Welcome to the…
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!
Rocking and Rolling. Speak Out: Supporting Families in Advocacy
Rocking and Rolling. Speak Out: Supporting Families in Advocacy
This article addresses ways that educators can empower families to become effective advocates.
Organization/Author: Kristen Johnson and Amanda Perez, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2023
The Power in Our Collective Voices: Building Your Skills as an Early Childhood Advocate
The Power in Our Collective Voices: Building Your Skills as an Early Childhood Advocate
In this article, authors share the voices and perspectives of early childhood educators who have been building their skills as effective advocates.Five practical tips to becoming a champion for children and participating in informed advocacy are also included.
Organization/Author: Eric Bucher, Kamaie Clark, and Kelly Ann Larkin, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2023
Tips to Advocate for Child Care
Tips to Advocate for Child Care
An overview of advocacy tips, such as finding your legislator and sharing your child care story.
Organization/Author: ChildCare Aware
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: Unknown
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement (full document)
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement (full document)
This position statement, one of five foundational documents developed by NAEYC in collaboration with the early childhood profession to advance high-quality early learning for all young children, defines the term, “developmentally appropriate practice.” The definition emerges from a set of evidence-based core considerations and principles of child development and learning, all of which are explained in the principles section of this statement. To support educators’ use of developmentally appropriate practice, this statement also identifies guidelines for decision making in six key areas of responsibility that correspond to the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators: (full document)
advancingequitypositionstatement.pdf
This position statement is one of five foundational documents NAEYC has developed in collaboration with the early childhood profession. With its specific focus on advancing equity in early childhood education, this statement complements and supports the other foundational documents that (1) define developmentally appropriate practice, (2) set professional standards and competencies for early childhood educators, (3) define the profession’s code of ethics, and (4) outline standards for early learning programs.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
Alliance for Early Success Website
Alliance for Early Success Website
The Alliance for Early Success is a national nonprofit that works with early childhood policy advocates at the state level to ensure that every child, birth through eight, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
Organization/Author: Alliance for Early Success
Type of Resource: Website
Publication Date: unknown
DEC Position Statement on Ethical Practice
DEC Position Statement on Ethical Practice
The Position Statement on Ethical Practice for the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is a public statement of principles and practice guidelines supported by the mission of DEC.
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2022
DEC Position Statement: The Role of Special Instruction in Early Intervention
DEC Position Statement: The Role of Special Instruction in Early Intervention
The purpose of this position statement is to clarify the role of the service,
Special Instruction, and its providers (referred to as “early intervention educators” in this paper) within the broader field of IDEA (2004) Part C early intervention (EI).
Organization/Author: Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2024
Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children's Behavior
Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children's Behavior
A reflection on NAEYC’s position statement, Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education.
Organization/Author: Barbara Kaiser, Judy Sklar Rasminksy, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2019/2020
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
These sections of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement provide context for developmentally appropriate practice, three core considerations, and general principles of child development and learning.
Links
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
Additional Resources
