START Trainings and Training Series
Who are START trainings for?
If you are committed to improving outcomes for students, you belong here. START’s trainings are for educators, families, community partners, and anyone else who supports students at home, in schools, and throughout the community, because meaningful change happens when we learn together. Through learning grounded in curiosity, openness, and evidence-based practices, participants build a shared understanding that helps create meaningful opportunities and improve outcomes for all students.
Behavior Series
- Training Series
- September 17, 2026; September 29, 2026; October 7, 2026; October 22, 2026; and November 10, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $40
- Note: Attendees who sign up for this training should not register for the following trainings separately. Both trainings are part of this series:
- October 22, 2026 Behavior Escalation and Scripts
- November 10, 2026 Meeting Mechanics and Implementation
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Building Strong Foundations: An Introduction to the Pyramid Model for Preschool Educators
- September 18, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual (Zoom)
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Administrators, Ancillary Staff, Consultants, Paraeducators/Classroom Aides
Creating a Neuro-Affirming Environment: Strategies for Educators
- September 23, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- In-person; Lansing
- Registration Fee: $45
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Early Childhood Practice-Based Coaching Series
- Training Series; Application Required
- September 24, 2026; November 19, 2026; January 14, 2027; March 18, 2027; and May 13, 2027
- 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $50
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Inclusive Academic Engagement
- Topic: Beyond the Icebreaker: Building a True Culture of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Belonging
- September 29, 2026
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Foundations in Peer to Peer
- Module 1: (select one date)
- October 2, 2026; In-person; Northern Michigan; 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- October 5, 2026; In-person; Jackson; 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Module 2: (select one or both dates)
- Elementary - October 13, 2026; Virtual; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Secondary - October 15, 2026; Virtual; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Registration Fee: $55
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, Paraprofessionals, School Counselors, Consultants, Families
Early Childhood Independence and Engagement through Expectations and Routines
- October 9, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Administrators, Ancillary Staff, Consultants, Paraeducators/Classroom Aides
Fall RCN Leadership Day
- October 19, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Crowne Plaza Lansing West
- Registration Fee: $0
- The RCN Leadership Day is a bi-annual meeting of leadership representatives from the Regional Collaborative Networks (RCN).
Intended Audience: Leadership representatives from RCN
Registration will be emailed to RCN leadership representatives in fall 2026.
Using the CETA to Promote Evidence-Based Classroom Practices
- Training Series
- October 21, 2026; November 18, 2026; December 9, 2026; January 13, 2027; February 3, 2027; and February 24, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $150 per team
Intended Audience: Special Education Administrator, Building Administrator, Special Education Teacher, General Education Teacher, Ancillary Staff, Paraeducators
EPLI Bootcamp: Early Childhood
- Application Required
- Multiple Dates
- The Early Childhood Bootcamp will consist of on-demand coursework, seven virtual half days of core content, one virtual Training and Coaching Day, two in-person Training and Coaching Days, and a presentation.
- In-person and Virtual (Zoom)
- Registration Fee: $0
View the overview, including dates, of the Bootcamp here.
Application opens on August 21, 2026.
Behavior Escalation and Scripts
- October 22, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
- Note: Behavior Series attendees should not sign up for this training separately. This training is integrated into the Behavior Series.
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
FAPE in the LRE
- October 27, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Inclusive Academic Engagement
- Topic: For Every Learner: Making Universal Supports Everyday Practice
- October 28, 2026
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Meeting Mechanics and Implementation: Team-Based Problem-Solving
- November 10, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
- Note: Behavior Series attendees should not sign up for this training separately. This training is integrated into the Behavior Series.
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
EPLI Advanced Training: Foundations in Peer to Peer
- Application Required
- Module 1: November 10, 2026; 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; In-person, Lansing
- Module 2: March 2, 2027; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OR 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Requirements to Apply:
- Have attended a Foundations in Peer to Peer series between 2024–2026 (including October 2026), OR
- Be an active participant in P2P CoP meetings (2024–present) and have attended Level Up (March 2026)
View more information on the EPLI Advanced Training: Peer to Peer here.
Application opens on September 14, 2026.
EPLI Bootcamp: Essential Foundations
- Application Required
- Multiple Dates
- The Essential Foundations Bootcamp will consist of on-demand coursework, eight virtual half days of core content, and three in-person Training and Coaching Days.
- In-person and Virtual (Zoom)
- Registration Fee: $0
View the overview, including dates, of the Bootcamp here.
Application opens on August 21, 2026.
Inclusive Academic Engagement
- Topic: Clarity by Design: Visual Strategies for Accessible Curriculum
- December 1, 2026
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Peer to Peer for Families
- December 1, 2026
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Fee $0
This training is co-sponsored by START and Michigan Alliance for Families.
Registration coming soon.
Providing Behavior Support in the Early Childhood Classroom
- December 4, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Administrators, Ancillary Staff, Consultants, Paraeducators/Classroom Aides
Peers Matter: Fostering Social Communication and Friendship for Students Who Use or Would Benefit from AAC
- December 8, 2026
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Special and General Educators, Service Providers such as Speech-Language Pathologists, Paraeducators, Autism Consultants, Instructional Coaches, and Educational Leaders and Administration who work with students with autism and/or intellectual disability who have limited speech
Instructional Strategies & Academic Engagement (ISAE) Series
- Training Series
- December 15, 2026; January 28, 2027; February 11, 2027; and March 10, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $40
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Training: A professional development opportunity designed to improve the knowledge and/or skills of attendees in a particular topic or practice.
Training Series: A collection of multiple trainings that focus on the same topic or theme. A training series can be offered as (1) a sequence of trainings that build upon each other or (2) independent trainings or webinars on the same theme.
- Module: An organized collection of content presented together as a cohesive training/learning unit, usually on a particular topic in a training series.
Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI):
- Bootcamp: A collection of modules on a related topic or theme, designed to prepare participants to become EPLI Trainers of START Content. Bootcamps may include asynchronous coursework.
- Advanced Training: A rigorous professional learning opportunity designed to support Current EPLI Trainers in deepening their knowledge of specific START content and strengthening their ability to effectively deliver that content within their local contexts. Advanced Trainings may include prerequisite work and/or asynchronous coursework.
Virtual Training Formats:
- Zoom Meeting: Designed for interactive and collaborative discussion. This platform allows all registered participants to unmute, turn on their cameras, communicate through chat, and share screens. Capacity is a maximum of 300 participants.
- Zoom Webinar: Designed as a controlled broadcast where only presenters can share screens, audio, and video. Registered attendees cannot use their cameras, communicate primarily through Q&A, and can only unmute if they use the "Raise Hand" feature and a presenter unmutes them. Capacity is a maximum of 500 participants.