The early childhood education profession is rooted in continually updated best practices as research illuminates new ideas and children’s needs evolve.

Whether you’re interested in furthering your knowledge by enrolling in Step Up to Quality or simply looking for training that helps you better support children and families, Nebraska’s Early Learning Connection (ELC) system exists to help you understand when, where and how to access research-backed professional development.

The ELC system is Nebraska’s integrated professional development network for early childhood professionals serving children birth through age 8. Through statewide and regional partnerships, the system’s coordinators connect educators and providers with training, coaching, professional learning opportunities and career development support.

For Jennifer Haggart, the Professional Development Coordinator for the Early Learning Connection in the Omaha Region, the work always starts with listening.

“No two days are the same, but that’s part of the joy of this work,” Jennifer said. “We are very much guided by the needs of early childhood professionals in helping them meet their professional learning goals.”

A statewide system tailored to local needs

Nebraska’s ELC system includes seven regional partnerships supported by the Early Childhood Training Center through the Nebraska Department of Education Office of Early Childhood.

While the system has evolved over the past 25 years, it has always been in service to supporting educators and providers in meaningful, responsive ways. Today, the ELC system works closely alongside Step Up to Quality and other statewide partners to strengthen professional development opportunities and improve quality across early childhood settings.

“We’ve been very intentional about partnership building and the specific work that needs to be done to increase quality,” Jennifer said.

Collaboration across agencies and organizations helps ensure providers have access not only to training opportunities, but also to coaching, guidance and resources that support long-term quality improvement.

Making professional development more accessible to providers and educators

Participating in professional development can feel challenging when balancing full classrooms, staffing needs and family responsibilities. That’s why ELC coordinators work to reduce barriers whenever possible.

“Some of the biggest barriers that people think of when it comes to working with this audience aren’t barriers to those who work with this audience,” Jennifer said. “For example, training Monday through Friday during typical business hours is not useful to many people who are participating in Step Up to Quality. We have to be available to offer training when they’re available to take it — evenings and weekends.”

Accessibility also means considering cost, location and language needs. Over the past several years, the ELC system has expanded multilingual offerings, including fully Spanish-language business management classes for family childcare home providers and childcare center directors.

“We offered the first business management classes fully in Spanish, so participants weren’t just taking classes interpreted from English to Spanish,” Jennifer said. “The facilitators, materials and conversations were available in their first language.”

Recently, Omaha also hosted a statewide Spanish-language conference for early childhood professionals.

“There were almost 150 professionals who attended, and the energy was incredible,” Jennifer said. “Participants were so appreciative of an event 100% in Spanish, focusing on them as educators and not just their role working with children and recognizing their need for growth, development and wellness.”

Professional development supports quality improvement

Throughout the Step Up to Quality journey, providers encounter trainings designed to strengthen both foundational knowledge and everyday practice.

Some trainings focus specifically on Step-based requirements and are provided by Step Up to Quality, such as introductions to observation tools. Other trainings are provided through the ELC system to support licensing requirements or broader professional growth, such as business management and emotional regulation strategies.

“The ELC professional development coordinators are very aware of the full ecosystem of trainings,” Jennifer said. “We help people identify who is offering specific trainings and when it’s next available.”

The ELC system also works with independent trainers and community partners to create responsive trainings based on emerging needs and current research.

Professional learning is more than checking a box

When helping young children learn and develop is your full-time job, professional development can sometimes feel like one more task on a to-do list. But Jennifer encourages providers to think about training differently.

“Professional learning is an investment in someone,” she said. “Not only are you investing in your work with children and families, but you’re also investing in yourself as a professional.”

While completing required trainings is important, meaningful professional growth happens when educators pursue learning that genuinely influences their daily work.

“If you’re just checking a box, then it’s not a valuable use of time or resources,” Jennifer said. “You should do it because you want to improve your practices and have a better understanding of your chosen field. We can’t rely on what’s worked for us in the past because times change, best practices change and children change.”

Where to start

If you’re unsure where to begin with professional development, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Early Learning Connection coordinators are available across Nebraska to help early childhood professionals find trainings, explore career development, navigate training requirements, connect with Child Development Associate (CDA) programs and learn about scholarship opportunities — all tied to an individual’s professional learning goals.

“I hope that professionals in the early childhood field don’t scare themselves out of improvement,” Jennifer said. “When you talk about rating systems and Step Up to Quality, these things can seem scary. I encourage people to keep in mind that new experiences are scary for everyone. ELC coordinators are here to support you, answer questions and allow you to explore becoming the best professional you can be.”

Learn more about Step Up to Quality’s trainings and professional support on this website and explore other professional development opportunities in your area through the NECPRS training calendar or the region-specific Educational Service Unit links on the Early Learning Connection website.