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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

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Resource Type: Webinar Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Resource Type: Webinar Kadisha Conteh

Culture and Children’s Challenging Behavior Webinar

Culture and Children’s Challenging Behavior Webinar

Social emotional development and learning expert Barbara Kaiser explores the dynamics of culture in shaping teachers’ expectations and children’s behavior.

Note: registration is required to view webinar

Organization/Author: Barbara Kaiser, Ph.D. Early Childhood Investigations 
Type of Resource: Webinar

Publication Date: 2022

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh

Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Childhood Education

Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Childhood Education

This article explores four ways to validate and affirm young students’ cultures in meaningful ways, which can boost their engagement and motivation.

Organization/Author: Amanda Armstrong, Edutopia 
Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: 2020

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Partnership-building with Families Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Partnership-building with Families Kadisha Conteh

Early Childhood Behavior Management Case Study

Early Childhood Behavior Management Case Study

This Case Study includes information on how to create developmentally and culturally appropriate classroom rules and how to effectively teach them. It also explores how to encourage appropriate behavior, address challenging behavior, and partner with families to address behavioral issues.

Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh

Dual Language Learners with Disabilities Module

Dual Language Learners with Disabilities Module

This module offers an overview of young children who are dual language learners. Further, it highlights the importance of maintaining children and families’ home language at the same time they are learning a new or second language, discusses considerations for screening and assessing these children, and identifies strategies for supporting them in inclusive preschool classrooms (est. completion time: 1.5 hours).

Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh

Behavior Management Module

Behavior Management Module

This module, a DEC-recommended resource, includes information on how to create developmentally appropriate behavior rules for early childhood classrooms so that they link to a given school's behavior expectations. The importance of communication with families about rules and expected behaviors is also stressed (est. completion time: 2 hours).

Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Curriculum, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Topic: Universal Design for Learning, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Report Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Curriculum, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Topic: Universal Design for Learning, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Report Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Book Chapter, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Play, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Curriculum, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER) Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Book Chapter, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Play, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Curriculum, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER) Kadisha Conteh

OER Textbook: Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children

OER Textbook: Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost, and without needing to ask permission. 

This OER textbook includes 8 chapters that provide an overview of the history of the field of early childhood education, developmental theories, and the profession. In addition, observation, assessment, developmental ages and stages, curriculum basics, environments, and partnering with families are explored. 

Click here to learn more about the OER Collection from College of the Canyons.

Organization/Author: Cindy Stephens, Gina Peterson, Sharon Eyrich, and Jennifer Paris, College of the Canyons OER Collection

Type of Resource: Book Chapter, Open Educational Resource (OER)

Publication Date: 2020

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh

CONNECT Module 7: Tiered Instruction

CONNECT Module 7: Tiered Instruction

These modules are designed for faculty and professional development providers to use in their professional development. Instructor Guides, in the form of dashboards, are included. Students learn about how tiered instruction can be used to enhance learning and development in young children enrolled in early childhood centers and programs.

Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh

CONNECT Module 5: Assistive Technology 

CONNECT Module 5: Assistive Technology 

These modules are designed for faculty and professional development providers to use in their professional development. Instructor Guides, in the form of dashboards, are included. Students learn about the purpose, use and potential benefits of assistive technology interventions when working with young children.

Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 6: Instruction

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 6: Instruction

In this module you will learn effective instructional practices and why intentional and systematic instruction is crucial for children with disabilities.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team Kadisha Conteh

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 4: Teaming and Collaboration

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 4: Teaming and Collaboration

In this module you will learn the components of teaming and collaboration and why teaming and collaboration amongst practitioners and families is crucial for children with disabilities.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh

ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Instruction

ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Instruction

Instructional practices are a cornerstone of early intervention and early childhood special education. Teachers, other practitioners, family members, and other caregivers use instructional practices to maximize learning and improve developmental and functional outcomes for young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays/disabilities.This set includes instruction checklists, instruction guides for practitioners, and instruction practice guides for families.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)

Type of Resource: Toolkits

Publication Date: various

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 5, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 5, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh

ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Interaction

ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Interaction

Sensitive and responsive interactional practices are the foundation for promoting the development of a child's language and cognitive and emotional competence. These interactional practices are the basis for fostering all children's learning. For children who have or are at risk for developmental delays/disabilities, they represent a critical set of strategies for fostering children's social-emotional competence, communication, cognitive development, problem-solving, autonomy, and persistence. This set includes interaction checklists, interaction guides for practitioners, and interaction practice guides for families.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)

Type of Resource: Toolkits

Publication Date: various

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Video and Facilitator's Guide, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Video and Facilitator's Guide, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh

Inclusion of Children with Disabilities Training Guide

Inclusion of Children with Disabilities Training Guide

The Inclusion of Children with Disabilities: Training Guide is designed to strengthen the inclusion of young children with disabilities and their families in programs serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

The guide features four modules, each containing a facilitator’s guide, training scripts, handouts, and videos. The modules are:

Including Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

Building Relationships with Families

Collaboration and Teaming

Preschool Inclusion Series

The training materials can be used in a variety of professional development settings. They can also help service providers and parents plan together to increase opportunities for inclusion in their communities.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)

Type of Resource: Video and Facilitator’s Guide

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh

Head Start Center for Inclusion

Head Start Center for Inclusion

A variety of resources that support early childhood educators to ensure that children with disabilities can participate as full members of their learning communities.

Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion

Type of Resource: website

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Webinar Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Webinar Kadisha Conteh

Strengths-Based Family Relationships: Strategies for moving beyond negativity and judgment Webinar

Strengths-Based Family Relationships: Strategies for moving beyond negativity and judgment Webinar

This webinar recording focuses on strengths based family relationships strategies. A webinar packet is included. 

Note: registration is required to view webinar

Organization/Author:  Susan MacDonald, Early Childhood Investigations 

Type of Resource: Webinar

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Multilingual Learners, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh

Engaging Families of Multilingual Learners: Using Families’ Stories to Link Classroom Content with Children’s Funds of Knowledge

Engaging Families of Multilingual Learners: Using Families’ Stories to Link Classroom Content with Children’s Funds of Knowledge

In this article, a teacher and research professor partener to investigate ways to increase family engagement and reflect their funds of knowledge in a preschool classroom. This article touches on uses technology as a family engagement strategy.

Organization/Author:  Alexandra Figueras-Daniel and Bernice Vasquez, Young Children, NAEYC

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Blog Post Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Blog Post Kadisha Conteh

Culturally Responsive Teaching

Culturally Responsive Teaching

A short article that introduces Culturally Responsive Teaching and the work of Zaretta Hammond.

Organization/Author:  National Equity Project

Type of Resource: Blog

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

Gathering and Embedding Families' Funds of Knowledge

Gathering and Embedding Families' Funds of Knowledge

Honor and support families in their role as their child's first teacher using the strategies introduced in this training. A video and presentation slides are included.

Organization/Author:  Head Start Center on Inclusion

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh

Related Services: Common Supports for Students with Disabilities

Related Services: Common Supports for Students with Disabilities

This module offers a description of related services and an overview of the benefits they provide to students with disabilities in the general education classroom. It highlights five commonly used related services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, social work services, and psychological services) and briefly highlights many of the other related services as identified through IDEA (est. completion time: 1 hour).

Organization/Author:  Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Additional Resources

About the Resource Library &

The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators