WORKSHOP FEES

All workshops offered through the Illinois State Board of Education, Division of Early Childhood in conjunction with the Illinois Resource Center: Early Childhood Professional Development Program are free of charge.

REGISTRATION

Priority is given to persons working for state funded Early Childhood Block Grant Programs/Illinois Early Learning Partners/Preschool for All (Prekindergarten, Parental Training, Prevention Initiative) and Even Start. Registration is limited for each workshop. Participants may register online, by fax or mail on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit one registration form per person. It is critical that you provide us with all the requested information so that we may contact you in case of an emergency or last minute change. No walk-in registrations are accepted.

Do not assume automatic acceptance into the workshop. In order to ensure that we have enough materials for all participants, registrations must be received no later than one week prior to the workshop you wish to attend. A confirmation letter must be received in order to attend the workshop. Confirmation letters will be sent approximately three weeks prior to the workshop. If you do not receive a confirmation letter within two weeks of the workshop, please call our office.

WORKSHOP STARTING TIMES

Registered participants should sign in twenty to twenty-five minutes prior to the workshop start time. Weather, traffic and other daily complications are inevitable. Please make appropriate accommodations to enable you to adhere to the times listed for each workshop. Make sure that you sign in with the facilitator at the registration table prior to the start of the workshop. Workshops will begin promptly. Lunch is not provided. There will be a one-hour break for lunch for daytime workshops. For workshops offered in the evening a light, working dinner will be provided.

CANCELLATION

You may cancel your participation at any time, but please provide at least 24 hours notice so that we may notify those on the waiting list of the opportunity to attend. Because of the popularity of these workshops, registrants who neglect to cancel will be given a lower priority for registration at future professional development workshops.

USING THE REGION MAP

Workshops will be conducted at locations in each of five regions statewide. Participants may register for workshops in any region. Please do not call workshop sites to register, cancel or to ask questions about the workshop. Site phone numbers are provided to assist you with directions only. Call our office at (224)366-8525 for specific workshop information. Thank you for your cooperation.

THREE CONTENT LEVELS

The workshops are organized around three content levels:

1: Awareness - for individuals who have little or no prior knowledge/experience related to the topic.

2: Enhancement - for individuals who have basic information/knowledge or skills related to the topic.

3: Challenge/Dialogue - for individuals who have advanced knowledge/experience related to the topic.

GRADUATE CREDIT

Graduate credit may be available through Southern Illinois University. For more information, please call us directly at (224) 366-8525.

CONTINUING PROFESSSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNITS (CPDUs)

Illinois Resource Center is a Professional Development Provider of Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) Workshop participants will be given a certificate of attendance with the number of CPDUs noted at the end of the workshop. Attendance for the entire session is necessary in order to receive a certificate. Contact hours will not be adjusted to meet individual needs. Please make appropriate accommodations to enable you to adhere to the times listed for each workshop. Plan to arrive promptly for the start of the session, and remain for the entire workshop. Participants arriving late or those leaving prior to the conclusion of the workshop will not receive a CPDU certificate. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

EARLY INVERVENTION CREDENTIALING

Illinois' Early Intervention Credentialing system is built upon the need to ensure that early intervention personnel have the unique knowledge and skills necessary to work with infants and toddlers and their families. Persons attending selected workshops are eligible for credentialing hours. Please call us at (224) 366-8525, for further information.

EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCE LIBRARY

The Center Library houses a large collection of professional books, videotapes, assessment tools, parental training kits, children's literature and classroom materials, available for lending to educators.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES

Conferences are scheduled periodically to provide opportunities for educators and administrators to keep current with early childhood theory and research and to provide networking forums.

RESOURCE AND REFERRAL

Resource and referral information is just a phone call away. Educators can always call the Illinois Resource Center Early Childhood Professional Development office with questions, concerns, comments or to help find experts to address a specific problem.

QUESTIONS?

For additional information, or to receive a copy of any of our resource materials, please call the Illinois Resource Center: Early Childhood Professional Development at (234)366-8525. We will be happy to assist you.