Welcome to the Northeast Regional Key
2008-09 Center Based STAR Performance Standards Changes Announced
On an annual basis, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) reviews the Keystone STARS Performance Standards for Centers, Group Homes, and Family Day Care Homes. This is in an effort to recognize the progress made by the field, to align the standards with new or revised program initiatives, and to encourage more movement towards continuous quality improvement.
The 2008-09 STARS Performance Standards for Centers have been updated using feedback from the STARS Advisory Committee, the Early Childhood and School Age Community, and the Regional Keys. During 2007-08, the STARS Advisory Committee, OCDEL staff, and the Regional Keys hosted regional Listening Tours to understand providers’ successes, challenges, and barriers to the implementation of the STARS Performance Standards. The results of these meetings, along with other feedback from the STARS community and the Regional Keys influenced decision-making for 2008-09 revisions.
The revisions to the 2008-09 STARS Performance Standards for Centers are summarized below and will be in effect, beginning July 1, 2008. Please contact your STARS Manager for specific details regarding these changes.
1. The Keystone STARS Core Professional Development Series has been changed from the individual STAR 2 Performance Standard to several standards interspersed from Start with STARS to STAR 3. Please contact your STARS Managerfor information regarding how your facility, as a current STARS participant, may meet these new standards currently.
2. In the Director and Staff Qualifications, all practitioners now follow the Career Lattice to determine their qualifications.
3. Under the STAR 3 Director Development section, the PA Director’s Credential standard has been modified from “enrolled in” to “complete,” as announced in the 2007-08 footnote to the standard.
4. In the Child Observation/Curriculum/Assessment section, the STAR 3 and STAR 4 observations will be done using the Work Sampling System’s Guidelines and Checklists for Child Outcomes Reporting. This will be effective 7/1/2009.
5. Under the Continuous Quality Improvement section, the standard stating, “Provider conducts annual evaluation/review of program using multiple sources and develops an annual improvement plan” has been modified to state, “Provider develops a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan using multiple sources.” This was announced in the 2007-08 footnote to the standard and has now become the standard.
For your convenience we will schedule meetings throughout the region to share information about the Keystone STARS revisions. A list of June meeting dates will be distributed in the Key Connection newsletter. At these meetings we will provide you with a STARS Information kit customized for your site.
Thank you for your interest in providing a quality program to children in Northeastern PA.
Staff Directory
| Raine Neal, Northeast Key Director |
ext. 2303 |
rneal@cscinc.org |
| Kim Bastian, Northeast Key Assistant Director |
ext. 2330 |
kbastian@cscinc.org |
| Ivy Reynolds, Northeast Key Assistant Director |
ext. 2328 |
ireynolds@cscinc.org
|
| Mary Jo Mastriani, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant |
ext. 2320 |
mmastriani@cscinc.org |
| Susan Ritter, Northeast Key Advisor |
ext. 2329 |
sritter@cscinc.org
|
| Cristin Cates, Northeast SACC Coordinator |
ext. 2310 |
ccates@cscinc.org |
| Marge Kovacs, STARS Coordinator |
ext. 2316 |
mkovacs@cscinc.org
|
| Sheri Roth, STARS Designator |
|
|
STARS Manager
| KIm Bastian-Northampton, Monroe Counties (Temporarily) |
ext. 2330 |
|
| Diane Milia-Lehigh, Carbon Counties |
ext. 2322 |
dmilia@cscinc.org |
| Debby Terfinko-Berks, Schuylkill Counties |
ext. 2323 |
dterfinko@cscinc.org |
| Lynn Ziegler-Luzerne, Tioga, Wyoming Counties |
ext. 2324 |
lziegler@cscinc.org |
| Kathleen Kuharchik-Bradford, Lackawanna, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne Counties |
ext. 2325 |
kkuharchik@cscinc.org |
Specialists
| Beth Gambone |
ext. 2383 |
bgambone@cscinc.org |
| Kathy Scarpa |
ext. 2309 |
cscarpa@cscinc.org |
| Sue Stahler |
ext. 2307 |
sstahler@cscinc.org |
| Caroline Williams |
ext. 2311 |
cwilliams@cscinc.org |
Community Engagement Committee Contacts
| Berks County |
Jane Moyer |
610-685-4577 |
| Bradford/Sullivan Counties |
Desiree Spencer |
570-265-2896 |
| Lackwanna County |
Elaine Errico |
570-343-1267 |
| Lehigh/Northampton Counties |
Peggy Campbell |
610-807-5728 |
| Luzerne County |
Jessica Sabol |
570-829-6711 |
| Monroe County |
Roxanne Powell |
570-517-3958 |
| Pike County |
Dana Wojciechowski |
570-296-3992 |
| Schuylkill County |
Gina Gargano |
570-385-3986 |
| Susquehanna County |
Stephnie Thornton |
570-879-8766 |
| Tioga County |
Alishia Sullivan |
570-723-0520 |
| Wayne County |
Michele Young |
570-229-5437 |
| Wyoming County |
Annette Smith |
570-836-2350 |
STARS Technical Assistance Organizations
Child Care Providers, Inc.
Service Area: Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming Counties |
Marty McGurrin |
800-982-4036 |
Northampton Community College
Service Area: Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties |
Joyce Lang |
610-861-4561 |
Professional Development Partners
| Child Care Providers, Inc. |
Fran Langan |
800-982-4036 |
| King's College |
Heather Critchosin |
570-208-5900 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College |
Laura Segatti |
610-799-1706 |
| Northampton Community College |
Rebecca Gorton |
610-861-5472 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Berks |
Sue Giachero |
610-378-1327 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Bradford |
Aubrey Carrington |
570-265-2896 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Carbon |
Mindy Graver |
570-325-2788 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Lackawanna & Susquehanna |
Karen Thomas |
570-963-6842 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Lehigh |
Denise Continenza |
610-391-9840 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Luzerne |
Christine Orrson |
570-825-1701 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Monroe |
Dawn Olson |
570-421-6430 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Pike |
Nancy Grotevant |
570-296-3400 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Schuylkill |
Yvonne Szpara |
570-622-4225 |
| Penn State Cooperative Extension-Wayne |
Karen Jaggars |
570-253-5895 |
| Reading Area Community College |
Robin Eckert |
610-372-4721 |
Watch the mail for your monthly KEY Connection and
your copy of The Provider Connection.
