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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
Check out the resource library tutorial here!
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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.
Check out the resource library tutorial for more info.
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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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Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
Quick and Easy Notes: Practical Strategies for Busy Teachers
Quick and Easy Notes: Practical Strategies for Busy Teachers
Teachers’ knowledge of each child helps them to plan appropriately challenging environments and activities that are tailored to the children’s strengths and needs. Assessing children regularly is essential to build that individualized knowledge—and to identify children who may benefit from more specialized supports. This article offers practical tips for you to engage in systematic, observation-based assessment by keeping anecdotal records on each child.
Organization/Author: Celeste C. Bates, Stephanie Madison Schenck, and Hayley J. Hoover, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2019
Using Observation to Guide Your Teaching
Using Observation to Guide Your Teaching
The role of observation is explored in this article, including using observations to adjust teaching strategies, design learning experiences, and to individualize instruction.
Organization/Author: Dawn Petitpas and Teresa K. Buchanan, Teaching Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2022
Rocking and Rolling: Bringing Observation and Documentation to Life in Infant and Toddler Settings
Rocking and Rolling: Bringing Observation and Documentation to Life in Infant and Toddler Settings
This article discusses meaningful assessment in infant and toddler settings. The role of reflection, context, planning, screenings, formal assessments, and sharing assessment information with families are discussed.
Organization/Author: Rebecca Parlakian, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2023
ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Assessment
ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Assessment
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
Family Engagement and Ongoing Child Assessment
Family Engagement and Ongoing Child Assessment
This guide may be used to explore strategies for sharing child assessment information with families and early childhood programs. It can help to find ways for programs to partner with families to support children's learning and to enhance relationships between staff and families.
Organization/Author: ECLKC
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2011
Learning Stories: Observation, Reflection, and Narrative in Early Childhood Education
Learning Stories: Observation, Reflection, and Narrative in Early Childhood Education
This article examines the use of an observational approach in the form of Learning Stories, a narrative-based formative assessment created by New Zealand early childhood education leaders. By encouraging teachers to recognize children as competent explorers and learners at any given moment, Learning Stories provide a way to document children’s strengths and improve instruction based on the interests, talents, and expertise of children and their families (Carr & Lee 2012, 2019).
Organization/Author: Isauro M. Escamilla, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2021
Learning from Assessment (LFA) Toolkit (0-5)
Learning from Assessment (LFA) Toolkit (0-5)
The LFA Toolkit is an online collection of presentations, handouts, guided practice exercises, and resources designed to support program staff in conducting and interpreting child assessments. The materials can be used selectively to design professional development that will meet programs' particular needs.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: 2022
ECTA: Screening Resources
This is a collection of screening resources that relate to federal requirements, state guidance, and general resources about screening.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
Type of Resource: Toolkits
Publication Date: Unknown
Dual Language Learners: Screening and Assessing Young Children
Dual Language Learners: Screening and Assessing Young Children
This 30-minute activity features a video and discussion questions that align with DEC Recommended Practices for Assessment.
Organization/Author: Iris Center
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: Unknown
DEC Recommended Practices Module: Assessment
DEC Recommended Practices Module: Assessment
Completion of this module will enable you to: 1) explain what assessment practices are, and describe how they support children’s short-term and long-term goals; and 2) describe key assessment principles to make optimal data-driven decisions related to intervention practices. The module introduces and illustrates the practices grouped in the assessment topic area in the DEC Recommended Practices. The DEC Recommended Practices were developed to provide guidance about the most effective ways to improve the learning outcomes and promote the development of young children, birth through five years of age, who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Recommended Practices Module
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Strengths-Based Family Relationships: Strategies for moving beyond negativity and judgment Webinar
Strengths-Based Family Relationships: Strategies for moving beyond negativity and judgment Webinar
This webinar recording focuses on strengths based family relationships strategies. A webinar packet is included.
Note: registration is required to view webinar
Organization/Author: Susan MacDonald, Early Childhood Investigations
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2024
Engaging Families of Multilingual Learners: Using Families’ Stories to Link Classroom Content with Children’s Funds of Knowledge
In this article, a teacher and research professor partener to investigate ways to increase family engagement and reflect their funds of knowledge in a preschool classroom. This article touches on uses technology as a family engagement strategy.
Organization/Author: Alexandra Figueras-Daniel and Bernice Vasquez, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2024
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Culturally Responsive Teaching
A short article that introduces Culturally Responsive Teaching and the work of Zaretta Hammond.
Organization/Author: National Equity Project
Type of Resource: Blog
Publication Date: Unknown
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
Related Services: Common Supports for Students with Disabilities
Related Services: Common Supports for Students with Disabilities
This module offers a description of related services and an overview of the benefits they provide to students with disabilities in the general education classroom. It highlights five commonly used related services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, social work services, and psychological services) and briefly highlights many of the other related services as identified through IDEA (est. completion time: 1 hour).
Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
OER Textbook: Child, Family, and Community
OER Textbook: Child, Family, and Community
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 includes 9 chapters about partnering with families, family engagement, culture, etc.
Click here to learn more about the OER Collection from College of the Canyons.
Organization/Author: Rebecca Laff, Cindy Stephens, and Wendy Ruiz, College of the Canyons OER Collection
Type of Resource: Book, Open Educational Resource (OER)
Publication Date: 2020
ECTA Family Capacity-Building Online Module
ECTA Family Capacity-Building Online Module
Family capacity-building is an approach that can be used to promote parents' use of any type of early childhood practice, and includes strategies to engage parents in activities to build their competence and confidence in providing learning opportunities for their child. This online module provides an introduction to this framework.
Organization/Author: ECTA Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Let’s Dig Deep: Partnerships Between Teachers and Parents/Families 4 Part Video Series
Let’s Dig Deep: Partnerships Between Teachers and Parents/Families 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 partnerships between teachers and families.
Organization/Author: Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: 2023
Working with Families Video Collection
Working with Families Video Collection
Families are children’s first and most important teachers. This video collection includes the following videos:
Learning about a child’s family culture
Building Positive Relationships with Families
Involving Families
Supporting Children’s Individual Needs
Family Reading Time
Supporting English Language Learners in the Preschool Classroom
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
Publication Date: Unknown
Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education
Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education
This guide offers practical strategies for creating a space where academic and social-emotional goals are accomplished side by side in an educational setting. It also provides advice for how teachers can implement culturally responsive pedagogy and bring anti-bias values to life. Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education are organized into four sections: Instruction, Classroom Culture, Family and Community Engagement, and Teacher Leadership. In each section, you can explore recommended practices, find helpful explanations and learn how each practice connects to anti-bias education. A companion website offers additional resources.
Organization/Author: Perspectives for a Diverse America and Teaching Tolerance
Type of Resource: Report
Publication Date: 2014
Additional Resources
