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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!

Standard 1, Standard 4, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 4, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh

Video Series: Why Inclusion

Video Series: Why Inclusion

A set of three animated videos that describe high quality inclusion:

  • Part 1: Let’s Change Attitudes and Beliefs

  • Part 2: Key Characteristics of High Quality Inclusive Education

  • Part 3: Social Outcomes in Inclusion

Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit

Publication Date: 2021

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Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh

A Guide to Teaching Practices

A Guide to Teaching Practices

Teaching strategies are practices used by adults (e.g., family members, practitioners) or, in some instances, by other children to help facilitate children’s participation in everyday routines, learning experiences, and activities. Using these strategies engages children in activities, maintains their interest, and provides opportunities for them to learn concepts and thinking skills that support STEM learning when using adaptations (see STEMIE’s A Guide to Adaptations resource for more information) is not a sufficient support.

Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit

Publication Date: 2023

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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 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh Standard 4, Resource Type: Modules, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 5, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 4, Standard 5, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Resource Type: Video Kadisha Conteh Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Resource Type: Video Kadisha Conteh

Meaningful Makeover

Meaningful Makeover

Research shows that small changes to a classroom can make a big impact on a child’s learning. Need some ideas to create a more engaging early learning environment? Meaningful Makeover is a web series created and produced by Gail Joseph, PhD, founding director of Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington. This series for educators and early learning providers offers tips, visuals, and inexpensive solutions that transform environments. It promotes learning opportunities, greater accessibility, and engagement. Each episode highlights simple improvements that are easy to make. Watch our educational environment experts as they team up with providers to show the secrets and science behind the most impactful early learning spaces.

Organization/Author: Gail Joseph, Cultivate Learning, University of Washington

Type of Resource: Video and Resources

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 4, Resource Type: Web-based Talk Show Magazine, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh Standard 4, Resource Type: Web-based Talk Show Magazine, Topic: Inclusion, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Early Childhood Special Education Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 4, Resource Type: Web-based Talk Show Magazine, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Relationships and Interactions Kadisha Conteh Standard 4, Resource Type: Web-based Talk Show Magazine, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Relationships and Interactions Kadisha Conteh

Circle Time Magazine: Positive Behavior Support

Circle Time Magazine: Positive Behavior Support

This is the second season of Circle Time Magazine (CTM); a unique professional development series that offers a web-based talk show, magazine, and online resources with each episodes. This season addresses key PBS practices that promote children’s healthy social and emotional development and increase positive behavior. Learn about the fundamental importance of building trusting relationships and designing supportive environments, gain strategies for improving children’s emotional literacy and problem-solving skills, and increase your ability to provide intensive support for children with ongoing or severe behavior.

Organization/Author: Circle Time Magazine, Cultivate Learning, University of Washington

Type of Resource: Web-based Talk Show, Magazine, and Online Resources

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 5, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh Standard 5, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh

Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Supporting Cognition

Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Supporting Cognition

This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on engaging interactions and fostering learning.

Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Various

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Standard 5, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh Standard 5, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Relationships and Interactions, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies Kadisha Conteh

Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Language Modeling and Conversation

Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Language Modeling and Conversation

This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on fostering language.

Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Various

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Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Observation and Documentation, Topic: Multilingual Learners Kadisha Conteh Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Observation and Documentation, Topic: Multilingual Learners Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Assessment Partnerships Kadisha Conteh Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Topic: Assessment Partnerships Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Observation and Documentation Kadisha Conteh Standard 3, Resource Type: Toolkit, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Observation and Documentation Kadisha Conteh

Learning from Assessment (LFA) Toolkit  (0-5)  

Learning from Assessment (LFA) Toolkit  (0-5)  

The LFA Toolkit is an online collection of presentations, handouts, guided practice exercises, and resources designed to support program staff in conducting and interpreting child assessments. The materials can be used selectively to design professional development that will meet programs' particular needs.

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)

Type of Resource: Toolkits

Publication Date: 2022

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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 3, Standard 6, Topic: Early Intervention, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 6, Topic: Early Intervention, Resource Type: Modules Kadisha Conteh

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 5: Families

Early Childhood Recommended Practice Module 5: Families

This free, online module offers content related to supporting children’s learning and development through quality adult-child and child-child interactions. Objectives target what family-centered practices are, how to build the capacity of families, and strategies for building trusting partnerships with families. 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 Module

Type of Resource: Module

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Resource Type: Toolkit Kadisha Conteh

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

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Additional Resources

About the Resource Library &

The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators