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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 Recommended Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 1: Interaction
Early Childhood Recommended 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
Intentional Teaching Video Collection
Intentional Teaching Video Collection
The videos and resources provide ideas and guidance on practicing intentionality in the early childhood classroom through observation, documentation, activities, and learning opportunities.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
Publication Date: Unknown
Creating Early Childhood Portfolios
Creating Early Childhood Portfolios
A blog post that outlines the importance of child portfolios, including why they are important and what to include.
Organization/Author: Procare
Type of Resource: Blog
Publication Date: 2021
Best Practices in Early Childhood Assessment
Best Practices in Early Childhood Assessment
This one-hour webinar describes the relationship between developmental domains and the importance of assessing the “whole child.” The presenter describes best practices in early childhood assessment including selecting assessments that are developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically responsive, tied to children’s daily activities, inclusive of families, and supported by professional development.
Organization/Author: Gloria Maccow, Pearson Assessments
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2018
Toddler Observation Videos
This is a set of four videos of small groups of toddler-aged children in a classroom setting. These videos provide multiple opportunities to practice observation skills.
Organization/Author: hatfieldmomof3, YouTube
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: 2011
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Assessment
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Assessment
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics include using developmental screening effectively, ongoing student assessment, using anecdotal records, etc.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
Video Collection: Observing Young Children & Documenting Children’s Learning
Documenting Children’s Learning
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
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
The World of Children: Developing Child Observation Skills
The World of Children: Developing Child Observation Skills
A 35 minute video which focuses on how to develop observation skills.
Organization/Author: Alison Drake & Diane Kubetz, College of DuPage
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2023
Anecdotal Records Practical Strategies for Taking Meaningful Notes
Anecdotal Records Practical Strategies for Taking Meaningful Notes
An overview of formative and summative assessments is given. This article also discusses several ideas for recording useful anecdotal notes, including using abbreviations and focusing on specific tasks that children perform.
Organization/Author: Celeste C. Bates, Stephanie M. Madison, and Hayley J. Hoover, Spotlight in Young Children, Volume 2, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2023
Special Considerations: Developmental Screening of Children Ages Birth to 5 Who Are Dual Language Learners (DLLs)
Special Considerations: Developmental Screening of Children Ages Birth to 5 Who Are Dual Language Learners (DLLs)
This guide reviews current understandings of the development and importance of screening in supporting DLLs. It includes tools that can help Head Start and Early Head Start program leaders make informed and intentional decisions about selecting valid screening instruments and implementing high-quality screening practices for young DLLs. This is helpful when valid screening tools are not available in the languages of the children being served. While the emphasis in this publication is Head Start and Early Head Start, the content has broader applicability and relevance.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2019
Keeping Track: Gathering and Using Assessment Information to Support Children’s Learning
Keeping Track: Gathering and Using Assessment Information to Support Children’s Learning
Ongoing assessment is the process of keeping track of the child’s progress or change and determining the effectiveness of the teaching practices or other supports being implemented. For children with disabilities, more frequent and precise ongoing assessment is required to make sure that the goals and objectives are appropriate, that selected teaching practices are working, and that adjustments or modifications are made in a timely manner. Read this issue to discover resources to support ongoing assessment for children with disabilities and suspected delays.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Newsletter
Publication Date: 2021
Understanding and Choosing Assessments and Developmental Screeners for Young Children Ages 3-5: Profiles of Selected Measures
Understanding and Choosing Assessments and Developmental Screeners for Young Children Ages 3-5: Profiles of Selected Measures
This document, originally designed for Head Start readers, offers valuable information for anyone who is selecting screening and assessment instruments. It reviews reliability and validity information for specific tools and describes how to evaluate and select tools for specific populations or purposes (for example dual language learners).
Organization/Author: Tamara Halle, Martha Zaslow, Julia Wessel, Shannon Moodie, and Kristen Darling-Churchill, Child Trends
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2011
Authentic Assessment in Infant-Toddler Care Settings
Authentic Assessment in Infant-Toddler Care Settings
This policy brief describes what authentic assessment is, the role observation plays in authentic assessment, how information from observations is used to develop curriculum, outcomes from authentic assessment, and the need to include authentic assessment training in professional development activities for early childhood practitioners.
Organization/Author: Allyson Dean and Brenda Zollitsch
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2013
Screening DLLs in Early Head Start and Head Start: A Guide for Program Leaders (0-5)
Screening DLLs in Early Head Start and Head Start: A Guide for Program Leaders (0-5)
This guide reviews current understandings of the development and importance of screening in supporting DLLs. It includes tools that can help Head Start and Early Head Start program leaders make informed and intentional decisions about selecting valid screening instruments and implementing high-quality screening practices for young DLLs. While the emphasis in this publication is Head Start and Early Head Start, the content has broader applicability and relevance.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2024
Birth to Three Screening and Assessment Resource Guide
Birth to Three Screening and Assessment Resource Guide
In the world of assessment, there are hundreds of instruments to choose from. Knowing how to choose the instrument(s) that will best fit the needs of program staff, families, and children is critically important. For the purposes of this Resource Guide, only those instruments that have been specifically designed for use with infants and toddlers were identified. In addition, the most common and widely used developmental screening and child assessment instruments were included.
Organization/Author: Sophia Arnold
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2017
Screening
Screening, evaluation and assessment are distinct processes with different purposes under the provisions of Part C and Part B of IDEA. Screening includes activities to identify children who may need further evaluation in order to determine the existence of a delay in development or a particular disability. This site includes a number of evidence-based screening options and tools.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Reports
Publication Date: various
Using Data to Inform Teaching
This archived webinar illustrates how to use assessment data to inform and adjust teaching practices. Supplemental resources include a set of PowerPoints, presenter notes, and learning activities for applying the content to scenarios in early writing, expressive language, persistence, and direction-following.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Using Checklists (3-5)
In this archived webinar, learn simple ways teachers can develop and use checklists to collect data on child progress. Additional resources, including tips, tools, and sample checklists are available at this site for teachers and supervisors to use in documenting progress on specific skills like expressive language.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Ongoing Child Assessment
This site features a variety of resources to support ongoing child assessment, including archived webinars on preparing for assessment, collecting and using information, interpreting information, and strengthening your program. Related resources at the site include tips, tools, and resources for teachers and supervisors.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2022
Additional Resources
