Brief Overview of Standard: Staff development, or professional development, for early education and child development professionals refers to ongoing education and training. Professional development provides a foundation that can be used to provide the highest quality of care for young children and their families.

College Coursework
College coursework in Early Childhood Education/ Child Development completed within the last 12 months with a grade of “C” or better may be accepted in lieu of annual training hours. Official college transcript must be provided and completion of coursework at an accredited college or university will be verified by INCCRRA.

Specific Tools

Individualized Professional Development Plan
An Individualized Professional Development Plan is required to have the following items:
•    Identification of a goal
•    Identification of step(s) needed to complete the goal
•    An estimated time for achieving the goal

pdf Gateways Professional Development Plan (164 KB)
The purpose of the Professional Development Plan is to assess a practitioner’s current standing in early care and education or school-age care. From that assessment the form can be used to identify short term goals (e.g. attending a training) and long term goals (e.g. completing a degree), as well as professional goals and barriers. This form can be completed independently or request the free assistance of a Professional Development Advisor (PDA) to help complete it.

Gateways to Opportunity Statewide Online Training Calendar
This comprehensive, Statewide Online Training Calendar lists professional development events (e.g., workshops, conferences, and training series) that practitioners may utilize in order to meet licensing requirements, obtain credentials, and work toward the quality rating and improvement system.  

The Statewide Online Training Calendar lists trainings that have been Registry-approved as well as trainings offered through the states’ Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies. Search the calendar by date, county, CCR&R Service Delivery Area (SDA), or topic (e.g., CDA content area, Gateways content area, keywords, etc.). Query the calendar to see which trainings may apply toward earning a Gateways credential.  

Starnet
Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.