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Professional Standards & Competencies Resource Library
The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators outline the essential knowledge, skills, and practices that are foundational to high-quality early childhood education. These standards define what early childhood educators should know and be able to do in order to support the learning and development of young children from birth through age 8. They serve as a guiding framework for professional development, practice, and evaluation within the field of early childhood education.
Understanding and implementing these standards is crucial for educators as they help ensure the delivery of equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education that promotes the well-being and success of all children. By adhering to these standards, educators also contribute to the profession's commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.
Please note that while the collection of resources has been organized and tagged according to the Professional Standards and Competencies, only the most applicable competencies have been prioritized for searching and tagging purposes.
For NAEYC resources in the library, you can find policies related to reproducing, distributing, or otherwise using content here. For all other resources, please follow appropriate practices for using/citing sources.
Directions for Using the Professional Standards and Competencies Resource Library
Check out the resource library tutorial here!
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The PS&Cs Resource Library allows you to peruse ALL of the many resources available (by default) or you can utilize the provided filter and narrow down your search to target specific resources.
Check out the resource library tutorial for more info.
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By using the filtering categories, you are able to narrow your search to particular professional standards, one or more of the 22 key competencies, various ECE topics, a variety of age ranges, specific types of resources such as articles or videos or even find resources available in languages other than English.
The robust filters even allow you to choose multiple choices across categories or within the same category to further narrow your search!
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Once you have opened the various filter categories provided in the filter tool, you will notice that “all” is highlighted and checked in each category by default. This means the filter tool will not filter out any of those options within that category. If you wish to narrow your search, you simply click on one or more of the other options within the various filtering categories. Clicking will check that option. Checked options will be utilized for your search!
To remove an option, simply click it again to remove the check from the checkbox.
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The search feature is similar to any other search engine on a website. It can be used for a specific key word or phrase. Although the search may be helpful and is provided, the more robust filter tool may ultimately be more helpful in focusing and narrowing your search for resources.
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Naturally, broken links will occur. Sometimes the resource has been moved to a new web address and other times it has been temporarily or permanently removed. We welcome you to report any broken links you find here. We will do our best to replace the link when possible or remove the resource if it is no longer available.
**As of Feb. 2025, certain webpages and resources, particularly from agencies/organizations/projects that receive federal funds, have been at least temporarily removed in order to comply with federal mandates related to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders. We will continue to monitor these resource links and update them if and when new links are available.
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Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
Early Childhood Inclusion: A Joint Position Statement of DEC and NAEYC
Early Childhood Inclusion: A Joint Position Statement of DEC and NAEYC
The position statement contains a definition of early childhood inclusion and provides recommendations for families and professionals for improving early childhood services and policies with regards to inclusion.
Organization/Author: NAEYC and DEC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2009
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Position Statement-Mathematics in Early Childhood Learning
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) outlines their position on mathematics in early learning.
Organization/Author: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2022
National Science Teaching Association: Position Statement-Early Childhood Science Education
National Science Teaching Association: Position Statement-Early Childhood Science Education
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Position Statement on Early Childhood Science Education.
Organization/Author: National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2013
Literacy Leadership Brief: What Effective Pre-K Literacy Looks Like
Literacy Leadership Brief: What Effective Pre-K Literacy Looks Like
A literacy leadership brief that outlines strategies for building literacy skills in the early years and policy recommendations for early literacy achievement.
Organization/Author: International Literacy Association
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2018
Position Statement and Research Brief: Phonological Awareness in Early Childhood Literacy Development
The International Literacy Association outlines how phonological awareness develops, why it is important, and guidelines for practitioners
Organization/Author: International Literacy Association
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
National Council for the Social Studies: Early Childhood in the Social Studies Context
National Council for the Social Studies: Early Childhood in the Social Studies Context
The National Council for Social Studies provides a set of guidelines related to social studies.
Organization/Author: National Council for Social Studies
Type of Resource: Position Statements
Publication Date: 2019
Five Rs for Promoting Positive Family Engagement
Five Rs for Promoting Positive Family Engagement
In this short article, the author offers 5 Rs to guide early childhood educators in building positive relationships with families.
Organization/Author: Bweikia Foster Steen, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2022
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement (full document)
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement (full document)
This position statement, one of five foundational documents developed by NAEYC in collaboration with the early childhood profession to advance high-quality early learning for all young children, defines the term, “developmentally appropriate practice.” The definition emerges from a set of evidence-based core considerations and principles of child development and learning, all of which are explained in the principles section of this statement. To support educators’ use of developmentally appropriate practice, this statement also identifies guidelines for decision making in six key areas of responsibility that correspond to the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
DEC Position Statement on Ethical Practice
DEC Position Statement on Ethical Practice
The Position Statement on Ethical Practice for the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is a public statement of principles and practice guidelines supported by the mission of DEC.
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2022
DEC Position Statement: The Role of Special Instruction in Early Intervention
DEC Position Statement: The Role of Special Instruction in Early Intervention
The purpose of this position statement is to clarify the role of the service,
Special Instruction, and its providers (referred to as “early intervention educators” in this paper) within the broader field of IDEA (2004) Part C early intervention (EI).
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2024
Promoting Positive Outcomes for Children with Disabilities: Recommendations for Curriculum, Assessment, and Program Evaluation
The Division for Early Childhood developed this document be read and used in conjunction with the NAEYC-NAECS/SDE position statement (Early Childhood Curriculum, Assessment, and Program Evaluation: Building an Effective, Accountable System in Programs for Children), which puts forth general recommendations and guidance intended to apply practices for all young children, including those with disabilities. The recommendations in this document are not alternatives, nor do they contradict the NAEYC-NAECS/SDE recommendations. Rather, they extend, more specifically apply, and further explicate the recommendations in the more general position statement. By reading and implementing both sets of recommendations, practitioners and policy makers will have the benefit of complementary perspectives and expertise.
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2007
Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children's Behavior
Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children's Behavior
A reflection on NAEYC’s position statement, Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education.
Organization/Author: Barbara Kaiser, Judy Sklar Rasminksy, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2019/2020
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
These sections of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement provide context for developmentally appropriate practice, three core considerations, and general principles of child development and learning.
Links
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement- Focus: Observing, Documenting & Assessing
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
Observing, Documenting, and Assessing Children’s Development and Learning
This section of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement outlines seven recommended practices for observation, documentation, and assessment that are developmentally appropriate for children from birth through the primary grades.
Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
These sections of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement focus on creating a caring, equitable community of learners, engaging in community relationships and teaching practices to support development and learning.
Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators- Focus: Caring, Equitable Community of Engaged Learners
The Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators section of this Position Statement includes eleven practices related to creating a caring, equitable community of engaged learners.
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Create a Caring, Equitable Community of Engaged Learners
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement- Focus: Reciprocal Relationships with Families
It all begins with an idea.
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators: Establishing Reciprocal Relationships with Families
The Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators section of this Position Statement includes five practices related to building reciprocal partnerships with families.
Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement- Focus: Observation, Documentation & Assessment
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement
Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators: Observe, Document, and Assess Children’s Learning and Development
The Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators section of this Position Statement includes three practices related to observation, documentation, and assessment of children’s learning and development.
Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
Additional Resources
