Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Regulations 

The Department of Education submitted final-omitted regulations for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, Office of the Attorney General, and House and Senate Education Committees on January 26, 2010. You can view the regulations at  http://www.irrc.state.pa.us/Regulations/RegInfo.cfm?IRRCNo=2817

The Feb 1, 2010 BUILD Announcement reported that these regulations will give the full effect of law to many of the quality expectations and requirements set forth in the PA Pre-K Counts guidance such as:

  • Definitions for eligible providers and grantees;
  • Developing a community needs assessment and serving at-risk children;
  • Using grant funds to supplement, not supplant, other public funding sources;
  • Maintaining enrollments;
  • Developing community collaborations and partnerships;
  • Meeting program quality expectations (teacher/staff ratio; teacher qualifications; curriculum, assessment); and
  • Grantee fiscal responsibilities.

There is no official public comment period, however, individuals and organizations may submit letters of support to the IRRC. Please note the Regulation Number (#6-319) in your comments.

The Commission accepts written comments on regulations by first class mail, fax or email.  Emailed comments should be addressed to irrc@irrc.state.pa.us. 

The Commission's mailing address is:  333 Market Street, 14th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101; Fax number: (717) 783-2664.  Comments on final regulations should be received at least 48 hours prior to the Commission's public meeting. The public meeting date is scheduled for March 11, 2010. 

Specific questions or concerns regarding the regulations should be directed to Linda Warren, Executive Policy Specialist at OCDEL, at liwarren@state.pa.us.

Coming Soon to Pennsylvania . . . a new infant toddler initiative is in the development stage and should be announced shortly by OCDEL in the near future.

PA's Pre-K Initiative

During his campaign and first months in office, Governor Ed Rendell indicated that he wanted quality early care and education to be a priority for Pennsylvania. Although his vision to bring this to every child in Pennsylvania is not yet a reality, the state is moving toward a universal pre-kindergarten initiative.

Please visit PACCA's Legislative Alert Center for the 2008-09 State Budget issues and Action Alerts.

Prior to the passing of the 2007-08 state budget, two major funding streams supported state-funded pre-kindergarten in PA: School Accountability Block Grants and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP). Following the passing of the 2007-08 budget Pre-K Counts became the third.

 
School Accountability Block Grants

In December 2003, The Pennsylvania General Assembly allocated $175 million for school accountability block grants that may be used for full-day kindergarten or pre-kindergarten, among other programs. Listed below are ways that the school accountability block grants can be spent.

Grants will be used to attain or maintain academic performance targets. Can be used for:

  • quality pre-k
  • quality full day kindergarten
  • reducing class size
  • programs that promote availability of social and health services
  • tutoring assistance
  • improving academic performance of subgroups
  • building strong science, information technology programs
  • professional development
  • math and literacy coaching programs
  • financial incentives to highly qualified, tenured teachers to work in the most academically challenged schools
  • other programs that would help improve or maintain academic performance

In FY 2005-2006, $200 million was appropriated for the Accountability Block Grants. Governor Rendell has proposed $250 million for FY 2006-2007.

Although funding is given directly to school districts, they are encouraged to partner with community-based organizations (such as child care and Head Start programs) to provide pre-kindergarten services. Schools are encouraged to partner with child care programs that have a Keystone STARS rating of 3 or higher. For more information on partnering with schools using the Accountability Block Grants, read the Pre-k Toolkit and Partnering Toolkit.

Here are additional resources from the PA Department of Education (PDE) Website:


School districts submit their plans in May.

The Department of Education can make recommendations to the school districts regarding their plans, but cannot mandate any changes unless a school district chooses option 11.

Each February, DOE will submit a report to the Senate and House Education and Appropriations Committee which outlines the total amount of funds used; a summary of the uses of the funds; identification of how each school district used the funds.

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Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program

The legislation which enacted the School Accountability Block Grants also authorized the Head Start Supplemental Assistance program. The program is part of the PA Department of Education and administered by the PA Head Start State Collaboration Office. Under the program, existing Head Start grantees are able to apply for funds to 1) provide Head Start services to additional eligible children and/or 2) extend the Head Start day of service to children already enrolled in Head Start programs who do not have access to an extended day of Head Start services. Priority is given to increasing enrollment. If Head Start programs choose option 2 (extended day/full year services), they need to demonstrate that Head Start Supplemental Assistance funds “will be used as the dollar of last resort.” The purpose of the program is to increase the availability of high quality pre-kindergarten Head Start services for eligible children throughout Pennsylvania. The funding must be used to implement high quality pre-kindergarten early education and care for eligible children ages three - four and meet Head Start Performance Standards.

In FY 2004-2005, $15 million was allocated to HSSAP. In FY 2005-2006, $30 million was allocated to the program. The Governor has proposed that $45 million be allocated to HSSAP in FY 2006-2007.


2005-2006 Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program grantees | PDF
Mid Year Report (2005-2006) | PDF


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PACCA's Pre-K Toolkit

One issue that was raised time and again during this year’s forums was a concern that child care providers are going to be shut out of the state’s New Early Education Programs, which includes which includes the Head Start Expansion, Pre-K options, and Full Day K. Many providers welcome higher quality care and more resources for increasing quality, but change is always scary.

PACCA has designed a toolkit for members to help them become a part of the Pre-K process in their communities. The toolkit will help providers understand the political environment regarding universal preschool in PA and provide resources for the child care programs to become involved in pre-k efforts by schools in their communities.

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