School Age Basics

School Age Basics

The School Age Basics course is a training requirement for anyone working with school-age children, ages 5-12 years old, in licensed programs. The course fulfills the Pre-Service Requirements set by Washington state and the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) for professionals in licensed School Age Programs. School Age Basics ensures participants gain the essential knowledge and qualifications needed to support school-age children effectively.

School’s Out Washington (SOWA) offers this training through a cohort model using a blended learning approach. Participants must complete all course components, which include self-paced learning in the 360Learning platform with instructor validation and a live-facilitated Closing Reflection session before receiving a Certificate of Completion and STARS credit.

Completion Steps

  1. Register online for a School Age Basics session on our Trainings & Workshops page. Attend the OPTIONAL live-facilitated virtual School Age Basics orientation or jump into the required “Welcome to School Age Basics” course in 360Learning.
    Participants will receive an email from 360Learning for registration. These will be sent on Mondays by 5:00 PM during open registration for a session.
  2. Complete the 11 Online Courses in 360Learning within 6 weeks.
    All coursework must be reviewed and validated by an instructor to count toward the certificate.
  3. Attend Closing Reflection: Sign up for and participate in the mandatory Live Closing Reflection. Closing Reflection registration will be available through the 360Learning platform once prior steps have been completed.

Step 1: Register for School Age Basics

Start by registering for a live-facilitated virtual informational session. These are OPTIONAL live 45-minute sessions offered twice a month and give participants a chance to virtually meet an instructor, ask questions, and prepare for the self-paced portion of the course. If you can’t attend, you can jump right into the “Welcome to School Age Basics” course in 360Learning once you have access.

School Age Basics session schedule:

  • 1st Saturday of each month, 10:00 AM–10:45 AM
  • 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30 PM–7:15 PM

Step 2: Complete the Online Courses

Course materials are delivered through 360Learning in a self-paced online format. Participants have up to six weeks to complete the coursework.

  • After completing all 11 modules, the system will prompt participants to register for the required Closing Reflection.
  • All coursework must be reviewed and validated by an instructor to count toward the certificate.

Please note: 360Learning is only accessible via a laptop or desktop computer. It is not compatible with phones or tablets.

Step 3: Attend the Closing Reflection

Attendance at a Closing Reflection is mandatory for certification. Steps 1 and 2 MUST be completed before attending a Closing Reflection. Participants must register for this 1.5 hour live-facilitated virtual session. Registration will be available through the 360Learning platform once prior steps have been completed.

Closing Reflection session schedule:

  • 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
  • 4th Saturday of each month, 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

Please see below for dates of Closing Reflections.

STARS Credit and Certificate of Completion

Once all three (3) steps are successfully completed and validated by an instructor, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Completion AND have it reflected in their MERIT account by the 10th of the month following the completion of all requirements.

For support with registering for the Closing Reflection or any other course-related issues, please email training@schoolsoutwashington.org.

For additional information, please look at our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for School Age Basics and our Checklist for Online School Age Basics.

Upcoming Closing Reflection dates:

May
Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

June
Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
Saturday, June 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

July
Thursday, July 10, 2025 | 6:30 PM–8:00 PM
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10:00 AM–11:30 AM