PHL PreK
Glossary of Terms
Unless specified otherwise, words, phrases, abbreviations and/or acronyms have the following
meanings:
Administrative Intermediary. Used in this document to refer to Public Health Management
Corporation (PHMC), the administrative and fiscal management agency selected by the City to
administer its Pre-K program.
Bachelor’s Degree. Four-year degree granted by an accredited college or university.
Continuation Application Process (CAP). This is the application process for providers who
were contracted in the PHL PreK program in FY17. All Applicants must either have a Keystone
STAR designation or be enrolled in Keystone STARS at the time of application. Current PHL
PreK providers who wish to apply for site locations that were not part of the program in FY17
will have to complete both processes – the Continuation Application for all current site locations
contracted with PHL PreK and the Request for Qualification process for the new sites applying
to join the program.
Child Care Works (a.k.a. Child Care Subsidy). Pennsylvania’s child care subsidy program
funded through a federal-state partnership to increase the accessibility of child care for TANF,
former TANF and low-income working families.
Child Development Associate. Early learning credential granted that requires six credit hours of
coursework in early childhood education and development.
Comprehensive Services. Developmental and health screenings and referral, nutritious meals
and snacks. Provision of these services is considered best practice by the national Institute for
Early Education Research, Head Start, Pre-K Counts and other high-quality Pre-K programs.
DHS. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, formerly known as Pennsylvania
Department of Public Welfare (DPW).
Eligible Applicants. Providers who are licensed, quality community-based child care providers
(center- and multi-site) who operate within the City of Philadelphia. Providers must have a
Keystone STAR 3 or 4 designation or NAEYC accreditation at the time of application. Current
Star 3 or 4 Providers that have opened new facilities, have a provisional DHS license for those
new facilities, meet certain qualification guidelines outlined in this RFQ and are thus awaiting
Stars designation will also be considered.
Eligible Child. Any child who lives in Philadelphia and will be at least three and not yet five
years old by September 1 of the school year for which Providers will be offering services (by
September 1, 2017 for the term ending June 30, 2018).
Eligible Provider. Providers who are licensed, quality community-based child care providers
(center- and multi-site) who operate within the City of Philadelphia. Providers must have a
Keystone STAR 3 or 4 designation or NAEYC accreditation at the time of application: Current
Star 3 or 4 Providers that have opened new facilities, have a provisional DHS license for those
new facilities, meet certain qualification guidelines outlined in this RFQ and are thus awaiting
Stars designation will also be considered.
Environmental Rating Scale (ERS). Classroom observation tool designed to assess program
quality in early childhood center- and home-based classrooms serving infants, toddlers and
preschool children; a reliable and valid tool used as part of Keystone STARS and Pennsylvania’s
Pre-K Counts program.
Head Start. Federal comprehensive early childhood education program available for preschool
age children and their families and caregivers who meet income and need-based eligibility
requirements. Provides high quality early learning, supportive services and family engagement.
Keystone STARS. Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
administered by OCDEL for early childhood programs. Provides incentives and supports for
programs to improve teacher and staff education and credentials, physical space and
management.
NAEYC. The National Association for the Education of Young Children, a nonprofit
professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for
young children through professional development, policy advocacy and accreditation. NAEYC
accreditation requirements have been cross walked with Keystone STAR 4 standards and
Pennsylvania has a specific process for accredited programs to obtain STARS designation.
OCDEL. Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Responsible for
policy, programs, funding and regulatory oversight of programs for children from birth to five.
PELICAN. Pennsylvania’s Enterprise to Link Information For Children Across Networks, the
State information management system that collects data relevant to Pre-K Counts, Head Start,
Keystone STARS, Child Care Works and certification.
PHLpreK. City of Philadelphia funded early education program for three- and four-year-olds.
Pre-K. Structured early childhood education program for children who have attained at least the
age of three and have not yet entered kindergarten.
Pre-K Counts. Pennsylvania’s quality early education program for three- and four-year-olds
whose families make less than 300 percent of the poverty level.
Priority Neighborhoods. Philadelphia neighborhoods that demonstrate need based on the
number of young children with exposure to two or more early childhood risk factors, the
percentage of children living at or below the federal poverty level, and a shortage of high-quality
early learning options, as prioritized by the Mayor’s Office of Education in its sole discretion.
Early childhood risk factors are lead exposure, homelessness, child maltreatment, inadequate
prenatal care, teen parents and low maternal education, based on data compiled from the City of
Philadelphia, American Community Survey and The Reinvestment Fund.
Request for Qualification (RFQ): The process by which Providers who are licensed, quality
community-based child care providers (center- and multi-site, group, family child care, school
district, Head Start) who operate within the City of Philadelphia and did not participate in the
PHL PreK program in FY17 can apply to determine qualification for participation in PHL PreK
in FY18. Providers must have a Keystone STAR 3 or 4 designation or NAEYC accreditation at
the time of application. NOTE: Current Star 3 or 4 Providers that have opened new facilities,
have a provisional DHS license for those new facilities and are thus awaiting Stars designation
are encouraged to apply.
Teacher Certification. Process designed to prepare qualified teachers and enable them to
demonstrate proficiency in a subject area once they have obtained a Bachelor’s degree.