NAEYC's standards of professional preparation for early childhood programs at colleges and universities across the country represent a comprehensive vision for what early childhood professionals should know and be able to do at various points along the path of professional development. The standards require skills and depth of knowledge commensurate with each level of development, yet across levels they promote common values and themes, such an emphasis on outcomes, professionalism, and balanced attention to knowledge, skills and dispositions.

The complete collection of NAEYC professional preparation standards and other resources can be found in Preparing Early Childhood Professionals: NAEYC's Standards for Programs.

Standards at the Associate Degree Level

The NAEYC associate degree standards are based on recent research in early childhood development and learning. They are performance based and describe what well-prepared graduates of associate degree programs should know and be able to do. These standards are also the core standards for the Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation which opened to public application in April 2006.

Download the Associates Degree Level Standards

Examine an example of an assessment that is aligned with NAEYC standards and its rubric and data table.