Effective early childhood educators are critical for realizing the early childhood profession’s vision that each and every young child, birth through age 8, have equitable access to high-quality learning and care environments. As such, there is a core body of knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions early childhood educators must demonstrate to effectively promote the development, learning, and well-being of all young children.

Download the Statement in English (PDF)  Descargue la declaración en español​ (PDF) 

Download the Executive Summary (PDF) 

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New NAEYC Resource! The Professional Standards and Competencies Online Resource Library is a searchable database that curates a variety of free, accessible, quality resources (e.g., articles, videos, blog posts, books, book chapters, modules) that are related to and align with the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.  It is designed to support all higher education faculty teaching early childhood education related coursework and those in the field providing training, mentoring and other professional development and technical assistance to early childhood educators serving our profession.

Access the Online Resource Library 

Through the Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), with participation from NAEYC representatives, a cross walk of the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators and the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators is available.

Download the List of Standards (PDF) 

Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators: A Position Statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Copyright © 2020 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. All rights reserved.