This year marks the 25th anniversary of the IRIS Center. We are proud to celebrate a quarter century of supporting educators with high-quality, trusted resources designed to improve educational outcomes for all students. This milestone would not be possible without the continued support of our partners, collaborators, and educators like you. And we look forward to building on this work together in the years ahead.
This spring, we are thrilled to announce changes to IRIS Modules, updated resources, and upcoming webinars. We have also included 2025 highlights to celebrate another stellar year.
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Based on user feedback, we have made changes to IRIS Module landing pages. Initially, it was confusing as to how to earn a PD certificate for the completion of a module. Now our landing pages require you to choose a pathway—Module Only or Module with PD Certificate—prior to reviewing any content.
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Note: Learners who choose the Module with PD Certificate path will be directed to set up an account or log in to their existing account.
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Early Childhood Behavior Management: Developing and Teaching Rules—In this module, you will find:
- Updated content and research findings
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New practitioner audio clips with a kindergarten teacher who shares practical advice for developing, displaying, and reinforcing classroom rules, along with tips for communicating these rules with families
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Secondary Transition: Interagency Collaboration—In this revised module, you will find:
- Greatly revised content and updated research findings
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New expert audio interviews on the individuals and groups involved in interagency collaboration, the importance of building community partnerships, tips for promoting seamless transitions, and more
- New practitioner audio clips with a transition coordinator and transition consultant who offer practical insights on supports, collaboration, and transition planning for students with disabilities
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- Secondary Transition: Person-Centered Transition Planning—In this module with a slightly new name, you will find:
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Greatly revised content and updated research findings
- Expanded content on self-determination
- New expert audio interviews on the benefits of person-centered planning for students and educators, fostering self-determination skills, using transition assessments to develop postsecondary goals, engaging families throughout the process, and more
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New practitioner audio clips with a transition coordinator who discusses how students can use self-determination to pursue careers aligned with their interests and how to meaningfully involve families in the transition process
- New audio interview with a high school student who shares how he takes a leadership role in his IEP meetings
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FREE Spring & Summer Webinars
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Professional Development for Directors and Principals: How to Effectively Prepare Your Educators Using IRIS Resources
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Join us for a 30-minute webinar exploring practical approaches to onboarding new educators using the IRIS Center’s PD Certificates for Educators and the IRIS+ Professional Learning Platform for Schools and Districts. During this webinar, participants will learn how each option works in practice and identify which fits their setting and needs.
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. (CT)
Event Details: Virtual (Register to reserve your spot.)
For any questions, please email Sarah Price.
If you can’t make the May session, don’t worry. We’ll be offering additional webinars throughout the summer. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 9, or Thursday, July 17!
Note: This webinar will not be recorded.
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In 2025, the IRIS website once again hosted millions of visits. Here’s a snapshot of IRIS by the numbers.
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21 million total pageviews
- 2 million visits
- 1.6 million users
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39¢ avg. grant cost per visit
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1,500+ colleges and universities, including over 300 that offer associate degrees
- 228 countries and territories
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Nearly 1,200 public school districts
- All 50 states by either state Departments of Education or other government offices
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Free PD Certificates for Educators
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Did you know that IRIS offers free PD certificates for our most popular modules? In 2025, they were accessed by teachers, college and graduate students, paraeducators, and many others. In fact, more than 212,000 PD certificates were accessed last year.
Top 3 PD Certificates Earned
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- Addressing Challenging Behaviors (Part 1, Elementary): Understanding the Acting-Out Cycle
- Universal Design for Learning: Designing Learning Experiences That Engage and Challenge All Students
- Classroom Behavior Management (Part 1): Key Concepts and Foundational Practices
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Peabody College Box 275 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 343-5610 / (800) 831-6134
IRIS Professional Development: 866-626-4747
Email: iris@vanderbilt.edu
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The IRIS Center is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Grant #H325E220001. The contents of this email do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Anna Macedonia.
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Peabody College Box 275 Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN 37203 US
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