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

Using Checklists (3-5) 

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

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

Ongoing Child Assessment

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

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

Ongoing Child Assessment: Overview

Ongoing Child Assessment: Overview

Check out this 15-minute In-service Suite about ongoing child assessment. Trainers can review the presentation notes and slides to guide participants in the learning activities around gathering child assessment information and using data to support children, especially those with disabilities, and their families.

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

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 2, Topic: Partnership-building with Families, Topic: Family Diversity, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

Gathering and Embedding Families' Funds of Knowledge

Gathering and Embedding Families' Funds of Knowledge

Honor and support families in their role as their child's first teacher using the strategies introduced in this training. A video and presentation slides are included.

Organization/Author:  Head Start Center on Inclusion

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Unknown

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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 1, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Brain Development, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Brain Development, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

Child Development: Brain Building

Links: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/school-readiness/article/child-development-brain-building

In this module, learn about children's brain building and development. Explore the following topics: Brain Building Basics, the Brain and Learning, and Stress and the Brain. Discover the process of typical brain development, the impact of the child’s environment, and how educators can support healthy development. This module was developed for a variety of audiences, including education staff who work in preschool, infant/toddler, home-based, and family child care programs. At the end of the module, users will be able to describe the areas of brain development and the strategies for its effective support.

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

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: 2020

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Standard 1, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 4, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Teaching Skills and Strategies, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

Highly Individualized Teaching and Learning

Highly Individualized Teaching and Learning 

This training series focuses on individualizing, including curriculum modifications and embedded learning. 

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

Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: 2020

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Standard 1, Standard 3, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Early Intervention, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh Standard 1, Standard 3, Resource Type: Training, Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Topic: Assessment Methods and Tools, Topic: Early Intervention, Topic: Children with Disabilities/Delays Kadisha Conteh

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns

This FREE, online training course, Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns, helps you fulfill this role by providing tools and best practices for monitoring the development of children in your care and talking about it with their parents.

This 1-hour, 4-module course focuses on:

  • Why monitoring children’s development is important

  • Why you have a unique and important role in developmental monitoring

  • How to easily monitor each child’s developmental milestones

  • How to talk with parents about their child’s development

Organization/Author:  CDC

Type of Resource: Training 

Publication Date: 2024

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Standard 5, Topic: Content Knowledge: Language and Literacy, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh Standard 5, Topic: Content Knowledge: Language and Literacy, Resource Type: Training Kadisha Conteh

NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement-Focus: Reciprocal Partnerships with Families & Community Connections

It all begins with an idea.

NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement

Engaging in Reciprocal Partnerships with Families and Fostering Community Connections

This section of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement outlines seven recommended practices for developing meaningful partnerships with families and communities. 

Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 

Type of Resource: Position Statement

Publication Date: 2020

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Additional Resources

About the Resource Library &

The Professional Standards & Competencies for Early Childhood Educators