Welcome to the…
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.
Start Your Search--Resource Library
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Start Your Search--Resource Library *
Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
Pre-K Spaces
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/pre-k-spaces
Pre-K Spaces is a room design handbook for preschool environments. This step-by-step guide walks you through the six easy steps to create the best layout and design for a preschool classroom. 28 page booklet
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
The Wisdom of Play
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/wisdom-of-play
David Elkind, Stuart Brown, Larry Schweinhart, and other early childhood experts record their thoughts on the importance of play. Read how play is a child’s way to make sense of their world, and why it is an essential part of emotional and physical well-being. 28 page booklet
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
Infant and Toddler Spaces
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/infant-toddler-spaces
Design your own infant and toddler room with these guidelines for developmentally appropriate spaces.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
The Stuff of Childhood
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/universal-learning-spaces
How do you choose play equipment that supports your developmental goals for children? What makes good playthings? These time-tested guidelines can help you select appropriate equipment for young children. This is a 24 page booklet.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
Universal Learning Spaces-Designing high-quality neuroinclusive learning environments in early education centers
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/universal-learning-spaces
A guide to create learning spaces to support all children.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
Alliance for Childhood: Publications and Reports
Alliance for Childhood: Publications and Reports
This includes various reports about play and children’s health, play and risk, play and loose parts, playwork, recess, and technology.
Organization/Author: Alliance for Childhood
Type of Resource: Reports
Publication Date: Unknown
Alliance for Childhood: Fact Sheets on Play
Alliance for Childhood: Fact Sheets on Play
The following fact sheets are included:
Twelve Key Types of Play
Playwork and Play
Time for Play, Every Day
When Kindergarten Testing is Out of Hand
Crisis in the Kindergarten
Outdoor Play for Children
Organization/Author: Alliance for Childhood
Type of Resource: Reports
Publication Date: Unknown
Early Care and Education Environment Indicators and Elements of High-Quality Inclusion
Early Care and Education Environment Indicators and Elements of High-Quality Inclusion
There are 4 sets of Indicators of High Quality Inclusion (state, community, local program, and environments levels). This is the set for early care and education environments.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2023
Understanding and Choosing Assessments and Developmental Screeners for Young Children Ages 3-5: Profiles of Selected Measures
Understanding and Choosing Assessments and Developmental Screeners for Young Children Ages 3-5: Profiles of Selected Measures
This document, originally designed for Head Start readers, offers valuable information for anyone who is selecting screening and assessment instruments. It reviews reliability and validity information for specific tools and describes how to evaluate and select tools for specific populations or purposes (for example dual language learners).
Organization/Author: Tamara Halle, Martha Zaslow, Julia Wessel, Shannon Moodie, and Kristen Darling-Churchill, Child Trends
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2011
What Does It Mean to Use Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction in Early Childhood?
What Does It Mean to Use Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction in Early Childhood?
This brief presents a conceptual framework for curriculum-embedded approaches to ongoing child assessment. The conceptual framework shows how teachers can use ongoing assessment for individualization.
Organization/Author: Lauren Akers, Sally Atkins-Burnett, and Shannon Monahan, Prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2015
Authentic Assessment in Infant-Toddler Care Settings
Authentic Assessment in Infant-Toddler Care Settings
This policy brief describes what authentic assessment is, the role observation plays in authentic assessment, how information from observations is used to develop curriculum, outcomes from authentic assessment, and the need to include authentic assessment training in professional development activities for early childhood practitioners.
Organization/Author: Allyson Dean and Brenda Zollitsch
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2013
Tailored Teaching: The Need for Stronger Evidence About Early Childhood Teachers' Use of Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction
Tailored Teaching: The Need for Stronger Evidence About Early Childhood Teachers' Use of Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction
This brief reviews the literature on ongoing assessment in early childhood settings for researchers and practitioners.
Organization/Author: Lauren Akers, Patricia Del Grosso, and Sally Atkins, Burnett, Prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2015
Perspectives on Assessment of DLLs Development & Learning, Prek-Third Grade
Perspectives on Assessment of DLLs Development & Learning, Prek-Third Grade
The chronic academic underachievement of the DLL population across the nation, and their lower school readiness scores in mathematics and literacy at kindergarten entry clearly reveal the need for more effective assessment approaches that are linked to improved instruction for young DLLs. Linda Espinosa’s 2016 paper is organized around the following questions: 1) What are the important linguistic, cultural, and background factors to consider in the assessment of young DLLs? 2) What are the most appropriate methods for assessing young DLLs for certain purposes (e.g., instructional improvement and developmental screening)? 3) What technical considerations are required for testing DLLs? 4) What do teachers need to know about the valid assessment of young DLLs?
Organization/Author: Linda M Espinosa, Ph.D.
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2016
Birth to Three Screening and Assessment Resource Guide
Birth to Three Screening and Assessment Resource Guide
In the world of assessment, there are hundreds of instruments to choose from. Knowing how to choose the instrument(s) that will best fit the needs of program staff, families, and children is critically important. For the purposes of this Resource Guide, only those instruments that have been specifically designed for use with infants and toddlers were identified. In addition, the most common and widely used developmental screening and child assessment instruments were included.
Organization/Author: Sophia Arnold
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2017
Screening
Screening, evaluation and assessment are distinct processes with different purposes under the provisions of Part C and Part B of IDEA. Screening includes activities to identify children who may need further evaluation in order to determine the existence of a delay in development or a particular disability. This site includes a number of evidence-based screening options and tools.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Reports
Publication Date: various
Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education
Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education
This guide offers practical strategies for creating a space where academic and social-emotional goals are accomplished side by side in an educational setting. It also provides advice for how teachers can implement culturally responsive pedagogy and bring anti-bias values to life. Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education are organized into four sections: Instruction, Classroom Culture, Family and Community Engagement, and Teacher Leadership. In each section, you can explore recommended practices, find helpful explanations and learn how each practice connects to anti-bias education. A companion website offers additional resources.
Organization/Author: Perspectives for a Diverse America and Teaching Tolerance
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2014
The Family Partnership Process: Engaging and Goal Setting with Families
The Family Partnership Process: Engaging and Goal Setting with Families
The guide provides examples of ways to gather information about families' strengths, hopes for their children, and challenges. It also lays out specific strategies to engage families in conversations about goal setting.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Building Partnership Series: Partnering with Families of Children who are Dual Language Learners
Building Partnership Series: Partnering with Families of Children who are Dual Language Learners
Explore this resource for scenarios and information to help you partner with families of children who are dual language learners.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Building Partnership Series: Strategies for Family Engagement-Attitudes and Practices
Building Partnership Series: Strategies for Family Engagement-Attitudes and Practices
This toolkit can be used as part of training and reflective practice and supervision. It includes: description of family engagement, benefits of relationships with families, strengths-based attitudes and relationship-based practices, practical examples, and additional resources and related references.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession: Executive Summary
Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession: Executive Summary
This is an executive summary of the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession.
Organization/Author: Power to the Profession Taskforce
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2020
Additional Resources
