High-quality early childhood assessments are key to supporting each child's growth and development. The Learning Accomplishment Profile™ (LAP™) assesses developmental skills across multiple domains, while the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) focuses on social-emotional strengths and behaviors. Together, they help educators spot challenges, track progress, and tailor instruction to each child.
But conducting child observations, scoring questions, and even ordering assessment materials can lead to several “How do I?” moments, confusion, and missteps that make it harder to fully understand a child’s developmental progress.
That’s where we come in! Purchasing LAP™ and DECA from Kaplan means you’ll receive trusted support for smooth implementation, ensuring the tools are used effectively and deliver meaningful insights. Learn how we support educators every step of the way through online portals, professional training, and technical guidance for both assessment tools.
What should you know about Kaplan’s online LAP and DECA portals?
Both LAP™ and DECA include online components designed to make administering, scoring, and using the data easier and more efficient. If you’re someone who learns best by doing, these online portals provide immediate access to guides and resources so you can jump in and get started on your own.
eDECA portal overview
e-DECA is a web app for teachers and parents to complete all Devereux Early Childhood Assessments online. It scores, reports, and recommends research-based strategies to support positive behavior and social-emotional learning at school and home.
To access the online portal, organizations must buy an annual license plus single or by-child ratings. Check out this eDECA purchasing guide to learn about the purchasing process, selecting ratings that best meet your needs, renewing licenses, and more.
LAP platform overview
Built on the Learning Accomplishment Profile™ assessment system, the Online LAP™ streamlines every step of the assessment process. It automates scoring, tracks progress, generates reports, supports instruction, and helps educators meet accountability requirements—all in one digital platform.
Online LAP™ is an add-on for E-LAP™, LAP™-3, and LAP™-D, 3rd edition. To access the LAP™ B-K assessment—a combination of the best-selling E-LAP™ and LAP™-3—customers must purchase a platform subscription to administer and score items. Subscriptions are billed annually per child assessed, with costs decreasing as more children are added. After your purchase, we’ll contact you with instructions to get started with Online LAP™.
Looking for the right early childhood assessment for your program or district? This comparison guide makes it easy to evaluate our top tools and choose the one that best meets your needs.
What resources are available in the online portals?
The online LAP™ and eDECA portals both offer a comprehensive library of guides to help users get the most from the tools. They also provide resources for accessing content and troubleshooting common technical problems.
eDECA portal resources
eDECA has a robust library of support documents under the “Help” tab in the portal. These include, but are not limited to:
- eDECA User Manual
- A purchasing guide explaining which ratings to buy for your program
- Assessment forms, parent letters, and caregiving checklists in English and Spanish
- User guides and technical manuals for all versions of DECA
- How-to guides for entering your rating year, printing batch DECAs, sending rating requests, and more
- Program strategies for all versions of DECA
- User and program administrator resources
- Pyramid Model resources
- Reflective checklists
- Data dictionaries
Additionally, eDECA offers a library of video demos that walk users through various processes, including:
- Activating or deactivating a child, user, rater, group, or site
- Inputting and viewing ratings
- Viewing child and group reports
- Accessing strategies
- Printing batch reports
- Changing language preferences for parent ratings
- Other administrative functions, like downloading data, viewing or updating usernames and passwords, delivering program-wide messages, and managing your user account
LAP portal resources
Similarly, users can find helpful resources and guides inside the LAP™ portal, including but not limited to:
- Alignments to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes (ELOF)
- Digital access to the Examiner Manual and Technical Report
- List of LAP B-K Kit materials, supplemental classroom materials list, Illustration Manual, Quick Start Guide, and Scoring Booklet in English and Spanish
- LAP Words Worth Knowing for Parents
- LAP: Closing the School Year
- Overview of Teacher Functions
There’s also a Knowledge Base of guides and troubleshooting documents that cover several processes, including:
- Adding or renaming a classroom in a site
- Adding or transferring a child to a classroom
- Entering assessment information
- Deleting an assessment
- Monitoring progress
- Running a chronological vs. developmental age report
- Closing checkpoint dates
What can you expect from Kaplan’s customer support for LAP and DECA?
Yes, the online portals are filled with resources to help you navigate the tools on your own. But whenever you need an extra hand, our team is here to guide and support you at every step.
Customers can contact us Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, for on-demand customer and technical support. LAP customers can submit support tickets conveniently through the “Support” tab in the LAP platform or email our support team directly at lapsupport@kaplanco.com.
eDECA customers can contact our support team at decasupport@kaplanco.com or (888) 808-2366 for help. Customers can speak directly with a Technical Support Specialist or leave a message. We respond to all support tickets and calls within 24 business hours, ensuring prompt assistance for any technical issues.
What fees are associated with customer support?
Customer and technical support are included with the purchase of the Online LAP™ and eDECA portals at no additional cost.
LAP and e-DECA troubleshooting: What customer support questions come up most often?
Whether you’re using e-DECA or the Online LAP™, we’ve noticed a few support questions come up regularly as users get familiar with the tools. Below, we’ve gathered answers to those topics we hear most often. And if you need more guidance, our team is just a call or email away.
|
Topic |
Issue |
Response |
|
Password and access issues |
I am not receiving an email to reset my password. |
This usually means the user’s email wasn’t added during account setup. Reach out to your manager to add it, then verify the email is correct and check your spam/junk folder. |
|
Report viewing problems |
I don’t see the report after clicking submit. |
This often happens if a pop-up blocker is active. Be sure to allow pop-ups from eDECA or LAP to view reports properly. |
|
License and subscription renewals |
How do I renew my license(s)? |
Licenses can be renewed online at www.kaplanco.com by entering “LAP” or “eDECA” in the search bar, then selecting the appropriate software. Alternatively, contact the support team at lapsupport@kaplanco.com or decasupport@kaplanco.com for a quote. |
|
Setting up accounts and managing users/children |
How do I set up my account and add users or children? |
We provide extensive resources to help our customers use both LAP and eDECA. In LAP, navigate to the Knowledge Base under the “Support & Resources” tab for step-by-step instructions. In eDECA, navigate to the documents and videos under the “Help” tab for guidance on setting up accounts and managing users/children. |
What professional development and training does Kaplan offer for LAP and DECA users?
The right support and training make all the difference when you’re using a new assessment tool. That’s why we also offer a wide range of professional learning solutions to help educators use assessments and online platforms effectively. These sessions are available live—in person or virtually—or on demand to meet your staff's unique needs.
LAP professional development and training
Kaplan offers live in-person and virtual training for every version of the Learning Accomplishment Profile™. Each session is led by expert trainers who help educators build the skills and confidence to use the tool effectively.
Implementation training
To set you up for success from the start, we offer virtual and in-person implementation training sessions for the LAP™ B-K, LAP™-D, E-LAP™, and LAP™-3. We tailor each session to your team's needs, whether they're educators, administrators, or instructional coaches.
In these sessions, participants learn to:
- Understand the research behind the LAP™ and try the assessment firsthand.
- Administer, score, and use the assessment to guide instruction.
- Connect assessment results to curriculum planning for children’s care and development.
- Share assessment results with families to strengthen home-to-school partnerships.
Technical platform overview
In this session, a dedicated technical specialist guides all new customers through an overview of the Online LAP™. It covers the platform’s core functionalities, features, and tools. The specialist also helps with the organization's initial setup on the platform to ensure a smooth onboarding process. By the end of the session, participants will feel confident navigating the platform and using it to meet their specific needs.
Self-paced training courses
Today, Kaplan offers online, self-paced courses for LAP™ Birth to Kindergarten. This training equips educators to administer and use the tool accurately, efficiently, and with impact.
The online course includes three modules:
Module 1 introduces the LAP™ B-K and walks you through the key goals and processes of a strong early childhood assessment system.
Module 2 provides deeper technical guidance on the LAP™ B-K, including essential details on administration and scoring. Participants gain a strong understanding of the tool’s structure and content and build confidence in completing assessments.
Module 3 focuses on interpreting, reporting, and using LAP™ B-K results to guide instruction and support each child’s growth. Participants explore key child and classroom reports in the online tool, learn to adapt activities to skill levels, and discuss strategies for sharing results with families.
For more information about LAP™ professional development and training options, please contact our Professional Learning department at professionallearning@kaplanco.com or call us at 1-800-334-2014.
DECA professional development and training
The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers professional development and training on a range of topics related to supporting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Sessions also address the needs of the adults who administer DECA.
Implementation training
To help you get started with confidence, the team at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children provides on-site implementation training. During each session, participants explore the assessment tools and learn best practices around implementation. This option accommodates groups of any size (up to 50 people per trainer) and is delivered in a one- or two-day format.
In these sessions, participants will learn to:
- Build skills for observation, assessment, and planning in school and home settings.
- Foster high-quality learning environments and support children’s social-emotional needs.
- Engage families to support children’s healthy social-emotional development.
- Strengthen resilience in the adults who care for and support young children.
Virtual learning options
You can also learn about DECA through online learning formats. The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers engaging professional development sessions, delivered live via video chat or available on demand for continued use. These training sessions are customized to your needs, schedule, and budget, offering a cost-effective way to build your team’s knowledge and confidence.
Click here for a complete list of professional development options offered by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. To learn more, contact Debi Mahler, Director of Professional Development with the Devereux Center for Resilient Children, at dmahler@devereux.org.
Gain access to continued support for LAP and DECA through Kaplan Early Learning Company
Implementing an early childhood assessment involves careful preparation and collaboration. When used effectively, the LAP™ and DECA can deliver accurate, reliable insights into each child's cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development, informing high-quality care, instruction, and individualized support.
With Kaplan, you’ll receive reliable, ongoing support to help you navigate the end-to-end assessment process—from onboarding to interpreting data and applying it in the classroom. Through online portals, on-demand customer support, professional development, and technical resources, you’ll get the help you need to succeed every step of the way.
If you have questions about LAP™ and DECA or need help from an expert on our team, please contact a local Kaplan Sales Representative. They’re ready and willing to answer your questions, offer guidance, and ensure you feel supported.
