View our professional development offerings below. If you have questions about a particular offering feel free to contact us.
Certificates & Credentials
Practical Data Skills Certificate for Head Start
Even if you don’t see yourself as a “data person,” you’ll leave confident using data in your day-to-day work.
This certificate gives Head Start leaders five focused modules to build practical skills in using data, creating workflows, engaging staff, and telling data stories. Ideal for managers who want to lead by bringing data into decision-making in an accessible way.
Manager Skills Certificate
Step up into leadership with confidence. This course helps you master what it means to manage well.
This certificate offers foundational training in core management skills tailored for Head Start program leaders. You’ll learn how to lead teams, communicate, motivate, and organize to drive program success.
Head Start Data Literacy Credential
Turn data from a mystery into a tool you use every day with confidence.
A multi-week credential program that builds your ability to understand, interpret, and use data within a Head Start context. No prior expertise required—just a desire to grow in your comfort and impact with data.
NHSA Members: $3,500
Excel Power Tools for Head Start
Elevate your Excel data skills to the next level.
This certificate deepens your ability to analyze data in a Head Start setting, emphasizing the connections between people, systems, and data. You’ll gain hands-on tools and understanding to support data-driven decisions at a higher level.
Camps
Visualizing Head Start Data in Excel
Make your data speak – even if you’ve only used the basics in Excel.
This hands-on camp teaches you how to turn basic data into clear, compelling visuals using Excel. You’ll practice creating charts and visuals that tell your program’s story and guide improvements.
Management Team Boot Camp
Bring your leadership team together, sharpen clarity, and boost momentum.
A multi-day immersive experience for management teams to build shared tools and strategies. Focus areas include change, quality improvement, communication, and mobilizing your team for the program year ahead.
Head Start Data Camp (virtual)
Build your data muscles from anywhere with no travel needed.
A foundational virtual camp designed to introduce key concepts and practices for using data in Head Start programs. You’ll work through modules, exercises, and real-world examples in a supportive online setting.
Head Start Data Camp (in person)
Learn data skills in person, hands-on, with a cohort of peers.
This in-person version of our foundational data camp offers the same core content delivered face-to-face. Benefit from group exercises, immediate feedback, and in-person collaboration as you build confidence with data.
Consulting Services
FA1 Review Prep for Head Start
Make your program shine when reviewers come calling.
Our FA1 Review Prep is a structured coaching and preparation package that strengthens your written responses and interview readiness. We help you present your program clearly, confidently, and aligned with review expectations.
Workshops
Better Program Guidance Documents
Strong guidance documents protect your program – and your people.
This workshop helps you sharpen guidance documents (e.g. policies, monitoring plans, data instructions) so they support sound decisions and staff clarity. You’ll leave with concrete edits and templates you can implement right away.
Practicing Continuous Improvement
Make improvement part of your everyday – not just a one-off project.
Learn how to embed continuous improvement (CI) as a culture and practice in your program rather than a separate project. This workshop introduces key tools, mindsets, and steps to help your team continuously get better.
Storytelling with Data
Turn raw numbers into narratives that influence and inspire.
In this workshop you’ll learn how to present data in a way that makes people care—choosing visuals, structuring your message, and designing clear charts. You’ll practice turning spreadsheet data into compelling stories that move audiences.
Subscription Plans
Acorn Learning Silver Subscription Plan
Unlock access to learning for your whole team at a fixed cost.
This subscription gives Head Start agencies a fixed number of credits including in-kind support to use across Acorn Learning’s professional development offerings throughout the year. It’s a flexible, scalable way to support staff growth.
Acorn Learning Gold Subscription Plan
Scale your team’s growth without worrying about individual course purchases.
With a larger annual credit allotment, this gold-level subscription allows your agency to deliver more professional development across a wider team. It’s designed for organizations ready to invest broadly in capacity building.