Designed for child and youth professionals across all roles and functions, the VLS provides evidenced-based content, demonstration videos, and practical tools to facilitate high quality care and education.
The VLS team strives to support high-quality care and education by translating current research on child development and adult learning into a comprehensive professional development system.
The Infant & Toddler track is intended for early childhood professionals serving children ages 6 weeks through 3 years in center based programs. This track offers training and professional development resources, including written narrative, video, skill building activities, and classroom tools. The Infant & Toddler track consists of courses that mirror the core Child Development Associate (CDA ...
The Preschool track is intended for early childhood professionals serving children ages 3 through 5 years in center based programs. This track offers training and professional development resources, including written narrative, video, skill building activities, and classroom tools. The Preschool track consists of courses that mirror the core Child Development Associate (CDA) competencies plus ...
Using the VLS: Coaching to Enhance Practice Research indicates that effective professional development combines high-quality evidenced-based training with practice-based coaching that supports reflection, feedback, and implementation of new skills.
The School-Age track is intended for early childhood professionals serving children ages 5 through 12 years in center based before- and after-school as well as summer-based programs. This track offers training and professional development resources, including written narrative, video, skill building activities, and classroom tools. The School-Age track consists of courses that mirror the core ...
VLS CDA Resources The Virtual Lab School encourages participation in accreditation entities that support programs and caregivers in providing the best care possible to children and families. The information and resources on this page will assist direct care staff in their preparation and application for the Child Development Associate Credential.
The VLS offers seven professional development tracks, providing both comprehensive foundational training, and more advanced, or specialized training with in-depth content and resources.
The VLS was initially created as a professional development and resource system for the more than 30,000 professionals working in child and youth care and education programs run by the U.S. military. The online content of the VLS is also available to the public.
The Virtual Lab School (VLS) is an online professional development system initially created to provide the U.S. military child care system with a unified framework of information, resources, and tools.
