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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!
Early Childhood Inclusion: A Joint Position Statement of DEC and NAEYC
Early Childhood Inclusion: A Joint Position Statement of DEC and NAEYC
The position statement contains a definition of early childhood inclusion and provides recommendations for families and professionals for improving early childhood services and policies with regards to inclusion.
Organization/Author: NAEYC and DEC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2009
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
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
CONNECT Module 1: Embedded Interventions
CONNECT Module 1: Embedded Interventions
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 practice of embedded interventions to help children participate in a variety of early learning opportunities and environments promoting high quality inclusion.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: unknown
CARA’s Kit Online: Self-Guided Module -Creating Adaptations for Routines and Activities
CARA’s Kit Online: Self-Guided Module -Creating Adaptations for Routines and Activities
Access this learning module to explore each topic of CARA’s Kit, from the introduction to the process to example adaptations.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: unknown
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
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
Circle Time Magazine: Inclusion
Circle Time Magazine: Inclusion
Circle Time Magazine is a unique early childhood professional development series that offers a web-based talk show, magazine, and online resources with each episode. This season is all about inclusion. Learn about the services that support children with disabilities, gain an understanding of what inclusion means, and learn strategies for making inclusion happen successfully through planning. You’ll also see easy modifications to increase access and participation and learn ways to facilitate friendships between peers. Check out the short video below for an enticing sample of what you can expect this season.
Organization/Author: Circle Time Magazine, Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Web-based Talk Show, Magazine, and Online Resources
Publication Date: Unknown
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
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
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
Engaging Families and Creating Trusting Partnerships to Improve Child and Family Outcomes Webinar Series
The ECTA Center partnered with the DaSy Center, Ann and Rud Turnbull, and invited guests to facilitate an interactive four-part web broadcast series aimed at supporting early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) systems leaders with building capacity in personnel and families to develop trusting partnerships. These partnerships in a child’s early years lay the foundation for achieving the long-term intended outcomes for children/students with developmental delays and disabilities articulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The series features discussions of the role that data play in strengthening family-professional partnerships. Suggestions and resources for designing personnel and family development activities to support partnerships are also shared.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Videos with Handouts and Discussion Questions
Publication Date: 2017
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
Take a Look! Visual Supports for Learning
Take a Look! Visual Supports for Learning
With pictures and words, this article defines visual supports and shows how they help all children to understand rules and expectations, engage in daily routine, navigate transitions, communicate thoughts, feelings and needs, and increase independence in child care routines and activities.
Organization/Author: Bonnie Blagojevic, Mary Ellin Logue, V. Susan Bennett-Armistead, Billie Taylor, and Erika Neal, Teaching Young Children
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: unknown
Integrating Principles of Universal Design into the Early Childhood Curriculum
Integrating Principles of Universal Design into the Early Childhood Curriculum
The authors offer examples and recommendations for how teachers of young children can support each young learner in diverse early learning settings by using Universal Design for Learning.
Organization/Author: Laurie A. Dinnebeil, Mary Boat, and Youlmi Bae, Dimensions of Early Childhood
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2013
DEC Recommended Practices in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education 2014
DEC Recommended Practices in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education 2014
The DEC Recommended Practices highlight those practices specifically known to promote the outcomes of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays/disabilities and to support their families in accordance with the DEC/NAEYC (2009) position statement on early childhood inclusion. Universal Design for Learning principles are specifically highlighted as a practice to create accessible environments (E1).
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood Education
Type of Resource: Recommended Practices
Publication Date: 2014
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