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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
[email protected] or 215-949-1660.
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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
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