Managing your professional development in early childhood education has never been easier, thanks to the Early Learning Coalition Family Portal. This online platform serves as your central hub for all learning events and workshops, streamlining registration, payment, and access to important policy information. To ensure a smooth and beneficial learning experience, we’ve outlined key policies and guidelines related to our learning events, all accessible and manageable through your family portal account.
Registration for Learning Events
Enrolling in professional development opportunities is simple and efficient through our online Family Portal. All registrations for Early Learning Coalition (ELC) learning events and workshops are processed exclusively online. Given the popularity of our sessions and limited seating, we encourage you to register early. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. An account on the Family Portal is mandatory for all learning event registrations, regardless of whether the event is free or requires payment. This ensures all participants are easily tracked and receive necessary updates and materials.
Secure and Convenient Payment Options
For learning events that require a fee, the Family Portal provides a secure and convenient online payment system. Payment can be made directly at the time of registration, ensuring a hassle-free process and immediate confirmation of your spot in the chosen learning event. The portal supports various payment methods for your convenience.
Understanding Our Cancellation Policies
We understand that plans can change. Therefore, our Family Portal allows for easy management of your registrations, including cancellations when necessary.
Registration Cancellation
If you need to cancel your registration for a learning event, you can do so up to 48 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations made within this timeframe will result in a full refund, credited back to the online account associated with your Family Portal profile. This policy ensures fairness and allows others on waiting lists to participate.
Learning Event Cancellation
In rare instances, the Early Learning Coalition may need to cancel a learning event, typically due to insufficient registration numbers. Should a session be cancelled, all registered participants will be promptly notified via email through the Family Portal system. In such cases, a full credit will be automatically applied to your online Family Portal account, ready for use in registering for another learning opportunity.
Attendance Expectations
To maximize your learning and ensure a respectful environment for all participants, we have a clear attendance policy. We encourage all participants to log in virtually or arrive in person 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time of your learning event. This allows time for technical setup or finding your seat without disrupting the session. Participants arriving more than 15 minutes after the official start time will not be admitted to the session. This policy is in place to minimize disruptions and ensure a cohesive learning experience for everyone. Partial in-service credit may be offered in some applicable cases for late arrivals, but make-up sessions are not available under any circumstances.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination and Accessibility
The Early Learning Coalition is committed to providing inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for everyone. In alignment with our Anti-Discrimination Policy, we ensure that no person is discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or age in any learning event, training workshop, or professional development program. Furthermore, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ELC is dedicated to reasonably accommodating individuals with disabilities and religious beliefs. If you require specific accommodations due to a disability, please contact us at 813.515.2340 at least seven business days prior to the scheduled learning event to allow us sufficient time to arrange appropriate support.
Ensuring Learner Security and Privacy
Protecting the privacy of our learners is a top priority. The Family Portal is designed with robust security measures to safeguard your personal information. As registration is exclusively through our secure online platform, access to your records is restricted from public view. You, as a learner, have full access to your certification records and can review and update your demographic and contact information within your Family Portal account. For any online support or assistance in accessing your records, please call 813.515.2340. To maintain security and verify identity, learners are required to present a state or government-issued photo ID at all in-person learning events.
Transparency Regarding Proprietary Interests
The Early Learning Coalition is committed to transparency in all our learning events. Our Proprietary Interest Policy ensures that participants are informed of any potential proprietary interest a trainer or instructor may have in a product or service discussed during a session. All trainers and instructors are required to disclose any proprietary interests in products, instruments, devices, services, or materials discussed, as well as the source of any compensation related to their presentation. This ensures you receive unbiased and comprehensive information.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Achievement Bonuses
Professional growth is recognized and rewarded through our learning events.
CEU Award Policy
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be awarded for learning events that are three hours or longer in duration. Events shorter than three hours will be recognized with in-service hours upon completion. CEUs are granted upon successful completion of the learning event. Successful completion requires punctuality, full attendance in all required sessions, active participation, and completion of any related assignments or surveys as defined by the trainer or instructor. For online training, an engagement score of 75% or higher is necessary, and cameras must be turned on at all times – no exceptions. For online sessions, your display name must match the name used during registration on the Family Portal. Details about any required assignments or surveys will be outlined in the Training Description on the Family Portal platform. We encourage learners to reach out to trainers or instructors for any clarifications needed regarding course requirements. In-service hours will be awarded if CEU requirements are not fully met. Please note that training sessions may be recorded for educational purposes.
Achievement Bonus
For educators teaching in Hillsborough County, an Achievement Bonus may be available. To earn this bonus, you must meet all course requirements, including pre/post assessments, homework assignments, reflection activities, and LMS instructor evaluations (if applicable). Please note that there is a limit of four training achievement bonuses per individual per training cycle, and bonuses are not awarded for previously completed coursework. Additionally, a W9 form with an address matching your Family Portal account address must be submitted. For any questions regarding achievement bonuses, please contact Abbey Landa at [email protected].
Accessing Your Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of a learning event or training, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. This certificate is easily accessible and retrievable from your individual online Family Portal account. This digital access ensures you always have a record of your professional development achievements readily available.
Childcare Considerations
Please be aware that all learning events and training sessions are designed for adult audiences. To ensure your full participation and benefit from the sessions, we kindly request that all registrants make necessary childcare arrangements. Childcare services are not available at the learning event venues.
The Early Learning Coalition Family Portal is your comprehensive resource for managing and maximizing your early learning professional development journey. From registration to accessing your certifications, the portal is designed to support you every step of the way.
