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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!

  • 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.

  • 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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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 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: 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: 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: 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, 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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Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 6, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Early Intervention, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 6, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Early Intervention, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh

CONNECT Module 3: Communication for Collaboration

CONNECT Module 3: Communication for Collaboration 

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. Learn about effective communication practices that can be used to promote collaboration with professionals and families in early care and education, and intervention settings.

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

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 1, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Position Statement, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Collaboration with Service Providers and other Members of the Team, Resource Type: Position Statement, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice Kadisha Conteh

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.

Links-

Create a Caring, Equitable Community of Engaged Learners

Organization/Author: NAEYC 

Type of Resource: Position Statement

Publication Date: 2019

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Additional Resources

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The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators

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