QCCC Report Card

The Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition

Bucks County LEARN Team

April 2016

Did You Know?

*There are 298 regulated

child care providers in

Bucks County.

*63% participate in

Keystone Stars serving

9,699 children.

*70 of the 188 Keystone

STARS programs are at

STAR 3 or STAR 4

*37% of Bucks County 3

and 4 year-olds are in

families who live below

300% of the poverty level

*90% of brain development

occurs between birth and

age 5

*High quality Pre-K

improves early literacy,

language, and math skills

*Children who start behind

often stay behind

IMPORTANT DATES

April 2016: Bucks County’s Month of the Young Child

April 12-18: NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child

Friday, April 15: Annual BCAEYC Advocacy

Breakfast

Changes Impacting Bucks County

Early Care & Education

Significant changes involving Early Care and Education leadership are

evident here in Bucks County.

*OCDEL (the state Office of Child Development and Early Learning) is

realigning the Regional Keys with the Child Care Regional Certification

Offices. This restructuring in no way reflects any negative performance by

any regional Keys but instead is driven by OCDEL’s vision and mission to

create a more integrated service delivery across all programs and business

partners. Accordingly, Bucks County will move from the Northeast

Regional Key to the Southeast Regional Key effective July 1, 2016.

*The Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 was awarded the federal

contract for Head Start effective July 2015. Head Start is a federally-

funded family-focused and community-oriented program meeting the social,

emotional, heath and nutritional needs of income eligible children and

families. Preschool classrooms are located in Croydon, Bristol Borough,

Levittown, Morrisville, Perkasie, Quakertown and Warminster. In addition,

funding incudes Early Head Start home-based programs for infants and

toddlers.

*The Maternity Care Coalition Early Head Start federal funding offers

classroom-based opportunities for infants and toddlers in Lower Bucks

County.

*PA Pre-K Counts Grantees in Bucks increased with Expansion Funding in

2016. Grantees now include: Bristol Township School District (four

Community Partner sites), Morrisvile School District (one district and two

Community Partner sites), Neshaminy School District (one Community

Partner), Pennsbury School District (two district and one Community

Partner sites), Quakertown School District (two district sites operated by a

Community Partner), Children of America (Chalfont), and United Way of

Bucks County (seven Community Partner sites: Southampton, Churchville,

Warrington, Doylestown, Perkasie, and two in Quakertown)

In addition to leadership changes, Pennsylvania’s quality rating system

Keystone STARS is being “re-visioned”, and new program assessment tools

are being implemented while state budget supports continue to be

uncertain.

Jane Mahler and Lisa Puchalski

lead a QCCC planning session

QCCC Report Card Page 2

QCCC thanks the Northeast Regional Key for their

exceptional support over the past years in quality program

development, Professional Development support, and

community engagement here in Bucks County. Special

thanks to Raine Neal for her positive leadership.

Focus on Family Engagement Continues

Opportunities for family engagement to support

quality early care and learning take many forms.

There is agreement that nothing is more important

for young children’s development than caring and

knowledgeable families. Your suggestions to meet

unmet needs are welcome. Here are some current

resources:

QCCC and United Way Success by 6 have

teamed up to offer family workshops

encouraging families to become Champions for

their Young Children and to support both

Language and Literacy Learning and math

competency.

BCAEYC sponsors an annual Family Event

during the Month of the Young Child at the

Bucks County Children’s Museum.

The updated GPS (Guiding Parents Smoothly) at

www.papromiseforchildren.com offers an

interactive online tool for families with young

children providing ideas to support early

learning and child development. The website

also incudes information about Head Start,

Early Intervention, Keystone STARS, and PA

Pre-K Counts with tips about the importance of

choosing quality early learning experiences.

The Bucks County Library System offers pro-

grams for children and families at local libraries

and online at bucklib.org; check out buck-

slib.org/letsplay and “Cruise into Kindergarten”.

United Way is Deepening its Commitment to

Early Care & Education

United Way of Bucks County is changing its response to evolving community trends by

convening Solutions Teams to examine the best way(s) to address six focus areas. Deepening

and consolidating commitment to early care and education is the focus for one group

currently at work. Two initial meetings at the Northampton Library explored, then

narrowed possibilities to make a significant impact here in Bucks. To learn more, contact

candi@uwbucks.org or 215-949-1660.

Page 3

How might you use your strengths to support quality early

education experiences for a young child or a group of young

children in your part of Bucks County?

Support Continues to Smooth Pathway to Kindergarten

Families are urged to check their School District

website and register children for Kindergarten who

will be 5 years old by September. Information

regarding School District Kindergarten Registration

is updated and shared by QCCC, the Bucks County

IU, and quality early education programs. Activity

calendars and other resources are distributed to

families and Kindergarten round-ups as well as other

events are offered by pre-k programs and libraries

throughout the county. A Summer Kindergarten

Readiness Program is offered with the support of PA

Pre-K Counts in the Morrisville School District in

August.

Pre-K for PA

Continues to Lead

Advocacy Efforts

Bucks County continues to be actively

involved in the Pre-K for PA statewide

campaign to educate the public, policy

makers and taxpayers about the benefits of

high-quality pre-K. Their mission is to

ensure that every 3- and 4-year old in

Pennsylvania will have access to high

quality pre-kindergarten. Business leaders,

policy officers and military officials all

provide active support.

To offer support and access reports, visit

www.prekforpa.org

Advocates urge policy makers to make a

committed and sustained investment in

early childhood education.

QCCC Board of Directors

Michele Fina, M.Ed., President

Lisa Puchalski, Vice President

Christine McKee, Ed.D., Secretary

Patty Smallacombe, Ph.D., Treasurer

Alison Angelaccio. M.Ed.

Kim Heuschkel, Ed.D.

Mary Ann Lang

Cherie LaTorre, MSW

Sarah Shoffler, M.Ed.

Nancy Thompson

Coordinator

Pat Miiller, M.A.

Bucks County QCCC

c/o United Way of Bucks County

413 Hood Boulevard

Fairless Hills, PA 19030

pmiiller@earthlink.net

Get Involved In QCCC Collaborations The Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition is a group of individuals and groups committed to supporting

quality early care and education for ALL young children in Bucks County.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday every other month at Holy Family University – Newtown. Send

Coordinator Pat Miiller your name and e-mail address to receive meeting and other notifications.

We work to support communication and collaboration to achieve our mission “Broadening and Bettering Early

Care & Education in Bucks County.” We have a Facebook page to provide current updates; visit

www.facebook.com/QCCCBucks to see some recent postings designed to inform, educate, and motivate the

community about early learning. We work with United Way of Bucks County Success By 6 sponsoring Family

Literacy and Family Math events. QCCC organizes quarterly meetings and regular communication among PA

PKC grantees here in Bucks County.

Serving as an Advisory Group for the Bucks County Community College early education department, we have

supported delivery of credit bearing Professional Development at child care locations and a new certificate

program to support Keystone STARS. We work with the Regional Key to provide professional development with

PQAS credits for early educators through the PD Registry.

Collaboration with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit led to the establishment of Tender Bridges; visit the

BCIU website to learn more about this unique partnership among early educators, school districts, early

intervention, and higher education (www3.bucksiu.org).

Our partnerships with a wide-variety of groups and individuals including early intervention, the Bucks County

Library System, the Bucks County Association for the Education of Young Children, Bucks County CCIS

(Apple),The Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition, and Pre-K for PA seek to broaden communication and

collaboration supporting quality early education. You are welcome to join us!

Follow us on the web: www.bucksqccc.org

www.facebook.com/QCCCBucks www.twitter.com/QCCCBucks