Build stronger, happier teams through practical professional development.
We’ve worked with Head Start programs for nearly 20 years.  We’ve been there with you as you manage changing times and constant challenges. Acorn Learning professional development is here to help you with the work you do every day. Join the hundreds of Head Start and Early Head Start programs nationwide that trust us to help them create and sustain the change they want to make in their programs.
How your program will benefit from trusting Acorn Learning:
- Motivate staff to make the most of their time and effort
- Improve communication of your outcomes for families and children
- Provide staff with the training they need they will actually use
Our 2025 calendar is below! Explore a Learning Event for you and/or your team today!
2025 Program Schedule - Register Now!
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- Jun 6 - Workshop: Better Pre-Service
- Jun 13 - Workshop: Engaging Program Staff with Data
- Jun 18 - Workshop: Storytelling with Data
- Jun 25 - Free Webinar: Telling Your Head Start Story, Part 2: Impact, Outcomes, and Community
- Jun 26 - Free Webinar with Head Start California: "3 Quick Ways to Show Your Program's Impact"
- July 30 - Free Webinar: FA1 Review Prep
- Aug 5 - Data Literacy Credential Pop-Up Webinar: Learn more about our most popular program!
- Aug 6 - Manager Skills Certificate Module 1: Being a Manager
- Aug 13 - 14 - Head Start Data Camp
- Aug 27 - Free Webinar: Data Storytelling - Using Data to Tell your Program's Story
- Sep 16 - Data Analyst Certificate (DAC): Fall 2025
- Sep 16 - Data Literacy Credential (DLC): Fall 2025
- Sep 19 - Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel Module 1
- Sep 24 - Free Webinar: Continuous Improvement -Â Meaningful Program Improvement Efforts
- Sep 25 -26 -Â Manager Skills Certificate Module 2: Building a Culture of Motivation
- Sep 26 - Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel Module 2
- Oct 3 - Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel Module 3
- Oct 10 - Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel Module 4
- Oct 1 - Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start Module 1: Management and Data
- Oct 15 - Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start Module 2: Cultivating a Healthy Data Climate
- Oct 17 - Workshop: Practicing Continuous Improvement
- Oct 22 - 23Â -Â Manager Skills Certificate Module 3: Communicate with Confidence
- Oct 29 - Free Webinar: NHSA PFCE Workshop Conference Topic (TBD)
- Oct 29 - Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start Module 3: Using Data Workflows
- Nov 12 - Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start Module 4: Storytelling with Data
- Nov 7 -Â Manager Skills Certificate Module 4: Building Teams for Problem-Solving
- Dec 3 - Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start Module 5: Engaging Program Staff with Data
- Dec 3 - Free Webinar: Leadership and Management Culture -Â Laying the Foundation for Employee Well-Being
- Dec 4 - 5 - Head Start Data Camp
- Dec 12 - Manager Skills Certificate Module 5: Better Meetings
Consulting Services
FA1 Review Prep for Head Start
Acorn Learning FA1 Review Prep is a robust preparation that brings our expert eyes to your review preparations. A blend of written responses and interviews focuses on preparing you to engage with reviewers to put your program’s best foot forward.
Workshops
Better Pre-Service
Learn how to fully engage your staff and keep them feeling motivated and confident!
Better Program Guidance Documents
Did you know that strong guidance documents (i.e. Policies and Procedures, Monitoring Plans, Data Entry Instructions, etc.) are the key to successful program management AND employee well-being? In this workshop, we will explore specific ways to enhance your program’s guidance documents.
Engaging Program Staff with Data
It’s not unusual for Head Start programs to report that staff feel lackluster about data. In our workshop Engaging Program Staff with Data, we’ll unpack this common challenge and explore actionable approaches that boost employee engagement with data.
Practicing Continuous Improvement
Continuous Improvement (CI) is more than just a buzzword — it’s a mindset and an approach that drives innovation and growth. Our Practicing Continuous Improvement workshop is designed for managers, team leaders, and anyone looking to implement or improve Continuous Improvement practices within their Head Start program.
Storytelling with Data
In a world overflowing with information, the ability to tell a powerful story is more important than ever. Our Storytelling with Data workshop teaches you how to use data to tell stories that captivate, inform, and inspire your audience.
Camps
Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel
Learn how to turn your program’s data into powerful, easy-to-understand visuals that tell your story and drive improvement. This introductory course shows Head Start staff how to move beyond standard reports and use Excel to create meaningful data visualizations—no advanced skills required.
Management Team Boot Camp
This program is an excellent way to motivate and energize management teams. The management boot camp focuses on preparing managers to tackle the challenges of the program year. Emphasis is placed on change management, quality improvement, communication, and motivation.
Head Start Data Camp (virtual)
Foundational learning in the use and application of data in Head Start programs.
Head Start Data Camp (in person)
Foundational learning in the use and application of data in Head Start programs.
Certificates & Credentials
Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start
This certificate program equips Head Start leaders with practical skills to use data effectively in daily management. Designed for those who may not see themselves as “data people,” it focuses on building a data-informed culture, improving team engagement, and using data to support program goals.
Manager Skills Certificate
The Management Skills Certificate provides a foundation of basic management skills for managers of Head Start programs.
Learn more and hear from a program that has applied the skills included in the certificate in their daily practice!
https://acornevaluation.zoom.us/meeting/register/7R_PMruaTJui1kerkFtG7w
Head Start Data Literacy Credential
Build a foundation for working effectively with data in Head Start programs.
NHSA Members: $3,995
Data Analyst Certificate for Head Start Professionals
Gain a foundation in data analyst skills in the Head Start context, with emphasis on understanding the practical interactions between people, data, and systems.