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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!
CONNECT Module 2: Transition
These modules are designed for faculty and professional development providers to use in their professional development. Instructor Guides, in the form of dashboards, are included. Students learn about practices to help support children and families as they transition among programs in the early care and education system.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge and DEC
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
The Family Partnership Process: Engaging and Goal Setting with Families
The Family Partnership Process: Engaging and Goal Setting with Families
The guide provides examples of ways to gather information about families' strengths, hopes for their children, and challenges. It also lays out specific strategies to engage families in conversations about goal setting.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Best Practices in Family & Community Engagement Video Series- Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
The Best Practices in Family and Community Engagement Video Series is designed to support each program's efforts toward systemic and integrated engagement. Rooted in the Office of Head Start (OHS) Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework, the videos highlight examples of innovative approaches to engagement that foster strong relationships with families and lead to positive outcomes for children and families.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video Series
Publication Date: Last Updated 2023
Using Text Messaging to Strengthen Family-School Relationships
Using Text Messaging to Strengthen Family-School Relationships
An 8 minute video that explores the pros and cons of using a text messaging system for family communication.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: Unknown
Preschool Home Visits: Making the Time to Build Relationships Photographer of the Day: Engaging Children with their Families
Preschool Home Visits: Making the Time to Build Relationships Photographer of the Day: Engaging Children with their Families
This 5 minute video explores home visiting practices for the preschool classroom.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: Unknown
Connect Module 4: Family-Professional Partnerships
Connect Module 4: Family-Professional Partnerships
This module presents effective practices for developing family-professional partnerships in a process of developing rapport, forming shared decisions, and partnering with the family to address challenges. Information on research findings and related policies are provided as well as examples of embedded interventions, activities, handouts, video, and audio clips.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Embedding Families’ Funds of Knowledge, Daily Routines, and Activities into their Children’s Early Learning Opportunities Across Home and Preschool Contexts
Learn how to honor and support families in their role as their child's first teacher using the strategies introduced in this training, which includes a 7 minute video and corresponding slide deck.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Video and Presentation
Publication Date: Unknown
Funds of Knowledge Video and Companion Handout: Exploring Cultural Concepts-Funds of Knowledge
Funds of Knowledge Video and Companion Handout: Exploring Cultural Concepts-Funds of Knowledge
Watch as Luis Moll describes the concept of Funds of Knowledge. Funds of Knowledge are the essential cultural practices and bodies of knowledge that are embedded in the daily practices and routines of families. Learn how to gather and use the funds of knowledge for children and families in the classroom. A companion handout, Exploring Cultural Concepts: Funds of Knowledge, summarizes Moll’s research and provides a template for learning about the funds of knowledge of each family.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Video and Handout
Publication Date: Unknown
Funds of Knowledge Toolkit
Funds of Knowledge are the essential cultural practices and bodies of knowledge that are embedded in the daily practices and routines of families. This toolkit gives a historical overview of the concept of “funds of knowledge,” a definition of this concept, and ideas for how educators can learn about and use funds of knowledge in their practice.
Organization/Author: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: Unknown
Engaging Families and Creating Trusting Partnerships to Improve Child and Family Outcomes Webinar Series
The ECTA Center partnered with the DaSy Center, Ann and Rud Turnbull, and invited guests to facilitate an interactive four-part web broadcast series aimed at supporting early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) systems leaders with building capacity in personnel and families to develop trusting partnerships. These partnerships in a child’s early years lay the foundation for achieving the long-term intended outcomes for children/students with developmental delays and disabilities articulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The series features discussions of the role that data play in strengthening family-professional partnerships. Suggestions and resources for designing personnel and family development activities to support partnerships are also shared.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Videos with Handouts and Discussion Questions
Publication Date: 2017
Building Partnership Series: Partnering with Families of Children who are Dual Language Learners
Building Partnership Series: Partnering with Families of Children who are Dual Language Learners
Explore this resource for scenarios and information to help you partner with families of children who are dual language learners.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Building Partnership Series: Strategies for Family Engagement-Attitudes and Practices
Building Partnership Series: Strategies for Family Engagement-Attitudes and Practices
This toolkit can be used as part of training and reflective practice and supervision. It includes: description of family engagement, benefits of relationships with families, strengths-based attitudes and relationship-based practices, practical examples, and additional resources and related references.
Organization/Author: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: Unknown
Five Rs for Promoting Positive Family Engagement
Five Rs for Promoting Positive Family Engagement
In this short article, the author offers 5 Rs to guide early childhood educators in building positive relationships with families.
Organization/Author: Bweikia Foster Steen, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2022
ETCA Practice Improvement Tools: Family Practices
ETCA Practice Improvement Tools: Family Practices
This is a set of tools that includes family checklists, family practice guides for practitioners, and family practice guides for families. They are aligned with DEC Recommended Practices.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: 2018
Practitioner Family-Centered Practices for Working With Families
Practitioner Family-Centered Practices for Working With Families
Several brief vignettes with Early Interventionists, families, children interacting in the home setting as examples of family-centered practices.
Organization/Author: Puckett Institute
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: 2017
Building Relationships with Families: Planning to Serve the Diego Family
Building Relationships with Families: Planning to Serve the Diego Family
The Diego family story allows participants to consider the family's cultural values and beliefs, experiences, and successes; and to think about how this relates to their work with young children with disabilities and their families in their communities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video and Facilitators Guide
Publication Date: 2007
Listening to Family Voices in Early Childhood Programs
Listening to Family Voices in Early Childhood Programs
In this 19 minute podcast, Dr. Christine Spence discusses the importance of listening to family’s voices in early childhood programs.
Organization/Author: Illinois Early Learning Project
Type of Resource: Podcast with Transcript
Publication Date: 2019
Culture and Parenting Handout
It all begins with an idea.
This 10 page handout discusses parenting domains and the influence on culture.
Organization/Author: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: unknown
CONNECT Module 3: Communication for Collaboration
CONNECT Module 3: Communication for Collaboration
These modules are designed for faculty and professional development providers to use in their professional development. Instructor Guides, in the form of dashboards, are included. Learn about effective communication practices that can be used to promote collaboration with professionals and families in early care and education, and intervention settings.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge and DEC
Type of Resource: Module
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
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