Who Should Attend?

• Anyone who needs to know more about the latest strategies for coping with Head Start regulatory and funding challenges.
• Anyone with questions about the hundreds of new legal requirements contained in the 2007 Reauthorization of Head Start.
• YOU, if you want to refine, expand, or gain skills and knowledge that will enhance you as an early childhood professional.

Why Should You Attend?

• Understand Reauthorization and how it will affect your program and your job.
• Explore critical topics affecting Head Start with leading professionals in educational sessions and networking opportunities.
• Gain new skills, strategies, and ideas that will make you and your program more effective.

Conference Highlights

• IBM Young Explorer Training & FREE Computers!
  PACER Center will hold a special training in Nashville during the 35th Annual Training Conference! This is a technology training focused on fostering inclusion of children with special needs in early childhood classrooms. Parents, teachers and staff will be trained on how to use technology to promote inclusion. Parents and staff will learn ways to support the effective learning and development of children in regular classroom activities. Each program that participates in the training will receive FREE IBM Young Explorer computers! A completed application is required to participate in the training.


Each program must send at least 1 parent and 1 teacher to participate in the training. Click Here for more information.

• Special presentations by Pat Brown, Acting Director, Office of Head Start (invited) and special remarks by Marsha Lawrence Regional Manager, Region IV (confirmed).
  
  
• Seven New Special Learning Blocks - This new training option will enable attendees to explore different areas through a "block" of sessions. The Learning Blocks offered are:

1. Reauthorization and Head Start Administration
2. Program Planning and Management
3. Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practices
4. Child Health and Nutrition
5. Promoting Excellence in Family Services
6. Child Guidance and Challenging Behaviors
7. Partnerships and Collaborations
   

• More than 100 educational sessions which address hot topics in Head Start, key areas in the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Reauthorization, and new trends in early care and education.

1. Addressing Challenging Behaviors
2. Administration
3. Assessment
4. Childhood Obesity
5. Classroom/Instructional
6. Cultural Diversity
7. Early Childhood Development
8. Early Childhood Education
9. Early Literacy
10. Early Math Development
11. Early Science
12. Fiscal Management
13. Health
14. Human Resources
15. Nutrition
16. Parent Involvement
17. Partnerships
18. Physical Activity
19. Serving Children with Special Needs
20. Social Emotional Development
21. Technology and Communications
• Child Welfare Focus Series - a collaboration with Casey Family Programs - will focus on improving outcomes for Head Start children who are homeless or in foster care.
  

• Keynote address by Dr. Lillian Katz, a noted international leader in early childhood education.

• Research Luncheon address by Dr. Robert Pianta, Dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Dr. Pianta will address how to improve child outcomes in Head Start through teacher/child relationships.