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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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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!

Resource Type: Position Statement, Topic: Advocacy, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Ethical and Professional Guidelines, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 6 Kadisha Conteh Resource Type: Position Statement, Topic: Advocacy, Topic: Assessment Partnerships, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Ethical and Professional Guidelines, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 6 Kadisha Conteh

Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators Position Statement (full document & related resources)

Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators | NAEYC

Along with core knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions, early childhood educators who work in homes, centers, and schools have professional, ethical responsibilities. The “Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators” outlines the essential ethical responsibilities for the early childhood education profession. It speaks to a set of professional ethics—the moral responsibilities that go beyond personal beliefs—that guide ECE workplace decision making and behavior. This link access the full position statement along with other related code of ethics resources and supplements. (Available in English, Spanish, and Chinese)

Organization/Author: NAEYC

Type of Resource: Position Statement

Publication Date: 2025

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Resource Type: Article, Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Developmental Theories, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Reflective Practices Kadisha Conteh Resource Type: Article, Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Developmental Theories, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Reflective Practices Kadisha Conteh

Innovations in Higher Education. Decolonization Is Not a Buzz Word: (Re)Envisioning Early Childhood Teacher Education Through Curriculum Design

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/summer2024/decolonization-in-ece

In this article, the author explores the redesign of Erikson Institute’s teacher licensure program to challenge white-dominant narratives and address systemic inequities in early childhood education. It details how decolonizing pedagogies, such as land education and reflective identity assignments, are used to prepare educators to foster inclusive, just learning environments.

Organization/Author: Meghan L. Green, Young Children, NAEYC 

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: Summer 2024

Topic of issue of YC: Self-Regulation and Executive Function: Responsive and Informed Practices for Early Childhood

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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, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Textbook, Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER) Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Textbook, Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER) Kadisha Conteh

OER Textbook: Child, Family, and Community 

OER Textbook: Child, Family, and Community 

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 9 chapters about partnering with families, family engagement, culture, etc.  

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

Organization/Author:  Rebecca Laff, Cindy Stephens, and Wendy Ruiz, College of the Canyons OER Collection

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

Publication Date: 2020

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Report Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Report Kadisha Conteh

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

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Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER), Resource Type: Textbook, Standard 2, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Careers in the Field Kadisha Conteh Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER), Resource Type: Textbook, Standard 2, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Careers in the Field Kadisha Conteh

OER Textbook: Introduction to Careers in Child Development

OER Textbook: Introduction to Careers in Child Development

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 is an academic and career exploration in the field of early childhood education and child development.

Organization/Author: Gloria San Jose Daims

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

Publication Date: 2021

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh

National Center on Parents, Family & Community Engagement (lots of resources)

It all begins with an idea.

National Center on Parents, Family & Community Engagement (lots of resources)

A comprehensive set of parent, family, and community engagement resources. 

Organization/Author:  National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

Type of Resource: website

Publication Date: unknown

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Additional Resources

About the Resource Library &

The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators

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