California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

1 California Early Childhood Educator CompetenciesDeveloped collaboratively by the California Department of Education and First 5 CaliforniaSacramento, 2011 This page left blank Early Childhood Educator CompetenciesDeveloped collaboratively by the California Department of Education and First 5 CaliforniaPublishing InformationCalifornia Early Childhood Educator Competencies was developed collaboratively by the California Department of Education/Child Development Division (CDE/CDD) and First 5 California . The publication was edited by John McLean, working in cooperation with Laura Bridges, Consultant, Child Development Division.

2 It was prepared for publication by the staff of CDE Press, with the cover and interior design created by Cheryl McDonald. The document was published by the California Department of Education, 1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901. It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act and Government Code Section 11096. 2011 by the California Department of Education All rights reservedISBN: 978-0-8011-1719-0 NoticeThe guidance in California Early Childhood Educator Competencies is not binding on local educational agencies or other entities.

3 Except for statutes, regulations, and court decisions referenced herein, the document is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory. (See Education Code Section )CDE Publications and Educational ResourcesFor information about publications and educational resources available from the CDE, visit or call the CDE Press sales office at Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction ivAcknowledgments vIntroduction 1 Focus 1: Competency Areas 13 Child Development and Learning 14 Culture, Diversity, and Equity 21 Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance 29 Family and Community Engagement 37 Dual-Language Development 45 Observation, Screening, Assessment, and Documentation 51 Special Needs and Inclusion 59 Learning Environments and Curriculum 67 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 78 Leadership in Early Childhood Education 90 Professionalism 98 Administration and Supervision 105 Focus 2.

4 Competency Contexts Supporting Early Learning and Development 116 Planning and Guiding Early Learning and Development 141 Creating and Maintaining Program Policies and Practices 167 Advancing the Early Childhood Profession 193 Glossary 219 References 222ivA Message from the State Superintendent of Public InstructionI am pleased to present California Early Childhood Educator Competencies , a publication that supports our ongoing effortto close the school-readiness gap in our state. Developed by the California Department of Education/Child Development Division and First 5 California , this document is one of the resources in the Department of Education s comprehensive Early learning and development system.

5 It describes the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that current and pre-service Early Childhood educators should have, and it presents information about education and professional development for individuals who are interested in Early care and education or who already work in the profession. Developing responsive relationships with young children and their families is the core work of everyone who is responsible for Early care and education. This publication was created for teachers, family child care providers, assistant teachers, program directors, education coordinators, curriculum specialists, higher-education faculty, training organizations and consultants, and human resources departments of large agencies that provide Early care and education services.

6 It aims to promote the development of skillful, knowledgeable educators and administrators who are committed to making high-quality Early care and education services available to all young children and their am confident that this publication will be an invaluable resource for everyone involved in the important work of preparing our children for the future. TOM TORLAKSONS tate Superintendent of Public InstructionvAcknowledgmentsMany people were involved in the development of California s Early Childhood Educator Competencies including project leaders, an advisory board, project staff and advisers from the WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, staff from the Cali-fornia Department of Education and First 5 California , Early child-hood education stakeholder organizations.

7 And members of the public who provided input through focus groups and by posting comments on a designated Web site. Each person listed below, as well as the representatives of the many organizations appearing in these acknowledgments, deserves credit for making important contributions to this publication.* We gratefully acknowledge their LeadersPeter Mangione, WestEdYolanda Garcia, WestEdAdvisory BoardRhonda Brown, California Commission on Teacher CredentialingNancy Brown, Curriculum Alignment Project, Cabrillo CollegeJoya Chavarin, BANANAS, WestEdDeborah Chen, California State University, NorthridgeDarlene Jackson, Sierra CollegeMarianne Jones, California State University, FresnoClaire Knox, California State University, HumboldtFlorence Nelson, ZERO TO THREEJ ames Rodriguez, California State University.

8 FullertonMarcy Whitebook, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California , Berkeley*Note: The names, titles, and affiliations of the individuals and organizations listed in these acknowledgments were current at the time this publication was Center for Child and Family StudiesMaia ConnorsIlene HertzPatricia JordanCaroline Pietrangelo OwensCathy TsaoAnn-Marie WieseWestEd Center for Prevention and Early InterventionVirginia ReynoldsFirst 5 CaliforniaCynthia HeardenKimberly McDanielSarah Neville-MorganCamille SmithCalifornia Department of EducationCamille Maben, Director.

9 Child Development DivisionCecelia Fisher-Dahms, Administrator, Quality Improvement Office, Child Development DivisionDesiree Soto, Administrator, Northern Field Services Office, Child Development DivisionLaura Bridges, Consultant, Child Development DivisionTom Cole, Consultant, Child Development DivisionLuis Rios, Consultant, Child Development DivisionMeredith Cathcart, Consultant, Special Education DivisionEarly Childhood Education Stakeholder Organizations Action Alliance for ChildrenAlliance for a Better CommunityAsian and Pacific Islanders California Action Network (APIsCAN)Association of California School AdministratorsviBaccalaureate Pathways in Early Care and Education (BPECE) California Alliance of African-American EducatorsCalifornia Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) California Association for Family Child Care (CAFCC) California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC)

10 California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) California Child Care Coordinators Association (CCCCA) California Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCCRRN) California Child Development Administrators Association (CCDAA) California Child Development CorpsCalifornia Commission on Teacher CredentialingCalifornia Community College Early Childhood educators (CCCECE) California Community Colleges Chancellor s Office (CCCCO) California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA), Curriculum and Instruction Steering CommitteeCalifornia Early Reading First NetworkCalifornia Federation of TeachersCalifornia Food Policy AdvocatesCalifornia Head Start Association (CHSA) California Kindergarten AssociationCalifornia Professors of Early Childhood Special Education (CAPECSE)