Professional Development Resources
Enhance Learning
At STAR NET, we believe that access to high-quality resources empowers educators, caregivers, and families to support young children in reaching their fullest potential. Search our Recommended Resources for more.
Early Childhood Professional Learning (ECPL)
ECPL supports best practice in Early Childhood education with free professional development workshops and webinars, resources, and information that promotes high quality outcomes for young children and their families.
Early Choices
Early CHOICES is an Inclusion Initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, promoting high quality inclusive early care and education for every child birth to age 5. Their goal is to increase the number of children with disabilities receiving specialized services in regular early care and education settings. The website includes information, training modules and planning tools around early childhood inclusion/Least Restrictive Environment and Early Childhood Outcomes for families and professionals.
EARLY CHOICES – Understanding Inclusion Series
The Understanding Inclusion series contains 6 topics that explore key ideas about inclusion in early childhood. The series covers a range of topics from defining inclusion to understanding the benefits to advocating for inclusion. Developed for families with family input, it is just as meaningful and useful for practitioners working with families who have children from birth to 5.
Early Intervention Training Program (EITP)
EITP is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Early Intervention to deliver professional development to early interventionists serving children and families in the Illinois Early Intervention System. The mission of EITP is to develop a comprehensive system of personnel development that is regionalized, responsive and reflective of best practices in the field of early intervention.
Early Intervention Training Program at the University of Illinois (EITP)
EITP sponsors numerous training events each year that support the mission and vision of the Illinois Early Intervention System. Our “Non-EITP Events” calendar also includes events from other sponsoring entities that have been reviewed by EITP for Early Intervention credit. These events are shared as training resources to the field. These reviewed events are posted to our training calendar as a courtesy not as an endorsement. Please check the calendar for the amount of credit for each event. Training events may be face-to-face or online.
Ed Leaders Network (ELN)
The Ed Leaders Network (ELN) is grounded in the belief that educational leaders impact student performance. With this foundational belief at ELN’s core, multiple state principal associations have partnered together to provide high quality, on-demand professional development and a dynamic professional networking community to enhance educational leadership.
Gateways to Opportunity Illinois Professional Development System
The Gateways Registry provides a vehicle for childcare and early education professionals to keep track of credentials and training online in a personal and secure Professional Development Record. Gateways lists online training for IDCFS Licensing and ExceleRate Illinois, as well as other professional development courses and events around the state.
Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (ILAEYC)
Illinois AEYC advances high quality learning for all children birth through age 8 by promoting practice, policy and research to support all families and professionals.