CLASS®

ECEP has worked with  Teachstone®, the world trusted leader in Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) driven measurement and mentoring, since 2014. CLASS® not only defines teaching quality through the lens of interactions, it provides the ability to measure and improve the interactions that matter most for children’s outcomes. And, it’s a journey of continuous improvement that is data-driven.

Visit the Office of Early Childhood's CLASS® website to learn more about CLASS® in Arkansas.

All CLASS® courses equip early childhood educators to focus on change, promote positive interactions, and improve teaching quality. Each CLASS® course is FREE for anyone to attend and offer the following:

  • Professional development credit from the Arkansas Professional Development Registry and the Arkansas Department of Education
  • FREE course materials and access to in-depth content, including a participant manual and other resources
  • Continuing Education Units, upon request
  • Certificate of Completion and Verification of Training Hours, upon request
  • Opportunity to collaborate and build community engagement with other industry experts

CLASS® 2nd Edition Pre-K–3rd Intro to Interactions equips educators with the knowledge to understand and improve educator-child interactions, preparing them for CLASS® observations. Throughout this training educators will embrace the life-changing impact of interactions and practice planning for them in daily routines and explore new approaches to ensure every child experiences meaningful interactions.

CLASS® 2nd Edition Pre-K–3rd Intro to Interactions helps early educators:
  • Explore the CLASS® tool and how it boosts quality improvement
  • Dive into the CLASS® observation process and learn what happens during an observation
  • Connect CLASS® interactions to daily practices

Level:  Foundation
Hours:  6 hours

CLASS® Pre-K Interaction Essentials for Educators is a comprehensive training program that helps empower educators to succeed with flexible, high-impact CLASS® training.  Educators learn to apply CLASS® concepts directly to their daily routines and specific contexts to improve interactions with every child throughout the day. This program includes exclusive materials to support the building of and transfer of knowledge to practice.

This training is available in three different sessions.

CLASS® Pre-K Interaction Essentials for Educators helps early educators:
  • Expand understanding of the power of interactions
  • Explore each CLASS® domain and dimension in-depth
  • Learn about interactions, practice identifying interactions, and plan for integration of those interactions into daily practices

Level:  Intermediate
Hours:  10.75, 17.5, or 24.25 hours

CLASS® 2nd Edition Pre-K Only Observer Certification Training is a 3-day in-person training where participants gain an in-depth understanding of the CLASS®  methodology and prepare to reliably assess teaching quality using CLASS®. Research shows that CLASS® improves teacher-student interactions, measures effective interactions across age levels, and promotes academic gains. CLASS® 2nd Edition Pre-K Only Observation Training is great for organizations that want to collect data to support local, state, and federal compliance requirements, and for organizations that want to understand and improve classroom quality.

CLASS® 2nd Edition Pre-K Only Observer Certification Training helps early educators:
  • Learn how to observe teacher-student interactions and capture meaningful data on classroom quality
  • Prepare to conduct formal and informal teacher observations
  • Build a strong foundation for beginning the CLASS® journey
  • Develop CLASS® fluency and satisfy a prerequisite for all CLASS® coaching programs

Level:  Advanced
Hours:  18 hours

Infant/Toddler CLASS® Group Coaching (MMCI) is an interactive course consisting of group coaching and learning experiences for early childhood educators. Infant/Toddler CLASS® Group Coaching utilizes the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and focuses on the domains and dimensions of classroom quality with the CLASS® tool. Familiarity with the CLASS® tool is beneficial but is not required.

The dimensions taught within Infant/Toddler CLASS® Group Coaching are based on developmental theory and research, which suggests that interactions between children and adults are the primary mechanism of development and learning (Greenberg, Domitrovich, & Bumbarger. 2001; Hamre & Pianta, 2007).

Infant/Toddler CLASS® Group Coaching (MMCI) helps early educators:
  • Learn alongside peers in small group-coaching sessions
  • Watch and reflect on real classroom videos of other teachers
  • Learn to identify and describe effective interactions in the classroom
  • Build skills, insights, and strategies to apply CLASS® concepts to teaching

Level:  Advanced
Hours:  24 hours

Pre-K CLASS® Group Coaching (MMCI) is an interactive course consisting of group coaching and learning experiences for early childhood educators. Pre-K CLASS® Group Coaching utilizes the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and focuses on the domains and dimensions of classroom quality with the CLASS® tool. Familiarity with the CLASS® tool is beneficial but is not required.

The dimensions taught within Pre-K CLASS® Group Coaching are based on developmental theory and research, which suggests that interactions between children and adults are the primary mechanism of development and learning (Greenberg, Domitrovich, & Bumbarger. 2001; Hamre & Pianta, 2007).

Pre-K CLASS® Group Coaching (MMCI) helps early educators:
  • Learn alongside peers in small group-coaching sessions
  • Watch and reflect on real classroom videos of other teachers
  • Learn to identify and describe effective interactions in the classroom
  • Build skills, insights, and strategies to apply CLASS® concepts to teaching

Level:  Advanced
Hours:  24 hours

 
Additional ECEP Training that Supports CLASS® Implementation
 

Building Relationships with Infants and Toddlers  (4 hours, Foundation Level)

  • Overview: Equips early childhood educators with practical strategies to nurture strong, caring connections with infants and toddlers, supporting their overall development.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Infant Relational Climate, Infant and Toddler Teacher Sensitivity, Behavior Guidance

Foundations of Language and Literacy Development  (10 hours, Intermediate Level)

  • Overview: Introduces language and literacy development, drawing from the Science of Reading and LETRS®, to equip early childhood educators with practical strategies for creating strong language and literacy environments.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Pre-K Instructional Learning Formats, Concept Development, Quality of Feedback, Language Modeling

Guidance and Behavior Management  (15 hours or 8 hours if self-paced, Intermediate Level)

  • Overview: Examines how environmental factors influence behavior. Educators learn to structure daily schedules with rules, rituals, and routines that encourage positive behavior.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Toddler Behavior Guidance, Pre-K Routines, Transitions, and Preparation

The Growing Brain: From Birth to Five Years Old  (21 hours, Intermediate Level)

  • Overview: Covers key brain development stages, the role of early experiences in cognitive and emotional growth, and strategies to support young learners.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Infant Relational Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Early Language Support, Toddler Language Modeling, Positive Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Pre-K Positive Climate, Educator Sensitivity

Every Child Belongs  (15 hours, Advanced Level)

  • Overview: Equips early childhood educators with strategies to support all children, including those with disabilities, by fostering positive interactions and collaborative environments.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Infant Relational Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Early Language Support, Toddler Language Modeling, Positive Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Pre-K Positive Climate, Educator Sensitivity, Behavior Management, Language Modeling

Pre-K Math and Science  (30 hours, Advanced Level)

  • Overview: Engages educators in interactive learning on early math and science concepts, designed to inspire and educate 3–5-year-olds in these foundational subjects.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Pre-K Instructional Learning Formats, Concept Development, Quality of Feedback

Pre-K Relationships and Behavior  (45 hours, Advanced Level) 

  • Overview: Equips early childhood educators with strategies to foster positive relationships, address challenging behaviors, manage disruptions, and prepare children with essential skills for kindergarten readiness.
  • Supports CLASS® Dimensions: Pre-K Positive Climate, Educator Sensitivity, Behavior Management
     

The Arkansas Department of Education approves all courses provided by Early Care and Education Projects for professional development credit. However, the awarding of professional development credit based on attendance at this workshop is solely at the discretion of the local school district. Learn more by reviewing the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Professional Development (Feb 2016).