Early childhood educators carry an extraordinary responsibility: creating learning environments where every child feels safe, supported, and valued. At IMPACT, our work is grounded in that shared purpose. We exist to partner with educators as they navigate the important work of inclusion, and to make sure no one has to do it alone.
As we look back on the past year, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made together. What began as a focused effort to support inclusive practices locally has grown into a nationwide (and global!) community committed to equity, belonging, and high-quality early learning.
IMPACT’s mission is simple and bold: to make inclusive early learning accessible to everyone. We believe that with the right training and support, educators are better equipped to meet the diverse needs of children in their care. This year affirmed that belief in powerful ways.
In 2025, IMPACT reached a major milestone: our services are now supporting educators in all 50 U.S. states. Through our online courses, on-demand professional development is available to educators anytime, anywhere so learning fits into the realities of busy classrooms and programs.
Our courses, which center inclusion, disability, trauma-informed care, and understanding challenging behavior, continue to empower early childhood professionals across the country and around the world. This year, we were honored to serve learners from all 50 states and 26 countries, strengthening a growing community of educators united by shared values and purpose.
Alongside our on-demand learning, IMPACT continued to provide live professional development for early learning programs and to share our work on national and regional stages. We were honored to present at conferences including:
-
National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) Annual Conference
-
Division for Early Childhood
(DEC)
-
UNITE Early Learning Conference
-
Infant and Early Childhood Conference
(IECC) -
Washington Association for the Education of Young Children
(WAEYC)
As we move forward, we’re energized by how far this community has grown, and even more excited about what’s next. Together, we’re not just expanding access to training; we’re building a more inclusive future for children, families, and the educators who support them every day.
This year, we were excited to launch the
Inclusive Early Learning Rating Tool (IELRT) Pilot Project, a major step forward in our work to support programs in strengthening inclusive practices. The IELRT is a self-assessment tool developed by the IMPACT team to help early learning programs reflect on how
inclusion shows up across classrooms and program-wide systems.
We know many programs are deeply committed to inclusion, but still find themselves asking:
- Where do we start?
- What are we already doing well?
- What concrete steps will actually move us forward?
The IELRT is designed to answer those questions and to serve as a roadmap for meaningful, realistic progress. By completing the IELRT questionnaire, programs can identify strengths, uncover gaps, and clarify next steps related to supporting children with disabilities, developmental delays, challenging
behaviors, and other support needs.
Twenty-two early learning programs were selected to participate in the IELRT Pilot Project. These
programs didn’t just use the tool, they helped shape it. By testing the IELRT in real-world settings and
sharing thoughtful feedback, pilot participants played a critical role in helping us refine the language, structure, and usability of the tool so it truly meets the needs of early learning providers.
We are deeply grateful to every program that participated. Their honesty, curiosity, and willingness to reflect on practice strengthened not only this tool, but the broader conversation about what inclusive early learning can and should look like. The IELRT Pilot Project reinforced what we already believe: when educators are given time, tools, and support to reflect, real change is possible and inclusion becomes more achievable for everyone.
Thanks to legislative funding and grant support, this work extended beyond the pilot program. In 2025, IMPACT was able to offer four live trainings and two on-demand courses at no cost to early childhood providers across Washington State.
This was a powerful opportunity to reduce barriers to professional development and ensure that more
educators could access high-quality training and support, regardless of their program size or budget. While this initiative was specific to Washington State, the learning and insights gained will continue to inform our work nationally.
Behind every training and every course are real educators applying new strategies, and real children
benefiting from more inclusive, responsive early learning environments.
In 2025, through our on-demand courses, live trainings, and consultation services, IMPACT supported
approximately 4,700 early childhood professionals, reaching an estimated 56,000 children. Our learners represented a wide range of roles and settings, including early childhood educators, early intervention therapists, home visitors, early elementary educators, coaches, and parents and caregivers. This diversity continues to strengthen our work and deepen our understanding of what educators need most.
Together, these courses reflect the realities educators face in classrooms every day. The demand highlights a shared need for practical, trauma-informed strategies that go beyond surface-level behavior management and help support children impacted by trauma.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand this work even further. Coming soon to our course library is: Trauma-Informed Classrooms: Healing & Resilience. This course builds on our existing trauma-focused training and is designed for educators ready to go deeper into strategies. This next course will build on foundational brain science and focus on concrete, classroom-ready strategies for fostering regulation,
resilience, and healing through trauma-informed practice.
This work is only possible because of the educators, leaders, and caregivers who show up every day with curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to doing better for children. Your dedication to inclusion, equity, and responsive care is what drives everything we do at IMPACT.
Whether you joined us for a training, participated in consultation, piloted a new tool, or quietly shifted
your practice in small but meaningful ways, you are part of a growing movement toward high-quality, inclusive early learning for all children.
As we look ahead to the coming year, we’re energized by how far this community has grown and deeply grateful to be learning alongside you. Thank you for trusting us and being part of this journey.
- The IMPACT Team
