§ 6.792. Responsibilities.
The Pennsylvania State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care shall have the following responsibilities, consistent with Federal law:
(1) Perform a periodic Statewide needs assessment concerning the quality and availability of early childhood learning and development programs and services for children from low-income families from birth to school entry.
(2) Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and coordination among Federally-funded and Commonwealth-funded child care, child learning, development, and education services, and early childhood programs and services.
(3) Develop recommendations for the Child Care Development Fund State Plans to increase the overall participation of children in existing Federal, Commonwealth and local child care and early childhood learning, education, and development programs aimed at ensuring a continuum of care from birth through kindergarten entry and to facilitate enrollment in these programs for underrepresented and special populations.
(4) Develop recommendations to expand access to quality care and education opportunities for children experiencing homelessness.
(5) Advise on the continuous improvement of the Pennsylvania Statewide Child Care Emergency Plan to address the needs of all children in Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings.
(6) Advise on the alignment of policies and funding across ECE programs to encourage healthy child development, comprehensive developmental and behavioral screening, linkages to services and follow up.
(7) Develop recommendations to streamline enrollment for families who are eligible for multiple public benefits.
(8) Develop recommendations to align the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) child care facility licensing requirements and monitoring efforts with program and regulatory requirements for other early learning programs such as Head Start, PA Pre-K Counts and Early Intervention.
(9) Provide recommendations to OCDEL and institutions of higher education on implementation and continued enhancement of the standards for professional development and qualifications for early childhood educators as well as the established markers for career advancement through the Pennsylvania ECE Career Pathway at https://www.pakeys.org/career-pathway/ to improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of ECE teachers and administrators.
(10) Develop consistent policies and training across ECE settings to include all of the following:
(i) Reduce suspension and expulsion of young children.
(ii) Increase inclusion opportunities.
(iii) Support children and families who are dual language learners.
(iv) Promote trauma-informed care.
(11) Review and advise on the Commonwealth’s policies for children and families transitioning between ECE programs and services and between ECE and the public school system.
Cross References This section cited in 4 Pa. Code § 6.796 (relating to operations).
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