A message from the Office of Child Care and HeadStart.gov:
Early Education Pathways (EEP) Is Coming Soon
The Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio is transitioning to Early Education Pathways (EEP) in July. This updated online learning platform is designed in collaboration with the federal Office of Child Care to better support the professional growth of the early childhood workforce through enhanced tools, features, and a more user-friendly experience.
iPD will be unavailable after June 8, 2026. To prepare for this transition, please complete any in-progress courses and download your certificates by midnight on June 8, 2026.
What’s New
When Early Education Pathways launches in July 2026, users will experience:
- Streamlined navigation that makes it easier for educators and staff to access self-paced courses, clock-hour trainings, and professional development resources in one place
- Accelerated progress toward CDA® credentials through 8 free, self-paced iCDA courses that provide 80 of the required 120 training hours
- Enhanced search tools that help users quickly discover courses based on their role, interests, and professional development needs across Head Start and child care settings
- Improved learner pathways and progress tracking that allow users to monitor completed trainings, track CEUs and professional development hours, and support credentialing or licensing goals more efficiently
Important Dates
- June 8, 2026: Last day to complete in-progress iPD courses and download certificates. After this date, you will not be able to access iPD courses or certificates until Early Education Pathways (EEP) opens.
- June 9, 2026: iPD will be unavailable while the platform upgrades are in progress.
- July 2026: Launch of Early Education Pathways. You will be able to access your learning history, completed course information, and certificates in the EEP platform.
We appreciate your patience as we work to deliver an improved learning experience for early childhood professionals.
What You Can Expect with EEP
With Early Education Pathways, you will again be able to:
- Access professional development resources and training in one place
- Explore learning opportunities designed for early childhood professionals
- Track your progress and build your skills at your own pace
- Use updated tools and features that support your professional growth and career journey
Common Questions
Do I need to create a new account?
No. If you already have an account, your information will transfer to the new system.
What happens to my current certificates and course progress?
All current courses and certificates remain valid. Your learning history will be preserved during the transition and will be available in EEP. In the meantime, be sure to download and save your certificates as a backup by June 8, 2026.
What do I do if I am in the middle of taking a course on the iPD?
All current courses need to be completed by June 8, 2026. Users who have not completed courses by this date will have to retake the course for credit.
When should I access the new platform?
EEP will be available in early July! Users are encouraged to log in to EEP before September 2026 to familiarize themselves with the new platform and ensure seamless access to courses.
Where can I get help if I have problems?
Contact the Head Start Information and Communications Center (HSICC) Call Center
- Fill out the form online. Provide as much information as you can. We will safeguard your privacy.
- Call us (toll-free) at 1-866-763-6481 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.
- Email us at HeadStart@eclkc.info
- When the EEP platform is active, Self-service resources will include a new user tour and video tutorials in the system
- When the EEP platform is active, contact the EEP Help Center for support
We look forward to welcoming you to Early Education Pathways.