Professionalism in Early Childhood Education

Professionalism in ECE

  • Power to the Profession (Website); National collaboration to define the early childhood education profession, birth through age 8, across states and settings, by establishing a framework for career pathways knowledge and competencies, qualifications, standards, accountability supports, and compensation to define the early childhood education profession.
  • TeachNC (Website); Organization that provides various resources for teachers including resources to pay for exams
  • The B. H. Rowland Foundation (Website); Non-profit organization that provides a much-needed state-wide structure for recognizing and rewarding early childhood educators.

Being a Teacher Leader

Ethical behavior

Policy/Advocacy

Professional Learning Communities

Professional Organizations

  • Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) A national resource center that disseminates research and evidence-based practices on promoting social emotional development and school readiness. CSEFEL’s website includes training materials, videos, and print resources for early care, health and education providers.
  • Center on the Developing Child Generates, translates, and applies knowledge in the service of improving life outcomes for children in the United States and throughout the world
  • Child Care Aware of America Child Care Aware works with more than 400 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to advance a child care system that effectively serves all children and families. The organization leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, undertakes research, and advocates child care policies to improve the lives of children and families.
  • Council for Professional Recognition Promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children aged birth to 5 years old. Administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program.
  • Division of Early Childhood An international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. DEC is especially for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families.
  • Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center Funded by the federal Administration for Children and Families, the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) provides information and resources about school readiness, policy and regulation, and training and technical assistance.
  • Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute One of the nation’s oldest and largest multidisciplinary centers devoted to the study of children and their families, FPG provides research and evaluation, professional development, technical assistance, and outreach to advance understanding of child development and evidence-based early care and education.
  • HighScope Information about child assessment and curriculum, as well as professional development and training and links to related research.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) A national membership organization working to improve early childhood education through its scholarly journals, conferences, and advocacy. NAEYC supports a system of national accreditation for early care and education programs and is a leader in promoting developmentally appropriate practice (DAP).
  • National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care. NAFCC sponsors the only nationally recognized accreditation system designed specifically for family child care providers.
  • National Early Childhood Program Accreditation The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation was established in 1991 to encourage quality and recognize excellence in early childhood programs throughout the United States and other countries. It offers a National Administrator Credential and a Certified Child Care Professional credential.
  • National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center Supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). NECTAC serves to improve service systems and outcomes for children and families.
  • National Institute for Early Education Research Conducts and communicates research to support high-quality, effective, early childhood education for all young children.
  • National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education Offers information, research, outreach and networking opportunities related to children and child care.
  • Office of Child Care, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The Office of Child Care supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children’s learning by improving the quality of early care and education programs.
  • Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) The Program for Infant/Toddler Care seeks to ensure that America’s infants get a safe, healthy, emotionally secure, and intellectually rich start in life.
  • Teaching Strategies for Early Childhood Information about Teaching Strategies Gold for child assessment, as well as curriculum planning.
  • Zero to Three Provides professionals working with very young children and their families an extensive collection of resources aimed at supporting their work with infants and toddlers.