Workshop Guidelines

Registration Process

Priority registration is given to early childhood professionals working in school district and ISBE-funded programs serving children ages 3-5 with IEPs, and family members of young children with special needs. Persons living and/or working in Region II also receive priority registration (unless the workshop is a collaboration with another Region or training entity). All others will be enrolled as space permits.

You can register online by following the links on the individual workshop description. Please fill out the form completely and include all requested information. There is no charge to attend STAR NET Region II workshops unless noted.

You will receive a confirmation or wait list letter once your registration has been processed. Please read it carefully as there will be important additional information you will need to know for the workshop.

Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities may be available for assistance in covering the costs of attending a workshop. See Family Fellowship and Professional Development Assistance for more information.

Content Level of Workshops

The workshops are organized in three content levels: Introductory, Skill-Building, and Challenge.

Introductory workshops provide general or basic information regarding the topic. This level provides participants who have little knowledge an opportunity to develop an awareness of, or familiarity with the content.

Skill-Building workshops provide additional information on a topic and assist participants in using the information.

Challenge workshops provide opportunities for advanced problem-solving and analysis, synthesis, or evaluation of the material.

Most presentations will have some application and/or problem-solving through examples, questions or activities. Some workshops will cross content levels.

Day of Workshop Information

Registered participants should check in a half hour before the workshop start time. Most in-person workshops begin at 9 am. Please note we are unable to provide breakfast or lunch. A 60-minute lunch break is included in the full-day agenda unless otherwise noted. You are welcome to bring a bag lunch.

Waitlist and Cancellations

Due to high demand, STAR NET workshops often have wait lists. If you are unable to attend, you must call the STAR NET office at 224-366-8579 to cancel your registration as soon as possible. Registrants who repeatedly fail to cancel will be given a lower priority for future workshops.

Continuing Education Opportunities

STAR NET provides a Certificate of Attendance at the completion of each workshop. It can be used to document your participation at our professional development activities. Attendance is mandatory for the entire session to receive a certificate. Contact hours cannot be adjusted to meet individual needs.

STAR NET is an approved provider of Professional Development hours for Educator License renewal by the Illinois State Board of Education. All workshops are aligned with the Learning Forward Professional Development Standards, the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards, and Illinois Professional Educator Standards.

STAR NET is an approved sponsor of continuing education for Speech/Language Pathologists, Social Workers and LCPCs, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Some STAR NET workshops will be approved for credit through the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program. You may verify approval by checking with the E.I. Training web site or by phone at 708-444-8460 x23.

STAR NET trainings are Gateways Registry approved. The Gateways to Opportunity Content Area is included in each workshop description.