accessibility of

scholarships ( TEACH, vouchers, etc.).4. Manages regional CEG contracts.





What Regional Key Do You Represent?

A. NWRK or SWRKB. CRK or SCRKC. NERK or SERK



Q and A



Professional Development (PD)Foundations of PD System:• The Core Body of Knowledge (CBK)• Professional Development Record (PDR)• Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS)• Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)• Core Series and Keystone STARS Support

Professional Development



Core Body of Knowledge:Early Care Professionals

Need to know:•How children grow and develop.•How children can be safe and remain healthy.•How children’s families support their lives.•How and why children’s development is assessed.•How to value and support diversity.

Need to be able to:•Create a safe and interesting environment.•Plan activities and experiences appropriate for children’s age/abilities.•Stimulate children’s physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development.•Guide children’s interaction towards self/others.



Professional Development Record (PDR)

• Section I: List of employment history• Section II: Record prior PD activities• Section III: Assess knowledge and skills and

relate PD to the competency areas within the CBK

• Section IV: Develop planned and emergent annual PD opportunities



Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS)

• Designed to ensure quality PD and TA provided to early childhood and school-aged practitioners.

• All instructors or TA consultants who work with practitioners and want to be eligible to participate in OCDEL funded initiatives are required to be approved by the PQAS.

• Approved PD instructors and TA consultants can develop and deliver PD and TA accepted for OCDEL and DPW PD requirements.

• PQAS PD instructors and TA consultants are approved for a period of 5 years.



Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)CQI Process:• Develop a shared vision: define what you want

to achieve• Plan: define and analyze the current process• Do: develop an improvement plan and

implement that plan• Study: review the results• Act: incorporate changes and improvements



Core Series and Keystone STARS Support Professional Development

• STARS Standards require each director of a facility to complete the Core Series professional development.

• The PA Key develops the curriculum and each Regional Key is responsible for providing and/or coordinating adequate sessions to meet the needs of practitioners.

• Each Regional Key also coordinates other professional development sessions so STARS programs can meet the continuing education requirements of the standards.





Keystone STARS• Promotes continuous quality

improvement in early learning and school age environments.

• Proven to improve the quality of child care programs in PA.

• Provide parents with a tool to gauge the quality of care and early education their child will receive.

• *Over 4,420 child care programs participating in Keystone STARS

• *Over 168,530 children enrolled in STARS programs.

(* 09-10 OCDEL Annual Report)



Provider Participation



STARS: How it works• Builds on the health & safety requirements of

certification.• Learning Programs enroll at Start with STARS

or STAR levels 1-4.• Must meet research-based performance

standards for:– Staff qualifications and professional development;– Learning Program;– Partnerships with family and community; and– Leadership and management.



Increase in Higher Quality STAR Programs



Keystone STARSType of Procedure:• STAR Designation• STAR Designation Renewal• STAR Status Review• STAR Action Plan• STAR Reduction• STAR Suspension• STAR Removal



Keystone STARSStatus: STAR Designation• Process by which a facility requests to become a

STAR program. • Must have a legally authorized representative of

the facility sign an Attestation for STAR Designation.

• Submit paperwork to the Regional Key along with an accurate facility enrollment and proof of ERS Request.



Keystone STARSStatus: STAR Designation Renewal• STAR 4 accredited sites will be required to have

an ERS assessment in renewal years 2, 4, 6, etc.

• The ERS score will be effective for 2 years and the provider must have an ERS assessment during the second renewal year.



Keystone STARSStatus: STARS Status Review• The intent is to provide the Regional Key with a

maximum of 30 days to make a determination regarding the appropriate action to take upon a provider’s Keystone STAR status.

• If course of action is necessary from the Status Review, the Regional Key will proceed to a STARS Action Plan.



Keystone STARSStatus: STARS Action Plan• Must detail the areas of issue, the action steps

needed to correct the problem, the timeframe for completion, and the person responsible/involved in the action steps.

• If the requirements for the STAR Action Plan are not met, the Regional Key will proceed with a STAR Reduction or STAR Suspension.



Keystone STARSStatus: STAR Reduction• The provider agrees to a reduced STAR level for

which the provider meets all STARS Performance Standards.

• It is important to assist the provider through this process.



Keystone STARSStatus: STAR Suspension• The following steps apply:

Notification of STAR Suspension- provider has 10 days from the mailing date to dispute.

Further Notification- either “Continuation” or “Reinstatement.”

Designation Action- Regional Key has 5 business days to record suspension into PELICAN K2Q.

STAR Suspension Action Plan- results in either STAR Reinstatement or STAR Removal.



Keystone STARSStatus: STAR Removal• Regional Key proceeds with removal if any of

the following are verified: The provider closes. Certification initiates an Emergency Removal or action to

Refuse to Renew or Revoke the provider’s Certificate of Compliance.

The provider fails to submit a “Request for Designation Renewal” to renew its current STAR designation.

The provider doesn’t meet the requirements of the STAR Suspension action plan.



Keystone STARSDesignator Reliability:• Frequency of Reliability Visits• Selecting a Reliability Partner• Official Designation



ELS Announcements• Formally issued policy documents.• Examples of announcements include: Family,

Group, and Center worksheets and Performance Standards, Grant Award documents, Designation Forms and Tools, etc.

• Regional Key Management is responsible for sharing content with all appropriate staff as soon as possible.

• The name at the bottom of the announcement is the contact for questions specific to that announcement.



PELICAN• Pennsylvania’s Enterprise to Link Information for

Children Across Networks (PELICAN).• Links existing data systems and will collect

additional information on child and family services across program areas.

• Early care and education programs with PELICAN databases: Provider Certification, Child Care Works, Early Intervention, Early Learning Network, Keys to Quality, Online Provider Search, PA Pre-K Counts, and Self Service: Provider and Client.



PELICANKeys to Quality (K2Q)• Provider Management• STARS Management• Grants Management• Fiscal Allocation Management• T/A Management



Resources• OCDEL Research: http://www.ocdelresearch.org• OCDEL Annual Report and Risk and Reach Report:

http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=EarlyLearning_Tools

• PELICAN-ELN and Work Sampling and OUNCE: http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=EarlyLearning_Network

• SAS: http://websites.pdesas.org/ocdel/default.aspx



Resources• BUILD: http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?

page=EarlyLearning_BUILD • OCDEL: http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?

page=EarlyLearning_OCDEL • Good, Better, Best:

http://www.pakeys.org/docs/GBB%20-%20PAs%20CQI%20Guide%20to%20Best%20Practice%20Version%201.0.pdf



Importance of YOUWe welcome all of you as you begin your journey

of helping shape children’s bright futures.Without you and your efforts day in and day out,

children would not fully experience the high quality learning provided in programs working to

improve quality through Keystone STARS.Every child is Pennsylvania’s future. Continue

helping these children reach their promise through quality early education.





Evaluation Question #1Did this training meet your needs?

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. DisagreeD. Strongly Disagree



Evaluation Question #2Is webinar training an effective method of training

for this content?

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. DisagreeD. Strongly Disagree



Contact InformationIf you have suggestions, comments or questions, please

email us directly:

Justin Esposito [email protected]

Adrienne Smyth [email protected]

Documents

Keystone STARS Orientation will begin at 9:00 am