SPARK Learning Lab: Igniting Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Indiana's commitment to high-quality early childhood education is exemplified by its robust network of support systems for early childhood and out-of-school programs. At the heart of this network is SPARK Learning Lab, Indiana’s statewide early childhood technical assistance provider. SPARK Learning Lab supports early childhood and out-of-school programs in meeting regulatory requirements, in addition to supporting programs’ individual quality improvement and professional development paths. For six years, SPARK Learning Lab was proud to partner with providers across Indiana. Together, we imagined the possibilities for a truly supportive and impactful learning ecosystem for our state’s early childhood educators.
Comprehensive Support System
Indiana child care programs have access to a multitude of continuous quality supports including professional development and training, onsite and virtual coaching, and many more. Training and technical assistance services are available to practically all early childhood care and education programs in Indiana, but also specifically for those navigating the Paths to QUALITY system. Indiana’s number one go-to resource for statewide assistance and support for early care and education professionals, the team at SPARK Learning Lab, offers a range of services, from access to experienced coaches and content specialists to a wealth of online resources. The team provides in-person training, ensuring tailored, hands-on support, and their dedicated and knowledgeable staff supports early childhood programs on their journey to provide the best care and education for Indiana’s children and families.
Key Services Provided by SPARK Learning Lab
SPARK Learning Lab offers a variety of services designed to support early childhood professionals and programs, including:
Indiana Self-Assessment Tool (I-SAT)
The I-SAT is a self-assessment tool designed for early care and education programs to help identify their quality improvement goals and technical assistance needs. By completing the I-SAT, programs receive resources and support based on their specific needs and programmatic goals. Completing the I-SAT is the first step in tailoring your continuous quality improvement goals and receiving the technical assistance to help you get there. Log into your I-LEAD account and access Indiana Learning Paths to find training opportunities during which you can complete the I-SAT with the help of a coach.
Local Experts, Coaches, and In-Person Learning Forums
The coaches and content specialists at SPARK Learning Lab are here to support all programs in Indiana, including those participating in Paths to QUALITY. The SPARK team have universally available resources and coaches in their Tier 1 supports, via Indiana Learning Paths and the SPARK Help Desk; some programs may work in group or individual settings with coaches, depending on their goals and readiness for technical assistance as identified by the I-SAT. Coaching Support: Program leaders and educators can access a team of coaches for personalized and group support, both in-person and online. Help Desk and Virtual Group Coaching: SPARK Help Desk coaches are available to professionals, even if they don’t have an assigned coach.
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SPARK Help Desk
SPARK Coaches are available via phone to answer your questions related to licensing, Paths to QUALITY, training and professional development, and connections to other statewide services. Early morning, evening, and weekend hours are also available to speak with a SPARK teammate.
Regional Advisory Councils (RAC)
Each Regional Advisory Council, or RAC, is comprised of 10-15 voting members. Each of Indiana’s five service delivery areas has its own council and respective members. Membership selections are made to ensure the councils are representative of each region and engage relevant stakeholders including: Early childhood education providers-both educators and leadership staff-who represent all program types at various quality levels, local subject matter experts, such as higher education professionals, and community leaders working in the early childhood education sector. RAC memberships and the application process renew on an annual basis; RAC meetings are also open to the public. Click the link above to learn more about RAC and how to get involved.
Town Square
The resources and features on Town Square are all free and available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The site, also mobile-friendly, is a great way to stay connected to your colleagues and other providers so you never feel alone. Go to www.TownSquareIN.org to find a variety of resources including videos, trainings, message boards, and much more. The Town Square, sponsored by the Erikson Institute, is an online environment designed for family childcare home providers. This platform addresses the unique challenges faced by early childhood professionals by offering resources such as tip sheets, activity ideas, and templates. The Town Square fosters a community among home-based early education professionals, providing access to tools, resources, and professional development opportunities.
In-Person and Virtual Training
Access an ever-growing library of trainings and resources on Indiana Learning Paths through your I-LEAD account. Choose from in-person, asynchronous and live webinars. Professional Learning Communities: SPARK Learning Lab fosters community among early childhood professionals through learning communities. Content Specialists: SPARK Learning Lab content specialists offer training and support in various areas, including licensing, operations, staffing, and business management. Virtual and In-Person Learning: Recognizing the time commitment required for quality early childhood care and education, SPARK Learning Lab offers a range of online training options, including instructional videos, webinars, and video conferencing.
Innovation and Collaboration
At Briljent, we are committed to fostering innovation and excellence in early childhood education. Our latest collaboration with Shine Early Learning on the SPARK Learning Lab project exemplifies this commitment. A vision is only a starting point. The real magic happened because we - providers, partners, and our team - worked together to make that vision a reality. We are deeply grateful for your collaboration, dedication, and passion. The SPARK Learning Lab project was a powerful example of the Shine Early Learning Public Systems approach. We design and implement evidence-driven, locally relevant solutions to increase the quality of early learning programs and accelerate child and family outcomes. As a critical partner in this project, Briljent brings a wealth of expertise in training and development. Our team has worked closely with Shine Early Learning to design and implement a robust support framework that addresses early childhood professionals’ unique challenges. This collaboration has resulted in a dynamic and responsive system that adapts to the evolving needs of the early education community.
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Shine Early Learning's Expanded Impact
We work at the intersection of public systems and early learning providers, building dedicated local teams that honor the cultures of the communities we serve. We build dedicated, local teams staffed by ECE professionals who live in the communities they serve. We are always seeking to build meaningful partnerships. Whether we’ve worked together in the past or are connecting for the first time, we’d love to talk. Our project work is complete, but the resources remain. We strongly encourage providers to use the My SPARK Learning Lab Knowledge Center. This platform hosts valuable tools, resources, and support materials.
The team at SPARK Learning Lab provides a comprehensive support system for early childhood educators across Indiana. The expert team at SPARK is here to enhance the quality of early learning experiences across Indiana, providing professionals with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
SPARK Learning Lab Colorado
The new organization will be named Spark Learning Lab Colorado and is a collaborative partnership designed to leverage the strengths of both organizations to deliver high-quality, data-driven services to children, families, and early childhood professionals. The addition of Clayton’s quality services is a unique opportunity for Shine Early Learning to join forces with a respected early childhood education leader and immediately expand its impact and support of children and families in Colorado. A Denver-based non-profit, Clayton Early Learning has established itself as a cornerstone of early childhood education in Colorado. “The expertise and dedication of the Clayton Early Learning team are truly impressive, and we are eager to integrate their programs and continue delivering the outstanding support and resources that families and children deserve.”This strategic move aligns with Shine Early Learning’s mission to drive positive outcomes for children and families nationwide. By integrating Clayton’s talented team and their deep expertise in quality services, Shine will enhance its existing capabilities in systems-level technical assistance, quality support, and data-informed solutions.“We are confident this path will allow the team to deepen and broaden its impact here in Colorado and across the country,” said William Browning, Chief Executive Officer at Clayton Early Learning.” As part of our new strategy, our team will transition to Shine Early Learning - a longtime partner who shares our values and commitment to excellence. This new alliance reflects our deepest values and boldest ambitions.”The transition includes the transfer of all quality services operations, existing contracts, staff, and intellectual property for “Elevate” products and services. The bodies of work moving to Shine Early Learning include the Colorado Shines Rating Administration, Denver Preschool Program Quality Improvement Framework Implementation (coaching and training), and Interrater Reliability. “Elevate” services, which have been instrumental in improving early childhood education across Colorado, include environment rating scale certification, observation services, coaching, training, preservice and in-service packages, and evaluation. All contractual activities, products, and services will be seamlessly transferred without any interruption or delay in delivery. Our team will be scheduling meetings with existing “Elevate” clients in the upcoming weeks to discuss the transition more in-depth and answer questions. Clayton Early Learning will continue to operate its direct services, serving over 500 children annually from its historic 20-acre campus in Denver and focusing on its core mission of providing children with an exceptional start while empowering families for lifelong success.
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
To illustrate SPARK Learning Lab’s innovative work, we have compiled a series of video examples our support of the project’s mental health and wellness outcomes. The Body Scan video is a guided practice perfect for children and adults. It helps them tune into their bodies, notice sensations and areas of tension, and promote relaxation and calm. The Mindful Breathing video allows you to share the power of mindful breathing with the children in your care. The Mindful Movement (“Move Like the Animals Do”) video guides viewers through an upbeat song, movement, and breathing exercises that connect them with their bodies and promote relaxation. Sensory Awareness is a simple practice that “grounds” you and the children in your care in the present moment by focusing on your senses. This video is ideal for use whenever you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or distracted. Finally, the Guided Imagery video invites children to use their imaginations in a calming practice that uses visualization to transport their minds to a peaceful and relaxing place.
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