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
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
*
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!
Simple and Lasting Mindful Emotional Management Habits for Early Childhood Educators)
Simple and Lasting Mindful Emotional Management Habits for Early Childhood Educators
This is a short blog post that includes four strategies to support mindfulness practices.
Organization/Author: Brittany Crumley and Sadra Linder, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Blog
Publication Date: 2023
Mindfulness: A Resilience Practice
Mindfulness: A Resilience Practice
This is a training on mindfulness. It includes a recorded webinar, slide deck, and suggested activities/handouts.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
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
Power to the Profession Website
Power to the Profession Website
This is a website which features the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession and various resources.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Website
Publication Date: unknown
Build Your Advocacy Skills
NAEYC has a section on their website dedicated to building advocacy skills. Various resources are linked.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Website
Publication Date: unknown
Build Your Public Policy Knowledge
Build Your Public Policy Knowledge
NAEYC has a section on their website dedicated to public policy. Various resources are linked.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Website
Publication Date: unknown
Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession: Executive Summary
Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession: Executive Summary
This is an executive summary of the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession.
Organization/Author: Power to the Profession Taskforce
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2020
ECE Advocacy 101: You’re Either at the Table or on the Menu
ECE Advocacy 101: You’re Either at the Table or on the Menu
There are so many challenges that hinder ECE professionals from successfully advocating for continued support, that many are inclined to simply not participate. However, as one of our guests says, “you’re either at the table or on the menu.” Fortunately, there are new ways to advocate and simple steps that any ECE professional can take to ensure support for the field. These are outlined in this podcast.
Organization/Author: Rae Pica with Suzanne Gellens, Aaron Carrara, Kristen Kerr, Sandra Giarde, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Podcast
Publication Date: unknown
How YOU Can Advocate for Early Learning
How YOU Can Advocate for Early Learning
This short video outlines ways to advocate for early learning.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2017
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
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
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
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
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
OER Textbook: The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education
OER Textbook: The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education
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 covers a broad range of topics related to equity, diversity, and justice in the field of early childhood education.
Click here to learn more about the OER Collection from College of the Canyons.
Organization/Author: Krischa Esquivel, Emily Elam, Jennifer Paris, and Maricela Tafoya, College of the Canyons OER Collection
Type of Resource: Book, Open Educational Resource (OER)
Publication Date: 2020
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
