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Frequently Asked Questions
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General
What is the NECPRS?
The Nebraska Early Childhood Professional Record System (NECPRS) is an online database to support the professional development of early childhood professionals and the quality improvement of early childhood programs within the state of Nebraska. NECPRS allows professionals to track their experience, education, credentials and training as they advance in their career.
Who should use NECPRS?
- All early childhood programs taking part in Step Up to Quality, and the early childhood professionals working in those programs.
- Any early childhood professional who wishes to track their trainings, credentials and work experience in one convenient place.
How does NECPRS benefit early childhood teachers and caregivers?
With NECPRS, individual teachers and caregivers will have one location to store all of their in-service training hours, educational records, and employment history. The professional development record is available to the teacher or caregiver at any time, and follows them from one employer to another. The record helps document whether teachers or caregivers have completed the license required trainings.
How will NECPRS help program directors?
NECPRS allows a program director participating in Step Up to Quality to link all of their staff with their program. Once staff members are linked to an early childhood program, a joint professional development report can be prepared that includes information on education, in-service hours, and completion of license required trainings for all staff members.
How will my information be entered into my professional record?
You will enter your own information into the your NECPRS profile. Your record system profile belongs to you and is for your own professional use and benefit.
NDE staff will review and verify any official transcripts, credentials or training certificates that you upload to your profile.
How do I sign up for a NECPRS account?
You may sign up for NECPRS on the website http://ecrecords.education.ne.gov. Click on the “New Users Click Here to Start” button to begin the application process.
Who manages the NECPRS?
NECPRS is managed by the Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood.
Who do I contact if I have questions about NECPRS?
Call the Early Childhood Training Center for answers to questions you might have about NECPRS. The phone number is 402-557-6880, or email nde.ectc@nebraska.gov
Technology
What if I don’t have a computer?
If you do not have access to a computer at home or at work, contact your local public library. Most libraries have computers with internet access that you may use for free. If you are unfamiliar with computers, a librarian might also be able to help you get started. You can also access the website and make changes with many mobile devices (iPad, cell phones, etc.)
What if I don’t have an email address?
There are a wide variety of free, web-based email addresses available. Two common providers of these email addresses are Google’s Gmail (mail.google.com) or Microsoft’s Hotmail (www.hotmail.com). It should only take a couple of minutes to set up your new email account.
What should I do if I forget my email address and/or password?
If you forget which email address you used to set up your account, please contact the Early Childhood Training Center at 402-557-6880 or nde.ectc@nebraska.gov. If you forget your password you can click on the “Forgot Password” link on the homepage. You will receive an email that will allow you to reset your password.
What should I do if I can’t log in or the system says the username/password I am using is incorrect?
Contact the Early Childhood Training Center for assistance (402-557-6880 or nde.ectc@nebraska.gov).
Confidentiality
Does NECPRS have a Privacy Policy?
Yes, the Privacy Policy can be viewed here
What information will be confidential in the system?
Most information in the system will be confidential and password protected. You will set up your own account and password. Directors will have some limited access to information needed for child care licensing or Step Up to Quality purposes.
How will the information I enter into NECPRS be used?
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) will primarily use the data to better understand the early childhood workforce in Nebraska, and a program’s progress toward reaching higher levels of quality. The information will be combined and analyzed to help NDE and other state agencies better understand and report to policy makers regarding the education levels, years of experience, and salaries of the early childhood field. Program information will help NDE better understand the level of quality in childcare and early childhood education programs, and how quality improves when supports are provided. Non-identifiable information may be used for research and evaluation purposes.
Updating Records
How often do I need to update my professional record?
It is recommended that you update your record at least annually to ensure that all records stay up to date.
How often does my program need to update the organization’s record?
Every program should review their record at least annually to make sure that the information is still accurate. If there has been a change in the program director, the Director of Record Change/Addition form should be completed.
Information Requested
Why do I need to provide my home address, home phone number, and home email address?
This information helps us identify you if you change employment. The more specific information we have on individuals, the more accurately we can ensure that training hours get attached to the correct person’s record.
Why do I need to provide my wage information?
This information is gathered so that Nebraska can better understand the average wages of people in childcare and early childhood education positions. Eventually, we want to be able to describe the average education of the early childhood workforce, wages based upon education, years of experience in the field, and in different regions of the state, etc. With this information, Nebraska can better understand if the field provides adequate compensation, reduces turnover in staff, and improves benefits to achieve higher quality programs with a dependable workforce.
The enrollment in my program changes every day. Why do I need to provide this information?
We understand that enrollment can fluctuate from one month to the next. NECPRS will show the date that the program application was completed for Step Up to Quality. We need the best estimate of the actual enrollment in a program at the time of the application. The Nebraska Department of Education is often asked for the number of vacancies in child care in Nebraska. Child Care Licensing provides information on the licensed capacity of a program, but does not have information on program enrollment. Both licensed capacity data and enrollment data can help us better understand how many programs are running at or near their full capacity.
Why are you asking about serving children with special needs and transportation?
Frequently, when parents call our parent line, we are not able to answer their questions about whether programs serve children with special needs, or whether the program offers transportation. Programs that provide this information help us respond to parents’ questions about child care services.
Verification
What items can be verified on my professional record?
Any education beyond high school, credentials and trainings you have entered on your professional record can be verified.
How do I submit verification documents?
Official documentation can be uploaded to your professional record, or sent to the Early Childhood Training Center:
Early Childhood Training Center
6949 S 110th St
La Vista, NE 68128
nde.ectc@nebraska.gov
In both cases, be sure that each set of documents:
- Corresponds to records that have been entered in your online profile.
- Are arranged in the following order: Education records, credentials and training records and sorted by date (with the most recent date on the top and the oldest on the bottom).
Documents should be attached by paper clips, not stapled.
What do I need to submit for verification?
The following documents are generally what we ask for verification:
- For higher education, official transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university showing coursework and degrees earned (if you have attended multiple institutions, please send an official transcript from each)
- For training information, a copy of a complete training certificate.
- For credentials, a copy of the face of each credential
How do I know if my information has been verified?
You will receive email notification when your information has been verified.
Why isn’t my information verified?
Often, information is not verified because we have not received documents from you or because we have not yet reviewed the documents you sent. If a document you sent does not meet our requirements, we will inform you in an email. Information that cannot be verified can still be kept in your online profile as a record of your accomplishments.
What is the typical turnaround time for verification?
Please allow up to 60 days for verification.
What is a "regionally accredited" college or university?
Regional accreditation ensures that a college or university’s academic program meets acceptable levels of quality. In order to be eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs, your school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (find the list here). To be verified in NECPRS, the college or university you attend must be accredited by one of these regional accrediting bodies.
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