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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.
Start Your Search--Resource Library
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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 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
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
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
Early Childhood Environments: Designing Effective Classrooms Module
Early Childhood Environments: Designing Effective Classrooms Module
This multi-media module offers information on how to set up effective inclusive early childhood classroom environments for young children. It also provides details about the interrelated physical, social, and temporal components of those environments, as well as adaptations to help teachers meet the needs of children with disabilities (est. completion time: 1 hour).
Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
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
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
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 3: Environment
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 3: Environment
In this module you will learn the components of a child’s natural and inclusive environment and why attending to the environment is crucial for children with disabilities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: unknown
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 1: Interaction
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 1: Interaction
This module will help you learn to support children’s learning and development through quality adult-child and child-child interactions. Lesson 1 provides a summary of the research on interaction by Dr. Jeanette McCollum. In lessons 2 and 3, nonverbal and verbal cues, behaviors and interests of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will be described. You will learn how observing children's behavior is critical in helping you interpret and provide responsive interaction with children. You will also practice using observation of a child's behavior to identify and interpret the child's interests, abilities, and emotions by watching and thinking about several video illustrations. Lesson 4 shares “Voices from the Field”, where practitioners and family leaders share their expertise and perspectives on interaction.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: unknown
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
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
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 7: Assessment
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 7: Assessment
In this module, you will learn effective assessment practices and why assessment is crucial for children with disabilities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices Module
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 2: Transition
Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 2: Transition
This module will help you support the transitions of children with disabilities and their families between and among services, supports, and programs.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices Module
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Recommended Practice Module 7: Assessment
Recommended Practice Module 7: Assessment
This free, online module offers content related to supporting children’s learning and development through quality adult-child and child-child interactions. Module 7 explores effective assessment practices. A companion Learning Guide provides additional resources for faculty and professional development providers to use in addressing the content of the module.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: 2023
ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Assessment
ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Assessment
This is a set of tools that includes family checklists, family practice guides for practitioners, and family practice guides for families. They are aligned with DEC Recommended Practices.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: 2018
ECTA: Screening Resources
This is a collection of screening resources that relate to federal requirements, state guidance, and general resources about screening.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: Unknown
Dual Language Learners: Screening and Assessing Young Children
Dual Language Learners: Screening and Assessing Young Children
This 30-minute activity features a video and discussion questions that align with DEC Recommended Practices for Assessment.
Organization/Author: Iris Center
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: Unknown
DEC Recommended Practices Module: Assessment
DEC Recommended Practices Module: Assessment
Completion of this module will enable you to: 1) explain what assessment practices are, and describe how they support children’s short-term and long-term goals; and 2) describe key assessment principles to make optimal data-driven decisions related to intervention practices. The module introduces and illustrates the practices grouped in the assessment topic area in the DEC Recommended Practices. The DEC Recommended Practices were developed to provide guidance about the most effective ways to improve the learning outcomes and promote the development of young children, birth through five years of age, who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices Module
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
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
CONNECT Module 2: Transition
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 practices to help support children and families as they transition among programs in the early care and education system.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge and DEC
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
ETCA Practice Improvement Tools: Family Practices
ETCA Practice Improvement Tools: Family Practices
This is a set of tools that includes family checklists, family practice guides for practitioners, and family practice guides for families. They are aligned with DEC Recommended Practices.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: 2018
Additional Resources
