Skip to main content

EEC's StrongStart Online Professional Development System

The Department of Early Education and Care's StrongStart Online Professional Development System (StrongStart Online PDS) is part of Massachusetts' StrongStart Quality Early Education and Care initiative. The StrongStart Online PDS provides resources for educators and administrators to enhance quality in their programs and support individual educator success, such as training and technical assistance.

Skip table of contents

Table of Contents

You skipped the table of contents section.

About the StrongStart Online Professional Development System (PDS)

The StrongStart Online Professional Development System (PDS) is a web-based "one stop center" for early educators that provides both self-paced and instructor-led courses in a Learning Management System (LMS).  Educators can take courses on their computer or mobile device. The LMS is available for all program staff.

EEC Essentials Training in the StrongStart Online PDS

The StrongStart Online PDS has a learning management system that houses mandatory and supplemental training for early education and care program staff and can record staff completion of professional development coursework. Included in the StrongStart Online PDS is the new "EEC Essentials 2.0" training package that includes topics that early education staff need to know about, such as health, safety, and child development.  There are two packages available; one for Center-based and Family Child Care programs and another one for Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Programs.  Educators will take the package appropriate for their program type.

Effective May 8, 2024 all staff in EEC child care programs must take the new EEC Essentials 2.0 training course. New staff must take the package before working with children. Current staff must take the new package by June 30, 2025. For information on how to create a new user account in the EEC's StrongStart Online PDS, see the “Key Actions” sections below.

All staff in EEC child care programs must complete the new "EEC Essentials" training.

Key Actions   for EEC Essentials Training in the StrongStart Online PDS

Go to the Online Professional Development System  See how to look up a Professional Qualifications Registry ID  Learn how to find the EEC's online trainings  Webinars on EEC's new StrongStart Online Professional Development System (PDS) 

Additional Resources   for EEC Essentials Training in the StrongStart Online PDS

Open PDF file, 154.17 KB,  Guide to Printing EEC Essentials Training Certificates (English, PDF 154.17 KB)
Open PDF file, 214.88 KB,  EEC Essentials Policy 2024 (English, PDF 214.88 KB)
Open PDF file, 255.3 KB,  EEC Essentials FAQ (English, PDF 255.3 KB)

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback