Penn State University Better Kid Care

Distance Education provides:

PA Department of Public Welfare (DPW) required hours

Better Kid Care Distance Education lessons provide 2-hour and 1-hour professional development for practitioners maintaining their certificate of compliance or registration. For more information visit DPW Early Education and Child Care Web page.

Keystone STARS Professional Development

Better Kid Care currently has two orientation trainings that support Keystone STARS

New Staff Orientation for new staff members in child care centers

Home-Based Caregiver Orientation for people caring for children in their homes.

Distance Education lessons are also available to provide professional development opportunities for practitioners as they move up in STARS. For more information on Keystone STARS, visit the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality Web site.

Child Development Associate (CDA)

Visit the Child Development Associate information page to learn more about the CDA credential and how Better Kid Care can support your professional development toward CDA credential and renewal. All distance education lessons are coded and categorized for CDA.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

How many CEUs are awarded for each Distance Education lesson?
To receive one (1) CEU, ten (10) hours of Professional Development must be completed. Any combination of 2-hour or 1-hour Better Kid Care Distance Education lessons can combine to earn CEUs. If you have completed at least 10 hours of professional development and would like to receive a certification for one CEU, please contact the Better Kid Care office at: 800-452-9108 or Email: betterkidcare@psu.edu

How is the CEU used?
While the primary use of CEU records is for professional or occupational records, individuals also may wish to document their accomplishments in areas of technical or personal development. Individual CEU records also may be used to document completion of requirements for a major phase of training or education and, thus, indicate readiness to enter into the next phase of training or career enhancement.

How do CEUs relate to college credit?
There is no relationship between CEU and academic credit. By definition, the CEU relates only to non-credit continuing education experiences. Academic credit applies specifically to degree requirements and CEUs are not awarded for that purpose. No institutions of higher education are known to give automatic credit for CEUs.

Act 48 hours for certified educators

Better Kid Care Distance Education lessons provide professional development that is approved for Act 48 hours.

Who is affected by the requirements of Act 48?
All educators holding Pennsylvania public school certification including Instructional I and II, Educational Specialist I and II, Administrative, Supervisory, Letters of Eligibility and all vocational certificates. Also included are non-certified teachers and administrators employed by charter schools.

Reporting Act 48 Hours
To have Act 48 hours reported for Better Kid Care professional development, indicate on the registration form and include your Professional Personnel ID (PDE#). Teacher educators who do not yet have a PDE ID can obtain one at the PA Department of Education Web site.

If you have further questions, please contact the Better Kid Care office at: 800-452-9108 or Email: betterkidcare@psu.edu