COVID-19: Child Care Operations
If you have immediate questions about operating a child care program, please contact ELRC Region 5 and we will do our best to answer them as efficiently as possible.
If you have immediate questions about this information, you may contact OCDEL at 1.877.4.PA.KIDS or contact your Child Care Certification Representative. Every effort is being made to get clarifications so we may follow-up with you as soon as possible.
News Articles Related to Operations
COVID-19 Best Practices for Child Care: Indoor Air Quality | September 22, 2021
OCDEL has developed best practices for early learning professionals navigating COVID-19 protocols in their child care programs. The second topic is indoor air quality and ventilation.
DHS Enforces Mask Mandates in Child Care | September 15, 2021
OCDEL has issued clarification about the minimum necessary documentation that must be maintained by a child care provider to demonstrate a masking exemption and the enforcement actions that the Department of Human Services will take for noncompliant licensed child care providers.
COVID-19 Best Practices for Child Care: Face Masks | September 9, 2021
OCDEL has developed best practices for early learning professionals navigating COVID-19 protocols in their child care programs. The first topic is face coverings.
Face Coverings to be Required in K-12 Schools and Child Care | August 31, 2021
Beginning September 7, 2021, all staff and children (regardless of vaccination status) in K-12 schools and licensed child care facilities will be required to wear face coverings, according to an order issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
CCW Payment Practices to be Restored in October | August 24, 2021
Effective October 1, 2021, Child Care Works payments will return to regular practices and policies based on attendance and invoicing for all children, regardless of when the child was enrolled with the provider.
OCDEL Updates Guidance for Keystone STARS During COVID-19 | July 12, 2021
OCDEL has provided updated information to all licensed child care facilities and other ECE programs participating in Keystone STARS during COVID-19.
CCW Payment Policies to Continue | July 6, 2021
In order to continue supporting child care providers through the closures and reopenings resulting from COVID-19, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that all policies and procedures identified in ELRC Announcement 20-17 will continue.
OCDEL Releases Updated Child Care Guidelines During COVID-19 | June 28, 2021
Requirements and recommendations for child care programs were clarified regarding practices during COVID-19 in this most recent update from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), and the Bureaus of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development, and Certification.
UPDATED: DHS Issues Guidance for TB Testing and COVID-19 Vaccinations | June 21, 2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has issued guidance for child care providers related to regulatory compliance with Tuberculin Skin Testing requirements /dhs-issues-guidance-for-tb-testing-and-covid-19-vaccinationsafter receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
Face Coverings Still Required Indoors in Early Learning Settings | June 10, 2021
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning has developed a flyer emphasizing face mask requirements in early learning settings.
Guiding Principles for Individuals Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 | May 6, 2021
The expectation continues to be that that if at all feasible, children age two and older and adults, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear masks while in any child care or other early learning settings.
Updated Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19 | April 15, 2021
The updated guidance details the steps providers are recommended to follow in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on early learning programs.
Keystone STARS Internal Assessment Process (IAP) Update | April 7, 2021
The Internal Assessment Process (IAP), which began in fiscal year 20-21 will continue for the entire fiscal year 21-22 for Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs in Keystone STARS working toward STAR 3 and 4 designation.
COVID-19 Vaccine and Continued Safety Measures | March 31, 2021
With teachers, school staff, and child care professionals now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, OCDEL is reminding those who are vaccinated to continue to wear masks, wash hands, use hand sanitizer, physical distance, and follow other safety measures.
UPDATED: COVID-19 Vaccinations for Education Professionals | March 15, 2021
National and state initiatives are prioritizing eligible teachers, school staff, and child care workers who want to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Relative-Neighbor Child Care Providers | March 14, 2021
OCDEL is asking all relative-neighbor child care providers who would like to receive the J&J vaccine to register to receive the vaccine by submitting a registration request form no later than March 26, 2021.
COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs | January 25, 2021
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Best Practices: Reporting and Timelines | December 18, 2020
The Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) have released specific actions that child care providers and staff must take if there is a confirmed or probable positive case of COVID-19 in a child or adult who has been present in their early learning program.
New COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts | December 11, 2020
Child care operations will not be impacted under new limited-time COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Pennsylvania.
Reopening Facilities After Long-Term COVID-19 Closure | November 24, 2020
OCDEL outlines protocols on the reopening of and the renewal inspection process for certified child care facilities temporarily or permanently closed due to COVID-19.
CCW Payment Policies Revised Due to COVID-19 | November 20, 2020
In order to continue supporting child care providers through the closures and reopenings resulting from COVID-19, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that it has updated its Child Care Works (CCW) payment policies.
PA Keys Offers COVID-19 FAQs for Child Care | November 16, 2020
The PA Keys has created a resource responding to frequently-asked-questions about child care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Temporary Relocation Protocol Updated | October 8, 2020
On October 7, 2020, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) updated its emergency relocation process for child care providers who are displaced from their facilities due to COVID-19.
COVID-19: OCDEL Updates Guidance for Child Care Operation | September 29, 2020
The updated guidance details the steps providers are recommended to follow in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on early learning programs.
Policy Change: Parents Caring for Their Own Children in Child Care | September 9, 2020
OCDEL has issued temporary changes to the policy regarding parents and caregivers caring for their own children in a child care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic-related Proclamation of Disaster Emergency.
OCDEL Issues Guidance for Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Programs | August 27, 2020
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has provided operation guidance to non-licensed school-age child care programs and learning pods during the 2020-2021 school year.
CCW Payment Policy Modified for School-Age Children | August 17, 2020
The CCW blended rate payment policy has been modified for the 2020-21 school year.
COVID-19: Temporary Relocation Protocol Established | August 13, 2020
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has outlined an emergency relocation process for child care providers who are displaced from their facilities due to COVID-19.
OCDEL Issues Update On School-Age Child Care | August 7, 2020
As Pennsylvania public schools and private schools are finalizing and announcing full remote instruction or hybrid instruction model plans for the 2020-21 academic school year, OCDEL is offering brief guidance for parents who need expanded child care.
COVID-19: FAQs for Pre-K Counts and Head Start Programs | July 29, 2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has released COVID-19 guidance for Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs for the 2020-21 school year.
CCW Payment Practices to be Restored in September | July 21, 2020
In September, Child Care Works (CCW) payments will return to regular practices and policies based on attendance and invoicing for all children.
Dealing with Positive COVID-19 Cases, Exposure in Child Care | July 20, 2020
Highlights specific actions that child care providers and staff must take if there is a confirmed or probable positive case of COVID-19 in a child or adult who has been present in their early learning program.
Distribution Events Scheduled to Equip Child Care Providers with Safety Supplies | July 16, 2020
All licensed child care providers in Allegheny County are eligible to receive cleaning supplies and safety equipment.
Child Care Providers Eligible for PA Hazard Pay Grants | July 16, 2020
Hazard pay is intended to keep front-line employees working in vital industry sectors across Pennsylvania.
OCDEL Outlines Expectations for Compliance of COVID-19 Guidance | July 10, 2020
On July 10, OCDEL released an announcement to provide clarification regarding health and safety compliance during COVID-19 to licensed child care providers and child care certification representatives who conduct monitoring visits and complaint investigations. Early learning programs that don’t comply with citations 1 - 4 of this announcement may be subject to further action.
Guidance on Using Masks and Cloth Face Coverings | July 8, 2020
Learn more about the use of masks in early learning from recent guidance provided by OCDEL.
Fire Safety Training Available Online During COVID-19 | July 2, 2020
Child care center providers and staff can temporarily obtain annual fire safety training online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July, August CCW Payment Modifications Due to COVID-19 | June 25, 2020
Clarification of payments for CCW for the period of July 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020.
OCDEL Issues Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19 | June 24, 2020
The guidance details the steps providers are recommended to follow in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on child care facilities.
COVID-19: Confidential Health and Exposure Survey | June 23, 2020
Early learning programs in Allegheny County have been open for a few weeks, and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Early Learning Resource Center Region 5 continue to collect information on COVID-19 exposure in early learning programs via a survey.
Renewal Inspections for Child Care Facilities to Begin Next Week| June 16, 2020
After halting renewal inspections in March due to COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has resumed activity for counties in the “green phase” of the state’s reopening plan.
CDA Renewal Amnesty Program Deadline Extended| June 12, 2020
Due to recent event with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council of Professional Recognition has extended the deadline for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Renewal Amnesty program.
Certain Regulatory Requirements for Certified Child Care Facilities Suspended During the COVID-19 Pandemic | May 29, 2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has suspended certain regulations in 55 Pa. Code Chapters 3270, 3280 and 3290 effective March 6, 2020.
Updated: Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts Related to COVID-19 | May 29, 2020
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the Announcement: ELRC-20 #08: Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Guidance for Summer Programs Opening in Yellow and Green Phases | May 26, 2020
Summer programs that provide child care and enrichment, as well as recreational activities, for children and youth can operate without a waiver in yellow and green phases.
New Certification Inspection Instrument & Worksheets | May 21, 2020
Amid all the COVID-19 challenges for child care providers, the DHS and OCDEL have remained committed to the creation and finalization of the Certification Inspection Instrument (CII). CII and worksheets are now available for all child care facility types.
National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Clearances | April 8, 2020
According to the Department of Human Services Office Child Development & Early Learning Bureau of Certification Services, no exceptions will be made for expired or late NSOR clearances after regular child care operations resume. Once regular child care operations resume statewide, staff will not be permitted to return to early learning programs if any of their clearances are expired. For this reason, it is recommended that all staff who require new or renewed finger-print checks should do so as soon as possible at an available facility (PDF).
To learn more about NSOR changes in the last 12 months, please visit our news post.