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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
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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.
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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!
Supporting Early Literacy Through Universal Design and Assistive Technology
Supporting Early Literacy Through Universal Design and Assistive Technology
Prepare to engage children with disabilities who are linguistically diverse in language and literacy development opportunities, with this set of practical tools and resources. Materials include presentation video, presentation slides, and related handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Routines-Based Planning for Infants and Toddlers
Routines-Based Planning for Infants and Toddlers
The purpose of this module is to provide trainers and participants with information about using typical routines as the context for assessment and planning for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The module describes the practice of Routines-Based Assessment and Planning, the associated benefits, and step-by-step guidance for implementing routines-based assessment and planning.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Implementing a Curriculum Responsively: Supporting Children’s Development and Learning
Implementing a Curriculum Responsively: Supporting Children’s Development and Learning
This suite describes how education staff can implement a responsive curriculum. It also highlights the importance of understanding children's development and learning. Explore the ways a curriculum guides the learning environment, learning experiences, and adult-child interactions. Consider ways to use a curriculum's guidance to support children's development and learning and promote positive child outcomes.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Individualized Teaching and Learning
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Individualized Teaching and Learning
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on individualized teaching and learning.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
Individualizing
Learn about individualizing to support individual learning outcomes and goals for children with disabilities. Materials include Adapting the Curriculum: Supervisors Tool, a guide for observations in the classroom; the Classroom Quality Indicators Checklist—a checklist to help supervisors determine that foundational elements of a quality classroom are in place; and Supervisor’s Guide: More About the Quality Indicators.
You’ll find practical strategies for educators and other caregivers in the Classroom Quality Indicators Checklist; Individualizing Within a Group Activity; and the Planned Instruction Form—to use when planning for an individual child in your program. The Arts & Crafts signs can be posted throughout the learning spaces to give staff ideas about what to work on while engaging with children.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Inclusion Basics: Membership
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
Foster belonging for young children with disabilities in inclusive early childhood settings, with support from this range of resources for educators and supervisors. Materials include a video presentation, presentation slides, video clips for asking a friend to play, print and go materials, and handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
The purpose of this module is to provide trainers and participants with information about Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers. Other common terms that refer to this practice include “activity-based intervention,” “naturalistic instruction,” and “incidental teaching.” This training module provides examples and suggestions for using embedded learning opportunities (ELOs) in inclusive, home-based family child care, and center-based early care and education settings.This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Curriculum Modifications for Infants and Toddlers
Curriculum Modifications for Infants and Toddlers
Curriculum modifications are changes to the environment, activity, or materials that promote infant or toddler participation in planned activities, interactions, and routines. This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Brain Building in Process: Resources for Early Learning Set of Professional Development Trainings for 3-5 Years
Explore best practices in early education of children ages 3 to 5 years. These twelve engaging, content-rich, video-based trainings are organized by topic. Take the online 45-minute self-paced version, or download the Facilitator’s Guide to lead family child-care and center-based educators in a 1.5–2 hour training. Topics include:
Creating the Learning Environment
Engaging Children in Meaningful Conversation
Integrating Media and Technology into Curriculum
Engaging Children in Math
Providing Developmentally Appropriate Learning
Individualizing Instruction
Honoring Diversity
Getting Families Involved
Building a Community of Readers and Writers
Leading Children in Hands-on Exploration
Engaging Children in STEM
Having Fun with Phonemic Awareness
Organization/Author: Massachusetts Department of Early Education (EEC)
Type of Resource: Trainings
Publication Date: Unknown
Brain Building in Process: Resources for Early Learning Set of Professional Development Trainings for Birth-33 Months
These five engaging, content-rich, video-based trainings are organized by age. Take the online 45-minute self-paced version, or download the Facilitator’s Guide to lead family child-care and center- and school-based educators in a 1.5–2 hour training. Topics include:
The Roots of Early Learning
Supporting Young Infants’ Learning
Supporting Older Infants’ Learning
Supporting Young Toddlers’ Learning
Supporting Older Toddlers’ Learning
Organization/Author: Massachusetts Department of Early Education (EEC)
Type of Resource: Trainings
Publication Date: Unknown
Emergent Writing
In this 15-minute In-service Suite, learn about the writing process. Explore the developmental progression of writing and discover ways adults can support children's emergent writing skills and explorations in the learning environment.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Early Childhood: Birth to Five Learning Modules
Early Childhood: Birth to Five Learning Modules
The Early Childhood (EC) Series presents six online self-paced modules that are geared towards early childhood educators, and other related professionals (e.g., developmental specialists, faculty, parents, and caregivers) who seek to further their knowledge on how to best support diverse young children (0-5 years) in a variety of settings. In this series, participants will discover evidence-based practices for helping young children develop literacy and language learning with opportunities to reflect on their instructional practices and explore additional ways to incorporate them into their EC settings.
Organization/Author: All Ohio Literacy Library
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Supporting Cognition
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Supporting Cognition
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on engaging interactions and fostering learning.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Language Modeling and Conversation
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Language Modeling and Conversation
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on fostering language.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
STEAM: 15-minute In-service Suite
STEAM: 15-minute In-service Suite
Explore strategies for engaging children’s natural curiosity about STEAM topics and skills in group learning settings, as well as in the home.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) for Everyone
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) for Everyone
Discover ways to support young children with identified disabilities or suspected delays as they acquire science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) skills. Examine effective teaching practices to help them access and explore STEAM materials and concepts. Learn practical strategies to plan the learning environment and embed individualized learning opportunities related to STEAM.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Assessment
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Assessment
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics include using developmental screening effectively, ongoing student assessment, using anecdotal records, etc.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
IEP Basics
Build knowledge about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) with this comprehensive overview training. Materials include slide decks, handouts, and videos of the IEP meeting process (setting up, round table introductions, beginning the meeting, generating goals, signing, and wrapping up).
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Using Data to Inform Teaching
This archived webinar illustrates how to use assessment data to inform and adjust teaching practices. Supplemental resources include a set of PowerPoints, presenter notes, and learning activities for applying the content to scenarios in early writing, expressive language, persistence, and direction-following.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Additional Resources
