Director Essentials (for Directors)

Director Essentials 1 provides information about minimum licensing rules and regulations. Units include becoming familiar with the licensing manual, personnel, records, staff to child ratios, behavior guidance, special needs, environments for children, nutrition guidelines and meal service, health conditions, hand washing, toileting, medication storage and administration, evacuation plans and supplies. 

*Online, self-paced + 1-Hour Zoom, 4 hours

*Note: Only register for one (1) session.

November 1-10, 2026 Register HERE 

December 1-10, 2026 Register HERE 

January 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

February 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

March 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

April 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

May 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

June 1-10, 2027 Register HERE 

Director Essentials 2 focuses on managing risk across three categories: Physical Safety, Child Protection, and Emergency Preparedness. Participants will become familiar with areas of risk while maintaining the security of the facility, property and equipment, implementing policies to prevent child abuse and neglect as well as allegations of child abuse and neglect, and establishing clear procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. *Face-to-face training, 3 hours 

Director Essentials 3 offers support in understanding how collaborative relationships between school and families can support children’s success, strengthen trust, and connects learning between home and school. Topics include effective communication strategies, orientation and onboarding of families and identifying the differences between involvement, engagement, and partnership. *Face-to-face training, 3 hours 

*Director Essentials 2 and 3 will be offered on the same day at the same location, one in the morning (9:00 am-12:00 pm) and one in the afternoon (1:00 pm-4:00 pm) with a 1-hour lunch break in between (on your own). 

Please register for each training individually using the registration links below. 

September 4, 2026 Camden Director Essentials 2 Registration Director Essentials 3 Registration

September 16, 2026 Rogers Director Essentials 2 Registration Director Essentials 3 Registration

October 8, 2026 Little Rock Director Essentials 2 Registration Director Essentials 3 Registration

December 8, 2026 Rogers Director Essentials 2 Registration Director Essentials 3 Registration

January 6, 2027 Camden Director Essentials 2 Registration Director Essentials 3 Registration 

January TBD Bryant Check back soon! Check back soon!

February TBD Jonesboro Check back soon! Check back soon!

March TBD Rogers Check back soon! Check back soon!

April TBD Cabot Check back soon! Check back soon!

June TBD Rogers Check back soon! Check back soon!

Director Essentials 4 focuses on child development, adult-child interactions and High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM). Topics include a review of brain development research, stages of development, essential experiences, positive discipline, high quality instructional materials, and strengths-based coaching for professional improvement.

*Face-to-face training, 6 hours 

September 17, 2026 Jonesboro Register HERE

October 21, 2026 Fort Smith Register HERE

November (Date TBD) Warren Check back soon for registration link!

November (Date TBD) Russellville Check back soon for registration link!

January (Date TBD) Rogers Check back soon for registration link!

February (Date TBD) Little Rock Check back soon for registration link!

March (Date TBD) Warren Check back soon for registration link!

March (Date TBD) Forrest City Check back soon for registration link!

April (Date TBD) Clarksville Check back soon for registration link!

May (Date TBD) Little Rock Check back soon for registration link!