Introduction to SPARK Learning Lab
Partners of SPARK
SPARK’s Year 4 Highlights
SPARK Supports
Building Sustainable Businesses
Workforce Wellness
High Quality Care
Embarking on Year 5
Project Director SPARK Learning Lab
To design and deliver inclusive, anti-bias, and rigorous approaches to eliminate the gaps between young children’s inherent potential and their achievement in school and life. With our partners, we accelerate child and family outcomes that honor the aspirations and cultures of the communities we serve.
We commit to continuous improvement, as we use data inclusive of our lived experiences to inform organizational strategy, both programmatic and operational.
We demonstrate integrity, openness and transparency as a means by which to build trust among our team and the communities we serve.
We believe talents can be developed. Challenges and barriers are opportunities to refine skills, solutions, and approaches. We serve our children, families, and partners with intention and quality by developing and engaging in innovative professional development, providing equitable support, and leading with a cando attitude.
We disrupt historical ways of thinking and doing in order to create spaces of radical inclusion so that individuals and communities are better. A world where children become champions of their own making; where historical biases and systemic inequities no longer stand in the way of their infinite promise.
We recognize that we can not be successful in our mission without building authentic, trusting, caring relationships that connect us through our shared humanity. As such, we value the inherent worth, dignity, and abilities of all individuals, families, groups, and communities.
SPARK Learning Lab brings together the expertise of local, state, and national organizations into a program-driven tiered quality improvement support system.
The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning oversees early child care, education and out-of-school-time programs.
Shine Early Learning helps early childhood programs nationwide put into place proven practices that deliver positive results — for children, families, and communities.
Briljent specializes in supporting individuals, teams, and organizations in the funding, planning, and implementation of new policies, systems, and programs that impact health, human, and social services initiatives.
Geminus Corporation provides social services to children and families, including early childhood education, family services and preventative programs in Northwest and providers, social service organizations and early childhood education programs
Engaging Solutions creates effective solutions for specific business challenges by providing additional support to for community engagement, customer relations and control systems.
Erikson Institute educates, inspires, and promotes leadership to serve the needs of children and families. By offering education, family services, research, and leadership, Erikson Institute strives to help all children achieve optimal educational, social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Transform Consulting Group is a woman-owned consulting firm with staff across Indiana and Michigan working with government, nonprofit, education, and communities that are addressing complex social issues.
Available to early childhood education and care programs as a one-stop-resource for all, SPARK Learning Lab recognized its fourth year as an opportunity for enhancing growth and innovation. SPARK harnessed its allencompassing services to expand service opportunities, grow through feedback, innovate through change, and build meaningful partnerships.
In its fourth programmatic year, SPARK Learning Lab, in partnership with the Office of Early Childhood and Out-ofSchool Learning, set a goal to grow support opportunities for early childhood education and care programs to enroll, maintain and receive accreditation in Paths to QUALITY™, thereby providing higher quality programs for Hoosier families. To track its progress, SPARK identified five objectives, regularly reviewed its progress, and shared the data with its Regional Advisory Councils. By the end of the year, SPARK exceeded its goals in all five measures.
This bar chart shows Indiana SPARK Learning Lab’s progress on its five performance measures as required to fulfill its contract with the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. With each performance measure, a bar for the actual data point reached for contract year 22-23 is superimposed with the goal. Maintain the percentage of programs that were referred to Paths to QUALITY™
Ensure that at least 90% of those interested in increasing their education to the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children and the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program
76.9%
90%
81.1%
Increase the number of programs advancing at least one level in Paths to QUALITY™ by 5% 243
100%
Create 6 resources, training opportunities, or events that promote education opportunities for the early childhood workforce 6
313
Ensure that at least 90% of programs identified by Indiana’s child care licensing as needing assistance completed a quality improvement plan (QIP) 90%
9
Target programs with a previous safe sleep violation and ensure that no less than 80% do not have another safe sleep violation 80%
100%
93%
Create 8 unique promotion events or resources to support providers with background check regulatory and general program record keeping practices 8 11
Goal
Actual
“This Infant/Toddler cohort was an amazing opportunity to make connections with others from different schools and backgrounds. It was amazing to hear from them and their expertise. It was really well facilitated, and Sarah and Izzy were respectful of our time as well as giving us time to feel heard. It was an encouraging group that was open to sharing, and I really enjoyed the time we had in breakout groups learning from one another.”
Taylor H. | Team Leader Kiddie Prep School
Equipping early care and education business owners with tools to provide excellent service for Hoosier families
Whether a provider is having trouble accessing I-LEAD, Indiana Learning Paths, or My SPARK Learning Lab, needing assistance in identifying where to start, or could use a little help thinking through new knowledge or implementing new practices, SPARK provides support at every step. My SPARK Learning Lab is a user-friendly online portal that provides early care and education program leaders the ability to complete the Indiana Self-Assessment Tool (I-SAT), access the Knowledge Center, and engage with the SPARK Help Desk and Support Team. My SPARK Learning Lab will be accessed through Indiana’s Licensing and Education Access Depot (I-LEAD). In the fourth year of providing these services, SPARK made 205 new resources available in My SPARK Learning Lab in the forms of resources, resource articles, and trainings. Newly created resources were viewed 969 times which included 10,538 unique users on the platform.
Complete the Indiana Self-Assessment Tool (ISAT) or now known as Program Growth Tool, a program-level assessment to help program leaders identify areas of growth and receive the support they need Access to our Knowledge Center which includes tools, templates, job aids and resources, and so much more Engage with the SPARK Learning Lab Support Team by support request, Groups, chat, phone, email and social media
New resources made available on My SPARK Learning Lab
Chat with our Support/Help Desk team -”Chat with us” button Knowledge Center featured topics Improvements to I-SAT: easier to submit and review ISATs with recommend resources “My Dashboard” -access to favorites and bookmarks, assessments and profile page Groups available for Group Learning connection Support request to Support Team/Help Desk and tracking
Total views of all Knowledge Resource Articles Published on My SPARK Learning Lab
SPARK Learning Lab's mission is to support Indiana's early childhood education professionals, with input gathered from Regional Advisory Councils (RACs). These RACs represent different service areas and provide feedback and recommendations on technical assistance and program development. Council members serve for two years and include various stakeholders from the early childhood education sector.
Unique users on My SPARK Learning Lab
In Year 4, in-person training made a significant comeback, doubling attendance compared to the previous contract year. SPARK training focused on mental health, social-emotional development, maladaptive behaviors, and family relationships based on needs assessments, case data, and partner input. Notable training topics included self-care, emotional well-being, difficult conversations with families, family engagement, and creating welcoming environments. A key highlight was the introduction of training requests, resulting in over 40 sessions and 400 completions. SPARK leveraged its meaningful partnerships with CCR&R agencies, Indiana Department of Health, IN Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide, Ready to Grow St. Joe, Lakeshore Learning Learning, and the IN Head Start Association. These coordination and collaboration efforts led to 38 training sessions and 918 completions, expanding the reach of SPARK training.
Training Completion & Attendance Total Face-to-Face Completions: 3,051 Total Live Webinar Completions: 1,322 Total Online/Asynchronous Completions: 102,286 Trainings Held: 381 Unique Trainees: 32,376
Unique Trainings Added: 300 SPARK Partnership Trainings: 122 PTQ Training Completions: 1,178 Civitas Business Trainings: 131 Sustainable Business Practices: 94
This contract year, SPARK focused on the creation and promotion of 8 resources for record keeping and background checks. This year's focus was an expansion of previous years’ sole Safe Sleep focus. SPARK exceeded our goal by creating 11 resources, many of them available in both English and Spanish. These resources focus on promoting safe, healthy environments and the highest quality of care for children and families of Indiana. They also focused on ensuring that staff and child files are maintained and organized, promoting optimal business practices and avoiding licensing violations. SPARK also added Record Keeping as a Featured Topic to My SPARK Learning Lab to allow early childhood educators and partners to quickly locate all content published related to record keeping. With over 200 views of the resource article related to Indiana’s new fingerprinting process, this focus has been beneficial to providers.
Top 5 New Resources Accessed
All About Consent Forms
Quick Facts On Background Checks
Record-keeping resources created in both English & Spanish
Top Safety Tips / Importantes Consejos de Seguridad
Updates to Fingerprint Process Starting January 2023
Views received for a My SPARK Learning Lab resource on Indiana’s new fingerprinting process
Create and Utilize a Balance Sheet
New resources linked to Background Checks
SPARK curated comprehensive coaching opportunities to assist educators and care providers looking to enhance their programs, professional development, and well-being. Topic areas of technical assistance for 3,474 providers included every kind of support case, referral, Indiana Self Assessment Tool (I-SAT) inquiry, business support and mental health and wellness assistance. At an average of 8 touch points per individual, there were 64,804 instances of technical assistance.
Providers that received Technical Assistance
Customer Satisfaction Score
Instances of Technical Assistance
Average Number of Touch Points per Individual
After hearing feedback from providers, SPARK developed a targeted coaching outreaching initiative which launched November of 2022 with a hard copy mailing of the coach assignment and a corresponding map. Coaches were assigned to programs based upon auspice and geography with additional coaching options based upon specialization and program need. This allows for more continuity when working with SPARK coaching and provides a way to ensure new providers have the support they need to establish a quality and sustainable program. This led to SPARK coaching having an 89% customer satisfaction score, considered very good according to the American Customer Satisfaction index. In addition, SPARK’s Quality Coaching received a Net Promoter Score of 70.
Participants Benefited SPARK provided specialized business coaching to early child care providers to help them overcome the business-related challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 771 participants benefited from this program, gaining knowledge and resources to thrive in the post-pandemic environment and secure competitive grant proposals. The pandemic severely affected the early child care industry, leading to closures, operational changes, and financial constraints. The coaching program aimed to equip providers with tools to adapt to the "new normal" and establish business sustainability. Participants learned about strategic planning, effective financial management, and how to align their business models with evolving family and industry needs. The program included a Business Learning Series and one-on-one coaching, which improved participants' budgeting, cash flow management, and their ability to identify additional revenue sources. This enhanced financial planning and led to increased use of tools and resources in their practices, as well as a 20% increase in understanding how to generate extra income.
Increase in Understanding
Reported Confidence in Business Strategy Implementation
Collaboration was encouraged through the Business Learning Series, fostering networks and partnerships among participants. They shared experiences and best practices, aiming for mutual growth and improvement. This collaborative environment promoted innovation and knowledgesharing, strengthening the early child care sector post-pandemic. Assessments and feedback surveys indicated that the coaching program was highly valuable, with 95% of participants confident in implementing business strategies and 90% benefiting from the coaching. These positive outcomes demonstrate the program's tangible impact on the success of early child care providers in navigating the post-pandemic landscape.
Benefit from Coaching
Mental Health & Wellness Coaches
SPARK has made significant efforts to support the workforce in mental health, wellness, and trauma. Five Mental Health and Wellness Coaches were hired and provided 350 hours of coaching to early care and education staff, improving their knowledge and competence.
Hours of Coaching
Hours of Coach Professional Development Unique On-Site Coaching Opportunities
The Mental Health and Wellness Coaches completed 67 hours of rigorous onboarding which included trainings on Learn the Signs. Act Early., Ages and Stages, Pyramid Model and Environmental Rating Scales. All of these trainings focused on social and emotional development in children. INfancy Onward is Indiana’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association. Coaches will obtain endorsements in infant mental health or early childhood mental health or both. Completing endorsement signifies the ability to deliver highquality, culturally sensitive services to infants, toddlers, parents, caregivers, and families, thus enhancing care quality. The coaches provided on-site Technical Assistance (TA) 94 times, addressing critical areas like classroom management, child-staff interactions, and staff mental health. In Year 5, SPARK is hiring 3 more Mental Health and Wellness Coaches to expand support across the state, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of the workforce, children, and families they serve.
SPARK Group Coaching, formally known as Cohorts, focused on Paths to QUALITY™ Level Advancement, Paths to QUALITY™ Level Maintenance, National Accreditation, and Infant Toddler care, with 8 individual topics that served 274 programs, including individual programs in 2023. Over the past year, our commitment to empowering these dedicated individuals has yielded profound results, such as the average of cohort participants reporting an increase in their knowledge through coaching was 87%. As the number of available sessions and participation grew, SPARK group coaches and the SPARK content team collaborated to incorporate feedback from providers and encourage coaching reliability. Half of all topics have been delivered in Spanish to ensure equitable opportunities. The newest topic, Infant Toddler Care, was able to bridge the gap between knowledge and implementation through participants receiving infant toddler kits from Lakeshore Learning.
Individual Topics Programs Served
Increase in Reported Cohort Participants’ Knowledge
All Group Coaching Topics Delivered in Spanish
SPARK Learning Lab's Help Desk provides comprehensive support to early childhood education and care providers. This support includes assistance with accessing essential resources like I-LEAD, Indiana Learning Paths, Paths to QUALITY™, grant support and My SPARK Learning Lab. The Help Desk is committed to helping providers at every stage, whether they need guidance on where to start or assistance with implementing new practices. The Help Desk was able to support those additional topics by bringing in the Brighter Futures Solutions Center to provide a more unified service hub for providers. Staffed by a highly trained Support Team, the SPARK Help Desk is easily accessible through phone, email, and chat. The Help Desk ensures that early childhood education and care programs receive the necessary information and support, allowing them to focus on serving children and families. One of SPARK's key principles is its "no wrong door" philosophy, which means they collaborate with all system partners to connect providers with the right experts. For instance, during the reporting year, 100% of program leaders interested in improving their education or that of their staff were successfully linked to programs like the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program and the Workforce Development project at the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children. This exemplifies SPARK's commitment to facilitating educational and professional growth within the early childhood education sector. All Other Support Types 12% Key Partner Support 4% Family Resources 4%
87%
Quick and easy resource
87%
Question or need was resolved
88%
PTQ Support 29%
BLG Stabilization Grant 6%
15,291
Satisfied with the Help Desk Service
Child Care Expansion Grant 9%
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
5,795
Indiana Learning Paths 14%
11,078 15,291
I-LEAD 22%
This chart demonstrates the distribution of what % each category of support cases fell under. PTQ Support and I-LEAD categories were the most popular for contract year 22-23
Town Square, the partnering online learning community created by family child care professionals, for family child care professionals, has created a content-rich portal to address the unique professional development needs of providers operating family child care programs. In 2023, Town Square saw 1,070 registered user accounts with 1,823 unique sessions. In collaboration with Geminus, Erikson Institute develops and deploys training, resources, and peer learning opportunities specific to family child care using Town Square and support with training for other early child care auspices as needed. Enhancing home care providers’ experience within their professional network, Town Square offers ample tools, resources and learning opportunities in areas including health, fun, development, food and business. Professional Registered Town development learning modules are offered in Square Users collaboration with Erikson Institute and can prepare providers for credentialing requirements.
Unique Sessions
Providers and Partners asked and SPARK responded with a new referral process that supported and advocated for Indiana providers. Program Leaders in the state of Indiana asked for a way to access SPARK coaches outside of the Program Growth Tool (formerly known as the I-SAT). There were times when taking sections of the tool would not meet the needs of providers. There were instances where providers had a one off question or wanted to work on a short term goal. In response to this request, the Coach Supports page was updated to include a map of the coaches supporting each county and a Provider Self-Referral Form. The form highlights the five areas of coaching support SPARK provides. We are working with our partners now on updating their referral form. We’re hoping to streamline the process even more so providers get access to training, resources and coaching as efficiently as possible.
Enhancing early care and education business owners with professional development tools and opportunities for personal and professional growth
In the past year, the SPARK Help Desk and SPARK Business Coach Team provided critical assistance for various grants, including the Build, Learn, Grow Stabilization Grant, School Age Child Care Grant, and Child Care Expansion Grant. These teams successfully supported 904 providers in managing funds for the Build, Learn, Grow Stabilization Grant, with a strong focus on reporting, resulting in a high Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 89. For the School Age Child Care Grant, SPARK assisted 207 unique users with 261 cases, particularly addressing eligibility issues. SPARK actively supported 38 recipients in utilizing funds to benefit Indiana's out-of-school time students. SPARK also played a key role in the Child Care Expansion Grant, handling 1,459 cases and ensuring a smooth grant process for providers. Customer satisfaction surveys indicate an impressive NPS of 86, showcasing high satisfaction and a likelihood of providers recommending this SPARK service. This reflects SPARK's commitment to delivering excellent support and meeting community needs.
To meet the evolving needs of early childhood and out-of-school time businesses, SPARK provided 47 timely resources, covering topics from strategic planning to record-keeping in ILEAD. To ensure diverse perspectives were represented, 9 agencies at state and national levels were sources of additional resources, offering 28% of these materials in both English and Spanish. An impressive 2,314 views reflect providers' strong interest in these resources, particularly in business management. Together, SPARK and Civitas were able to support 131 participants across these sessions to develop desired business knowledge and skills. SPARK's investment in Fiscal Services and Human Resources specialists enabled them to internally develop 34% of business management resources. These resources included guides for creating profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and addressing staffing needs through relational onboarding, employer branding, and staff/family surveys.
Resources developed or sourced covering topics from strategic planning to supporting record keeping in ILEAD Agencies at state and national levels for additional resources Resources available in both English and Spanish Number of times providers showed interest in business management by viewing new resources available in English and Spanish Participants supported by SPARK & Civitas across group technical assistance sessions to develop desired business knowledge and skills Resources developed to support business management internally
The partnership between SPARK and Civitas Early Start is a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the business acumen of early childhood professionals. SPARK continued their partnership with Civitas to provide a series of coaching sessions and support services to early childhood professionals in addition to the resources and group training sessions. Indiana providers scheduled 67 coaching sessions, aimed at enhancing the business management skills of early childhood professionals. These sessions will cover various aspects related to running successful early childhood education businesses such as operations management, financial planning, and marketing strategies. Through 169 hours of support, SPARK and Civitas aim to provide hands-on guidance and assistance to early childhood professionals, helping them navigate the complexities of business management and operations. The partnership also includes 10 hours of professional development for SPARK Business Coaches, aimed at enhancing their ability to support and mentor early childhood professionals effectively using the resources sourced from Civitas. By leveraging SPARK's expertise in early childhood training and Coaching Civitas' specialized knowledge of Sessions business acumen, this partnership aims to equip early Hours of childhood professionals with the Support skills and knowledge necessary to build successful, sustainable Hours of Professional businesses. Ultimately, this Development for collaboration aims to support the healthy SPARK Business development of our future generations by Coaches strengthening the early childhood education sector.
To meet the growing demand for business training specific to family child care home providers, SPARK utilized the services of All Our Kin by sending five staff members to attend their Business Series Train the Trainer. Using their curriculum, SPARK Learning Lab partnered with Child Care Answers to deliver the business series to five family child care home owners in Marion, Hendricks, and Hamilton counties starting in early March. From this pilot, 100% of participants improved their scores from the pre- to the post-test. Scores increased by an average of 16%. Participants made necessary changes to their contracts and policies and felt better prepared to run their business. The success of the pilot, where all participants rated themselves highly satisfied with their experience in the business series signified more should be delivered. The second series was delivered in collaboration with Muncie By5 in July. Five participants from Delaware county in this session saw an average of a 12% increase in scores with the highest gain being a 60% increase in business acumen. Once again, all participants rated themselves as highly satisfied with their experience in the business series. This continued success led to the most recent series being kicked off in September for family child care home providers working in the Indy East Promise Neighborhood. Eleven participants will conclude in November with promising results as all participants have given each session the highest score possible on exit surveys. SPARK has already begun discussions with additional partners to deliver the All Our Kin Business Series across the state.
Providing autonomy, selfpreservation and stamina for early care and education business owners in and outside of their programs
The Build, Learn, Grow: Building Wellness program is available to individuals in Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care programs. Services can be accessed 24/7 via phone, online, or the GuidanceNowSM app, with strict confidentiality. SPARK partners with ComPsych to provide this service, with 1,095 unique users to date. SPARK actively promotes Building Wellness to assist staff and enhance recruitment and retention. A marketing campaign was launched in 2022, reaching all Indiana providers. SPARK also featured ComPsych representation at statewide provider fairs. Building Wellness will remain free for providers until September 2025, with a new marketing campaign planned for the end of 2023. Confidential Emotional Support Clinicians are available to listen to concerns and help employees and their family members with many issues including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, loss, life adjustments and relationhip/marital conflicts.
Work-Life Solutions Specialists provide qualified referrals and resources for things such as finding child and elder care, hiring movers, repair contractors, planning events and locating pet care.
Online Support via GuidanceResources® Online GuidanceResources® Online is a 24/7 link to information, tools, and support including articles, podcasts, videos, slideshows, on-demand trainings, and “Ask the Expert” personal response questions.
Financial Resources Financial experts are available to assist with a range of issues including retirement planning, taxes, relocation, mortgages, insurance, budgeting, debt and bankruptcy.
Legal Guidance Attorneys provide practical assistance for legal issues including divorce, adoption, family law, wills and trusts. A free 30-minute consultation is provided with a 25% reduction in fees.
In 2023, SPARK continued its partnership with K1ds Count Therapy, extending Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation to early childhood programs statewide. This initiative now provides virtual and on-site support in program-wide, teacher-classroom, and child-centered consultation, reaching multiple counties including Bartholomew, Boone, Hendricks, Marion, Montgomery, Jennings, Johnson, Brown, Jackson, Decatur, and Shelby Counties. The ongoing project supports early childhood programs with strategies for managing behavioral and mental health challenges, offering on-site consultations with certified specialists. We're committed to equipping these programs to nurture and develop young learners, embodying our dedication to Indiana's future wellbeing.
In partnership with the Office of Early and Out-of-School Learning, SPARK's collaboration with Calm has transformed early childhood education. Launched in February 2023, it engaged 1,125 users with an 80% engagement rate, offering educators relaxation and mindfulness resources, enhancing well-being, and strengthening school-family connections.
Engaged Calm App users
Calm App engagement rate
Brooke, an early childhood program leader, provides a real-life example of the transformation of this partnership. She has harnessed the power of the Calm App to create a smoother, more peaceful nap time transition. Using specific content like “Peppa Pig” meditations, she has found that her children look forward to this part of the day, making the transition to naptime seamless and enjoyable for everyone. Notably, Brooke also uses sleep stories from the Calm App to help children settle down for their naps. The results have been remarkable with children falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, and even one child who previously struggled to nap now peacefully doing so. Parents have noticed the difference and have even become engaged with the Calm App, facilitating better sleep for their children at home, reinforcing the positive impact of the partnership.
Since 2021, SPARK began offering Provider Support Groups, giving early childhood and out-of-school time professionals a dedicated space for reflective dialogue. Led by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a select group of peers, Provider Support Groups create a haven for professionals addressing complex challenges faced by children and families during and after the pandemic. Through reflective supervision, participants collaboratively explore next steps, access support resources, and devise innovative solutions. In year 4, 17 Provider Support Groups have assembled and aided 296 professionals across the state, improving their well-being. A post-survey revealed 100% of respondents were enriched by their understanding and accessibility to resources geared toward enhancing their health and overall wellbeing within the workplace. Participants expressed how these groups provided valuable "me time" and effective communication strategies. As part of this initiative, LCSWs integrated the Calm app, incorporating calm and focus within providers and staff meetings. This partnership with Calm led to a project to extend mental health and wellness support to early childhood educators across Indiana, demonstrating SPARK's dedication to holistic well-being in the community.
Collaboratively, between SPARK Learning Lab and Stephan Viehweg, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, IMH-C, the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) program by the CDC has derived from a small pilot to a comprehensive, statewide initiative, accessible to all professionals. This initiative is designed to educate early childhood professionals on effectively utilizing the CDC's developmental milestones monitoring tools. The main goal of this training is to empower professionals to assist children and families in monitoring and celebrating developmental milestones. It aims to increase parental involvement in developmental monitoring and early 50% intervention if concerns arise. LTSAE 5 complements developmental screening, 15% enabling tracking, progress celebration, and support for children with delays. 44% Regular screenings are recommended for 4 all children, as early intervention can help 35% them reach their full potential. 6%
3
0%
2 9%
0%
1 9%
Additionally, participating programs connected with Help Me Grow Indiana 32% staff for ASQ scoring and community resource access. In Year 4, work began for This bar chart shows the percentage of participants an on-demand training module for LTSAE and will be debuted on Indiana Learning rating change in knowledge from LOW (1) Paths, offering flexibility for professionals to HIGH (5), before and to complete the training at their after the training. convenience. SPARK remains committed to offering the LTSAE training through various Pre-Training modes, including in-person, virtual, and Post-Training on-demand, equipping professionals with multiple options to access this valuable resource.
SPARK Learning Lab partnered with the Indiana Department of Health to offer free access to GoNAPSACC (GNS) to Indiana early care and education programs. GNS is an online tool that supports healthy eating and physical activity for children in childcare programs. It provides unlimited access to planning tools, educational materials, and guidance from trained SPARK Coaches who are GNS Consultants. SPARK also acquired content from the Better Together Collaborative, organizing wellness collaboratives that brought Early Childhood Education (ECE) program leaders together to learn about healthy habits in ECE settings. These collaboratives focused on four modules from GNS: Child Nutrition, Infant and Child Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Breastfeeding/Infant Feeding. They emphasized how healthy eating and physical activity contribute to children's overall development. SPARK translated all four modules into Spanish and will offer bilingual content in Year 5. In 2023, SPARK completed two collaboratives on Child Nutrition and Breastfeeding/Infant Feeding, providing participants with materials to support their learning and implement new practices in their programs.
SPARK Learning Lab collaborated with the Indiana Department of Health to bring the Physical Activity Learning Sessions (PALS) training program to Indiana. PALS, developed by Nemours Children's Health, equips early care and education (ECE) professionals with best practices for physical activity in children aged 0 to 5.
Mental Health and Wellness Coaches underwent a two-day training with Brooke's Publishing to become trainers for ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE:2 developmental screening tools. SPARK worked diligently with Brooke’s Publishing to receive permission, first in the history of Indiana, that allowed our staff upon completing the training of trainers to offer and facilitate both ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE:2 statewide for any early care and education professional to attend. ASQ-3 is a family-friendly developmental screening tool that relies on parents' input to detect potential delays and celebrate milestones. Early assessment increases the chance for a child to reach their full potential. After the training, participants can order a free ASQ-3 starter kit and receive assistance from Mental Health and Wellness Coaches for implementation. ASQ-SE:2 is a reliable system that focuses on social-emotional development in young children. It helps professionals recognize at-risk children, identify concerns for caregivers, and determine the need for further assessment. After training, professionals can order a free ASQ-SE:2 starter kit and receive support from Mental Health and Wellness Coaches for implementation.
Mental Health and Wellness Coaches, along with additional SPARK Coaches, were trained to facilitate PALS sessions. This 5-hour training program combines content delivery, self-assessments, policy development opportunities, and access to resources. The goal is to drive practice changes within ECE programs, promoting healthier and more active children. SPARK successfully launched PALS training and plans to offer more opportunities, both in-person and virtually. Professionals who complete the training receive materials to implement their new knowledge and enhance practices in their programs, fostering physical activity and overall well-being in young children.
The Center for Evaluation, Policy, & Research (CEPR) at Indiana University was contracted by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) to evaluate new Expanded Business Supports and Mental Health Supports for early learning providers (ELPs) in Indiana. The evaluation focused on key findings related to attendance, participation, session content, delivery, and intended outcomes for each component of Business Supports. Recommendations specific to each program component were provided. Mental Health Supports, implemented by SPARK Learning Lab (SPARK) through a contract with OECOSL, informed program and policy decisions related to scaled implementation. For the primary components of Mental Health Supports, the evaluation examined attendance, participation, session content, delivery, and data related to intended outcomes. This included new data and data integration spanning the entire implementation period, with identified time-based differences. SPARK also provided program-specific recommendations. Since January 2022, SPARK, CEPR, and OECOSL have collaborated on this evaluation, and CEPR will continue to support Business and Mental Health Supports through Year 5.
SPARK Learning Lab partnered with JumpIN for Healthy Kids to offer a new GoNAPSACC module, focusing on Farm to Early Childhood Education (ECE). This collaborative was designed for professionals who had previously completed the Better Together Collaborative and were eager to enhance their nutrition and wellness practices. The collaborative was led by two Mental Health and Wellness Coaches and involved programs working with a coach to develop an improvement plan while learning from peers. It comprised three modules: Gardening, Farming and Food Education, and Procurement. Upon completing each module, programs received a monetary incentive to obtain necessary equipment and items to implement the practices they learned during the collaborative.
Exceeding expectations for the highest quality care for Hoosier families
In Indiana, Paths to QUALITY™ (PTQ) continues to be a leading indicator of high-quality early childhood and out-of-school learning. As the state's Quality Rating and Improvement System, PTQ demonstrates the willingness and dedication of our programs to increase their overall quality of care. SPARK Learning Lab lives by the motto, “You support Hoosier children and families, let SPARK support you!” The SPARK team is equipped to assist programs in their PTQ goals while building knowledge and working to remove barriers along the way.
Working with SPARK means access to QUALITY Coaches who support programs. In the past year, the focus continued to be on enrollment and maintenance in the Paths to QUALITY™ (PTQ) program. Notably, there was a substantial increase in enrollment, with 280 programs enrolled in PTQ, bringing the total to 2,578, or 81% of eligible programs now enrolled. SPARK also helped programs advance in PTQ levels, with 313 programs advancing a level in PTQ, and 248 of those programs achieving a high-quality rating (level 3 or 4) by the state's standards. In Year 4, SPARK implemented proactive measures and introduced operational procedures. Level 1 programs were contacted to offer SPARK services and assess any changes in PTQ goals. QUALITY Coaches engaged with Level 2-4 programs at designated touch points throughout the year to ensure awareness of PTQ status, timelines for official rating requests, and to address program leader needs. This approach streamlined communication, increased awareness, built relationships, and reduced the number of expired programs compared to previous years. Registered Ministry 9.8%
School-Based 11.2%
Registered Ministry 15%
School-Based 1.5%
Center Licensed 26%
313
2,578
Home Licensed 62.7%
This pie chart shows the breakdown of providers enrolled in Paths to QUALITY™ for contract year 22-23 by percentage of program type. The four program types were SchoolBased, Home Licensed, Ministry, and Center Licensed.
Center Licensed 24.6%
Home Licensed 49.2%
This pie chart shows the breakdown of providers who advanced at least one level Paths to QUALITY™ for contract year 22-23 by percentage of program type. The four program types were School-Based, Home Licensed, Ministry, and Center Licensed.
In the 2022-2023 contract year, SPARK introduced the Paths to QUALITY Resource site, a comprehensive tool offering guidance for program leaders at every stage of their PTQ journey. This all-in-one resource streamlines the process and provides easy access to essential information and materials. The site is tailored to different types of care, accommodating the nuanced standards for various licensed/regulated child care programs. Since its launch, the site has been accessed 334 times. In Year 4, SPARK expanded its collection of PTQ resources with the creation of 10 new resources, bringing the total to 45 PTQ Success Tools. These Success Tools were accessed more than 41,000 times in the past year, highlighting their value to programs. Additionally, SPARK introduced the PTQ Overview for Educators, an on-demand training resource. Since its launch in May 2023, it has been completed 1,178 times. This resource is designed to help educators understand their roles and responsibilities within PTQ in their own classrooms or learning environments. It aids teachers in refining their practices and prepares them for rating visits, ultimately enhancing program readiness.
44
43
33 30 23
24
23 20
20
19
18 16
Oct. ‘22
Nov. ‘22
Dec. ‘22
Jan. ‘23
Feb. ‘23
March ‘23
April ‘23
May ‘23
June ’23
July ‘23
Aug. ‘23
This bar chart shows the progress SPARK Learning lab made over contract year 22-23 towards reaching its goal of 243 programs enrolled in Paths to QUALITY™ which advanced at least one level. Each bar represents how many programs advanced during a given month.
Sept. ‘23
The Indiana Self-Assessment Tool (I-SAT) was developed as an entry point for Technical Assistance in early childcare and education. SPARK used various assessments and best practices to develop the I-SAT. It was meant to be completed by pedagogical and business leaders of early childhood programs, comprising nearly 50 quality items. The objective was to help programs improve and achieve high-quality standards, with a continuum of benchmark levels for each quality item. After a year of using the I-SAT, it became clear that it didn't comprehensively cover specific practices. Discussions about revising the I-SAT began, leading to a collaborative effort by SPARK staff to revise 29 quality items, combine some items, and introduce new ones related to Business and Mental Health and Wellness. Feedback from providers played a crucial role in these updates. During provider feedback sessions, it became evident that the name "I-SAT" was not user-friendly, reminding providers of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). The newly revised tool, now known as the Program Growth Tool, was launched in early 2023. In Spring 2023, SPARK collected internal and external feedback from providers and partners to determine a new name for the Program Growth Tool. After several rounds of feedback, the name "I-SAT" was officially changed to "Program Growth Tool."
SPARK maintains strong partnerships to assist providers in navigating both formal and non-formal education landscapes. The University of Southern Indiana (USI) collaborates with SPARK to review and offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for approved training via Indiana Learning Paths. With over 20 approved courses and 15 more in the pipeline, providers can submit training certificates to USI for CEUs, even for previously completed courses. The partnership with Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (IN AEYC) yielded 8 events and resources, surpassing the goal of 6, to promote education opportunities for the early childhood workforce. SPARK supported professionals in selecting the right degree, credential, or certificate, directing them to the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Indiana scholarship through IN AEYC. Additionally, a collaboration with Ball State's Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies resulted in a live session highlighting the Early Childhood Master Teacher Certificate scholarship opportunity. This certificate covers 15 of the 30 hours required for the full Early Childhood Master's degree. Through these initiatives, SPARK continues to promote educational advancement for the betterment of children and families in Indiana.
SPARK Learning Lab initiated a dynamic partnership with Lakeshore Learning to provide interactive in-person training sessions throughout the state. Lakeshore Learning's Professional Trainers led engaging sessions, focusing on key social-emotional topics like positive behavior promotion, self-care, environment optimization, and understanding the Pyramid Model. Participants not only gained valuable insights but also practical strategies for immediate implementation in their programs. They received materials kits to enhance their interactions with children in their care. SPARK's Mental Health and Wellness Coaches offered personalized Technical Assistance (TA), whether onsite or virtually, to support the implementation of strategies and the use of training materials. This ensured that programs received tailored assistance based on the training content and materials.
Providers Served: 1,488 Children Impacted: 11,627 Total Training Hours in English: 150 Total Training Hours in Spanish: 36 Total Value of Lakeshore Learning Materials Disrtributed: $744,0
Anonymous Lakeshore Training Participant
Paving the way for new development, innovative sustainability, collaborative improvement, and meaningful relationships
As SPARK Learning Lab looks back on Year 4 and plans ahead for Year 5, SPARK will continue to innovate and adjust based upon the feedback and learnings from our partners and our growing national network. Our organization’s best practices are shaped by the Regional Advisory Councils, Help Desk, PD Needs Assessment and our Customer Relationship Management solution.
SPARK’s Year 5 Technical Assistance Improvement Plan is informed by four major themes: Programs continue to struggle with challenging behaviors, mental health, and trauma Programs have expressed the need for opportunities to network at the local and regional levels Programs need access to reliable technology and business supports SPARK needs to increase engagement to both new and returning early childhood education and care professionals
As we have done for the past several years, SPARK Learning Lab remains committed to its role in impacting Paths to QUALITYTM enrollment and advancement, reducing the number of critical regulatory violations by supporting the embedding of best practices, and increasing the opportunity for the education advancement of the workforce.
After another year of lessons learned and Growth, SPARK Learning Lab is excited and poised for a successful Year 5. We are immensely grateful for the trust and support of the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, without whom our accomplishments would not be possible. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to our core values. The challenges and opportunities that lie ahead only fuel our determination to make an even greater impact in the coming year. Thank you for being part of our journey, and we look forward to another year of growth, innovation, and shared success. SPARK will continue to our policies and procedures to ensure effective technical assistance. SPARK will existing resources and partnership to provide clarity and ease of service. SPARK will with early childhood education and care professionals to increase the number of children being empowered to become champions of their own making.