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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

  • 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.

  • 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, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Continuous Collaborative Learning, Resource Type: Video Collection Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Continuous Collaborative Learning, Resource Type: Video Collection Kadisha Conteh

Let’s Dig Deep: Culturally Responsive (4 part video series)

Let’s Dig Deep: Culturally Responsive (4 part video series)

This video collection includes four videos (under 5 minutes, each) created by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. All videos explore culturally responsive practices.

Organization/Author: Devereux Center for Resilient Children

Type of Resource: Videos

Publication Date: 2023

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Standard 6 Kadisha Conteh Standard 6 Kadisha Conteh

OER Textbook: Children, Families, Schools, and Communities

OER Textbook: Children, Families, Schools, and Communities

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.

Children, Families, Schools, and Communities is an introductory text in the field of Child and Family Studies. It provides a lens for understanding the evolving definition of “family”. It promotes strategies for culturally sustaining and deeply collaborative relationships. Children, Families, Schools, and Communities is an adapted OER text from Rebecca Laff’s and Wendy Ruiz’s "Child, Family, and Community.”

Organization/Author: Joan Giovannini

Type of Resource: Book, Open Education Resource (OER)

Publication Date: 2023

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Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice Kadisha Conteh

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

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Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Role in Early Learning Environments Webinar

Understanding Implicit Bias and Its Role in Early Learning Environments Webinar

Racial inequities have long been present in our educational system. Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on the role of implicit bias in how programs discipline children, implement classroom practices, and establish teacher-child relationships. This session aims to support early childhood professionals in reducing implicit biases and using culturally responsive practices.

Organization/Author: Jen Neitzel, PhD, Megan Vinh, PhD, Ebonyse Mead, Division for Early Childhood at the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 6, Topic: Advocacy, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Advocacy, Resource Type: Website Kadisha Conteh

Think Babies Website

Think Babies Website

Think Babies is a website created by Zero to Three to advocate for every baby on 5 key policy areas: paid leave, child care, Early Head Start, infant and early childhood mental health, family support, and economic security. The website outlines policy priorities, stories, and ways to take action.

Organization/Author: Think Babies, Zero to Three

Type of Resource: Website

Publication Date: Unknown

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Standard 6, Topic: Advocacy, Resource Type: Website, Topic: Early Childhood Policy Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Advocacy, Resource Type: Website, Topic: Early Childhood Policy Kadisha Conteh

Commission for Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Commission for Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education

The goal of Commission for Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education is to advancing a unified, diverse, equitable, effective and well-compensated ECE profession. This website includes resources and useful information about the Commission.

Organization/Author: Commission for Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Type of Resource: Website

Publication Date: unknown

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Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Resource Type: Video Collection with Reflection Questions Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Resource Type: Video Collection with Reflection Questions Kadisha Conteh

Reflections from the Field Video Series

Reflections from the Field Video Series

Interviews with teachers and providers about their experiences working with young children.

Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University

Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions

Publication Date: unknown

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Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER), Resource Type: Textbook, Standard 2, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Careers in the Field Kadisha Conteh Resource Type: Open Educational Resource (OER), Resource Type: Textbook, Standard 2, Topic: Family Diversity, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Community Partnerships and Resources, Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Careers in the Field Kadisha Conteh

OER Textbook: Introduction to Careers in Child Development

OER Textbook: Introduction to Careers in Child Development

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 is an academic and career exploration in the field of early childhood education and child development.

Organization/Author: Gloria San Jose Daims

Type of Resource: Book Chapter, Open Education Resource (OER)

Publication Date: 2021

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Standard 6, Topic: Early Childhood Policy, Topic: Advocacy, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Ethical and Professional Guidelines, Resource Type: Multimedia Case Studies with Instructor Guides Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Early Childhood Policy, Topic: Advocacy, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Ethical and Professional Guidelines, Resource Type: Multimedia Case Studies with Instructor Guides Kadisha Conteh

Early Childhood Policy Case Studies

Early Childhood Policy Case Studies

Early childhood policy case studies provide concrete examples of policy efforts, success factors, and ongoing implementation challenges in the field of early childhood. Cases can be used to enhance discussion in early childhood policy courses in higher education and to provide lessons for current policymakers in the field of early childhood. The ECP case studies explore topics including policy goals and outcomes, ECE funding, unintended consequences, implementation challenges, organizational dynamics, and tensions. These cases are based on articles and reports and interviews with diverse stakeholders including researchers, policymakers, implementers, and the beneficiaries of the policies.

Organization/Author: Early EdU Alliance

Type of Resource: Multimedia Case Studies with Instructor Guides

Publication Date: 2022

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Standard 6, Resource Type: Article, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Reflective Practices Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Resource Type: Article, Topic: Communication Skills, Topic: Reflective Practices Kadisha Conteh

Becoming Your Best: Building Professional Competencies

Becoming Your Best: Building Professional Competencies

While the primary focus of your job as a teacher is educating and caring for young children, there’s growing momentum for teachers to take charge of their profession. I’ve gathered the following be-your-best ideas for busy teachers regarding competencies, professionalism, and support from my time as a teacher, an advocate, and a trainer (and continuous learner!) working with programs from coast to coast.

Organization/Author: Meghann Hickey, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC 

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: 2021

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Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh Standard 6, Topic: Reflective Practices, Topic: Anti-bias Education, Resource Type: Article Kadisha Conteh

What Kind of Human Do you Want to Be? Teacher Identities in Anti-Bias Education

What Kind of Human Do you Want to Be? Teacher Identities in Anti-Bias Education

This article explores how the social identities of teachers shape their role as teachers, with children and families.

Organization/Author: Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, Child Care Exchange

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: 2021

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Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Position Statement Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 6, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Resource Type: Position Statement Kadisha Conteh

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

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Additional Resources

About the Resource Library &

The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators