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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 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
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
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
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
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
Bilingualism and Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education
Bilingualism and Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education
In this vlog, Greg Cheatham (University of Kansas) discusses bilingualism and assessment and offers tips on working with families who have home languages other than English.
Organization/Author: Military Families Learning Network Family Development Early Intervention Team
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2017
What Does It Mean to Use Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction in Early Childhood?
What Does It Mean to Use Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction in Early Childhood?
This brief presents a conceptual framework for curriculum-embedded approaches to ongoing child assessment. The conceptual framework shows how teachers can use ongoing assessment for individualization.
Organization/Author: Lauren Akers, Sally Atkins-Burnett, and Shannon Monahan, Prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2015
Tailored Teaching: The Need for Stronger Evidence About Early Childhood Teachers' Use of Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction
Tailored Teaching: The Need for Stronger Evidence About Early Childhood Teachers' Use of Ongoing Assessment to Individualize Instruction
This brief reviews the literature on ongoing assessment in early childhood settings for researchers and practitioners.
Organization/Author: Lauren Akers, Patricia Del Grosso, and Sally Atkins, Burnett, Prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2015
Perspectives on Assessment of DLLs Development & Learning, Prek-Third Grade
Perspectives on Assessment of DLLs Development & Learning, Prek-Third Grade
The chronic academic underachievement of the DLL population across the nation, and their lower school readiness scores in mathematics and literacy at kindergarten entry clearly reveal the need for more effective assessment approaches that are linked to improved instruction for young DLLs. Linda Espinosa’s 2016 paper is organized around the following questions: 1) What are the important linguistic, cultural, and background factors to consider in the assessment of young DLLs? 2) What are the most appropriate methods for assessing young DLLs for certain purposes (e.g., instructional improvement and developmental screening)? 3) What technical considerations are required for testing DLLs? 4) What do teachers need to know about the valid assessment of young DLLs?
Organization/Author: Linda M Espinosa, Ph.D.
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2016
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
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