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Course Description: 2026 Annual Central Oregon Early Learning Conference: Hearts and Minds: Building Strong Foundations with Literacy and Social-Emotional Learning
In collaboration with Central Oregon Community College, including the Early Childhood Education Program and Community Education, the Central Oregon Chapter of the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children will host its annual conference for 2026 on April 24 and 25 at COCC in Bend, Oregon. This year's theme, Hearts and Minds: Building Strong Foundations with Literacy and Social-Emotional Learning draws our attention to the development of early literacy and its connection to children's broader social and emotional learning needs.
Research is clear that the early experiences of children across all domains of development have a lasting impact. Early support for social and emotional development as well as language and literacy provide a critical foundation for lifelong learning. We highlight the role of early learning educators in this work, and we look forward to the chance to grow and learn together.
En colaboración con Central Oregon Community College, incluyendo el Programa de Educación de la Primera Infancia y Educación Comunitaria, el Capítulo de Oregón Central de la Asociación de Oregón para la Educación de Niños Pequeños se complacen en informarle que su conferencia anual se llevara a cabo los días 24 y 25 de abril en COCC en Bend, Oregón. El tema de este año, Corazones y Mentes: Construyendo Bases Sólidas a través de la Alfabetización y el Aprendizaje Socioemocional, dirige nuestra atención al desarrollo de la alfabetización temprana y su conexión con las amplias necesidades de aprendizaje social y emocional de los niños.
If you are a current COCC student, ASCOCC Scholarships are available. Contact Amy Howell for further information: ahowell@cocc.edu
Information regarding volunteer opportunities contact Brittany Seale, brittanys@neighborimpact.org or Kenzie Kihs, kenziek@neighborimpact.org
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND REFUND DATES
Late Registration Online:
April 11, 2026
After April 10th at midnight registration fees increase by $10 & $5 for students.
Online Registration Ends:
Midnight April 23, 2026
Late Registration On Site:
April 24 & 25, 2026
*Pending capacity. On site registration fees additional $20 for attendees & $5 for students.
Refund Deadline:
April 7, 2026
Schedule of sessions and conference guide are available on the Early Learning Conference Website: http://www.earlylearning.co/
Conference Reminder:
We're excited to share that the 2026 Early Learning Conference will continue to use the Whova app! Please take a moment to get acquainted with this tool, it's your go-to hub for class schedules, maps, peer connection tools, and real-time announcements throughout the day. Link to the app will be sent within a week after registration.
We're excited to share that the 2026 Early Learning Conference will continue to use the Whova app! Please take a moment to get acquainted with this tool, it's your go-to hub for class schedules, maps, peer connection tools, and real-time announcements throughout the day. Link to the app will be sent within a week after registration.
Get started with the Whova user tutorial here: https://whova.com/resources/how-to-guide/user-tutorial/
Session Selection Reminder
To ensure a smooth experience, please select your tentative sessions prior to arrival using the Whova app portal. Note that some sessions have limited capacity due to room size or presenter requests.
We recommend planning accordingly and arriving 5-10 minutes before the session start time to secure your spot. Thank you for your cooperation!