WaKIDS
Newly hired kindergarten and transitional kindergarten teachers are required to sign-up for training through the OSPI website.
WaKIDS is an observational assessment used in kindergarten to begin to understand what children know and where they may need support from educators.
WaKIDS 101 is the one-time training required for all kindergarten and transitional kindergarten teachers new to WaKIDS. This includes certificated special education teachers who provide instruction to kindergarten and transitional kindergarten students with disabilities. The training introduces all three components of WaKIDS, including its purpose, structure, and possibility. By the end of the session, teachers will have the basic skills to begin implementing all components of WaKIDS, including using GOLD™ by Teaching Strategies® online. With the completion of their GOLD™ by Teaching Strategies® Inter-Rater Reliability Certification, teachers will leave feeling confident and ready for fall training.
For more information, contact: Kristin Monson (509) 789-3531 or [email protected]
Trainings around the region are listed below or on the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) website.
STARS
The purpose of Washington STARS (State Training And Registry System)is to ensure quality care for all children in our state through increased opportunities for basic and on-going training for child care, early education, and school age providers. STARS emerged from a widespread call from both child care providers and consumers for increased training and compensation to improve the quality of care for children and youth.
For more information about STARS or MERIT please visit the MERIT website.
University of Washington - Center for Public Health Nutrition
Early Learning STARS Training - Free online training for early care and education professionals
Nourished & Active in Early Learning Series
Healthy child development depends on eating nutritious food and being physically active every day. This is especially important during early childhood when young children are rapidly building their brains and bodies.