| Dates |
Price |
Presentation |
Location |
|
Protecting Your Online Business Records: Employee Logins and Passwords
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
Today, the use of center management platforms, parent/teacher communications applications, email, online subscriptions, and portals is deeply entrenched in all operational and administrative processes of a modern ECE program. These applications, portals, and emails are part of the company's business record and should be preserved. Comprehensive policies regarding ownership and access to these must be clear and enforced to protect and preserve those records. We will discuss policy language explaining ownership of accounts created and used by staff, along with practical procedures for maintaining records of logins, account passwords, and preservation.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Job Descriptions: The Most Versatile Employment Document in Your Program
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
After several months in a position, many employees, upon review of their job description, find that it is not at all what they do daily. In fact, some of the tasks the employer is expecting them to perform are never even mentioned in the job description. This seminar will help employers develop job descriptions that detail the Essential Job Functions as well as other functions required of the employee. We will discuss how an inaccurate job description may be leaving the employer vulnerable to legal action by an employee. Discussion will also focus on the link between the job description, an employee's performance appraisal, as well as interview questions.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Recording Audio and Video Policies and Procedures for Employees and Parents
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
Audio and video records can be a valuable management oversight and staff training tool when used appropriately. In many situations, including licensing complaint investigations, accusations of abuse/neglect, and employee disciplinary actions, audio and video recordings have been effectively used to support the program's best interests. This session will discuss common sense policy language related to program use of building camera systems, staff and parent personal recording devices, and new tracking device technology like "Angel Sense" that can be hidden on children. We will also touch on issues related to pictures and videos of children posted to social media, center management platforms, websites, and group sharing applications. In our world today, we are having to rethink our marketing strategies that use photographs and videos of activities in our center using images of children.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
FLSA: Wage and Hour Law: Overtime and Exempt Status
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
ECE Owners and Directors have long been confused by the detailed terminology of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and violations, specifically misclassifying employees as exempt when their position does not meet the required tests, can lead to back wages due, fines, and penalties owed. Other concerns with compliance include calculating overtime wages correctly, and determining what is considered "work" and key tricky areas in ECE related to professional development, staff meetings, and taking work home. This session will provide key insight into the relevant definitions in the FLSA: FairPay Update and apply those to practical, real-world scenarios in the ECE field.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Keeping the Program NEUTRAL in Matters of Custody and Child Support
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
Early childhood professionals are often faced with custody and support situations with parents. This session will define the most common definitions used in custody orders and use those to shape enrollment processes, interactions with parents, and policies for pick-up, volunteering, and others. We will examine the impact custody situations have on things like access to records, volunteering in the center, pick-up, and decision-making. We will also discuss real-life scenarios related to child support orders that split the responsibility of payment for tuition and other educational expenses between two parents, with a focus on maintaining a neutral, child-centered approach in our response and expectations. We will touch on Protection from Abuse Orders, Restraining Orders, and Foster Parent Placement Documents.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Confidentiality of Records, Information, and Proprietary Information
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
Our session today will focus on the issue of confidentiality as it relates to the three main areas of program operations and administration: the employees, your clients (family and children), and company proprietary information. When discussing the need to engage and share information that would be considered private, we will focus on the "need to know" approach and break down real-life scenarios in the ECE setting where the need to share information is crucial. Exceptions for licensing, child protective services, and other court-related situations will be examined. Policy language, processes for identifying and protecting related to proprietary information, as well as what cannot be considered private or confidential under applicable federal law.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Documenting Dangerous Behavior and Working with Outside Therapists
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
Increasingly, outside therapists come into our programs to provide a wide range of services to our enrolled children. Many times, therapists come into our program before we have a clear idea of the services, schedule, or purpose of their work with the enrolled child. Allowing outside therapists into the program to work with a child with a disability is considered a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and there should be clear communication and a cooperative relationship between ALL members of the child's care team. This session will look at the program's responsibilities from requesting the child be evaluated for services all the way through implementation of services. We will provide language for policies the therapist and their team should sign before beginning work with a child at your program and releases the parents should sign for both the therapist and child care program to communicate with each other as well as scenarios we have seen where the care team and the therapist struggled to work together and look for solutions and discuss options for the program that does not violate the child's rights under the ADA.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Defending Unemployment Compensation Claims
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CDT
This session will examine the rules, definitions, and standards for former employees to collect unemployment compensation. Participants will engage in discussion of real-life scenarios that the presenter has supported and defended in unemployment compensation hearings where former employees have been terminated due to willful misconduct, have resigned claiming a hostile work environment, or have lost their job due to lackluster performance. Documentation of the employment relationship and disciplinary actions will be addressed. The overall process and requirements of an unemployment compensation filing, hearing, and appeal to the state UC Board will be discussed, including witnesses, camera footage, and other evidence.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Legalized Marijuana and Your Employment Policies
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CST
Forty states (and the District of Columbia) and counting have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Twenty-Four states and counting have legalized adult recreational use. We will analyze the complexities of an employee's medicinal use of marijuana to treat a condition that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act as a protected disability. We will center the discussion around real-life scenarios related to accusations from other staff and parents of drug use, odors on clothing and people, and upon suspicion testing of employees and the implications of a positive result. We will work to create a comprehensive employment policy that protects your business, your license and explore ways to further the conversation with state licensing agencies to provide clear direction for your programs. Finally, we will discuss the interplay between Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect and parents' use of marijuana in the presence of their children.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Employee/Parent Fraternization: Social Media/Babysitting
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CST
The relationship between staff and the parents/guardians of the children in care can be complicated, with lots of grey and less than clear lines or boundaries if left unchecked. Staff should be friendly, approachable, and kind, BUT always professional with parents/guardians, and there should always be clear and respected boundaries in place between the staff and parents/guardians and the children to protect the privacy and personal life of your staff. This session will explore Non-Fraternization, Social Media and Babysitting Policies for both your employees as well as the parents/guardians to set professional boundaries while also protecting the business and mitigating risk.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Tuition Policies: Contract for Services and Fee Agreements
Wednesday, December 2, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CST
The relationship you have with the parents/guardians of enrolled children is first and foremost a business relationship and having an enforceable Contract for Services/Fee Agreement is critical for your business. While many state licensing agencies require programs to have a contract outlining the services provided, the hours and fees associated with those services, many still do not. This session will explore the key components of a solid, enforceable, and faicare models with little to no fee to families for service. We will look at both contractual language and best practice issues that programs face, including late pick-up, late payment, requests for refunds, increasing fees, changes to attendance schedules, and discounts for multiple children, children of staff, and the like.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
|
Year-End Checklist
Wednesday, December 16, 2026
2 Hours • 12:30PM - 2:30PM CST
The calendar year is coming to a close, and while many are hoping to coast quietly and smoothly through the winter holiday season with minimal drama and panic, the last couple of weeks of December and the first couple of weeks of January are a great time to sit down and take stock of your business and sketch out a plan for the next year. This session will include a list of HR, payroll, and tax tasks that require attention regardless of your business's fiscal year. We will include other administrative tasks to consider for an internal review that will set you up for a smooth new year, including a mini strategic plan to get you organized and ready to delegate tasks to supporting managers.
|
|
VIRTUAL |
Virtual on Zoom |
In order to participate in our virtual class, the following requirements must be met by each participant.