Children’s Learning Center receives Keystone Stars grant

Published 06.12.2019

News
Faculty & Staff
School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications News

The Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology received an $18,540 Keystone Stars Education and Retention Award.

The grant was made by the U.S. Department of Human Services through the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning.



Neva E. Simcox, a group leader in the Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology, leads a group of preschoolers at the center, which received a Keystone Stars Education and Retention Award.The intent of the Keystone Stars Education and Retention Award is to provide annual financial awards to highly qualified directors or teaching staff who have attained specialized degrees, credentials and credit-based professional development in content areas that correspond to the age and developmental needs of the children being served. A further intent of the award is to assist providers in establishing a stable workforce as they work toward higher levels of quality by reducing turnover and improving the education of teaching staff.

The college’s grant will be disbursed among seven Children’s Learning Center’s teaching staff members.

Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning to improve, support and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of Pennsylvania’s early learning and school-age programs. Providing financial support to providers serving children who are vulnerable and at risk is one strategy implemented by the office to promote continuous quality improvement.

To be eligible for an award, facilities must maintain at least a Star 2 designation through the Keystone Stars initiative. The Children’s Learning Center is a Star 4 facility, the highest recognition level.

The Children’s Learning Center at Penn College serves students, faculty and staff whose children need high-quality, on-campus care and early childhood education while their parents work or attend classes.

The center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Middle States Commission on Elementary Education.

For more about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact Grants & Sponsored Programs at ext. 7580 or through its Web portal.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.