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Early Education Division Resources

Early Education Resources

  • The Alignment of the California Preschool Learning Foundations with Key Early Education Resources, Second Edition
  • Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color: Disrupting Disproportionate Outcomes
  • Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children
  • Early Childhood Education (ECE) Competencies
  • California Early Learning Career Lattice
  • Guidelines for Early Learning in Child Care Home Settings

Infant/Toddler Resources

  • Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations
  • Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework
  • Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines

Parent Resources

  • Care About Quality: Your Guide to Child Care

Preschool Resources

  • Preschool Learning Foundations
  • Preschool Curriculum Frameworks
  • Preschool Program Guidelines
  • Preschool English Learners

Other Publications

  • California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan
  • First Class – A Guide for Early Primary Education
  • Inclusion Works! Second Edition
  • Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness

Early Education Resources

  • Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children

    • Family Partnerships and Culture (PDF)
      This publication promotes understanding of children’s cultural or multicultural experiences at home, and helps teachers use those experiences as building blocks for teaching and learning in early education settings.
    • The Integrated Nature of Learning (PDF)
      This publication examines how play, learning, and curriculum work together in early education, and describes the relationship context for early learning and the role of the teacher in supporting children’s active engagement in learning.
    • Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness (PDF; 22MB)
      Essential factual information and resources about the extent of early childhood homelessness, in addition to concrete research-based strategies teachers can implement that benefit all of the children in their care, and are essential for young children and their families impacted by homelessness.
    • The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education (PDF)
      This publication discusses the critical role of play for children, particularly in early childhood. Play is an important context in which children learn, experiment with new ideas, and make sense of the world around them.
  • California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies

    • California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies
      The California Early Childhood Educator Competencies describe the knowledge, skills and dispositions that early childhood educators need in order to provide high quality care and education to young children and their families. The ECE Competencies are aligned with the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations to guide professional development and related quality improvement activities.
    • The Early Childhood Educator Competencies Self-Assessment Toolkit (ECE CompSAT) [Link no longer available] is an additional professional development resource for the early childhood education field to use for self-reflection about their knowledge, skills, and dispositions and to assist with the development of professional growth plans by identifying the competencies needed for effective, high-quality early education practice.

  • Guidelines for Early Learning in Child Care Home Settings (PDF)
    Recognizing the importance of home-based child care settings in today's society, this adaptation of the Prekindergarten Learning and Development Guidelines provides guidance to help home-based child care providers offer high-quality early care and learning experiences to the children and families they serve. The book covers topics such as the roles and relationships involved in home-based child care; how to create safe, inclusive environments that foster early learning and development; ideas for implementing appropriate curriculum; professional development for home-based providers; and things to consider when infants and toddlers receive care in mixed-age group settings.

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Infant/Toddler Resources

  • California Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations
    The California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations are at the center of California's infant/toddler learning and development system. The foundations describe how children develop and what they learn, and are designed to illuminate the competencies that infants and toddlers need for later success.
    • The Spanish translation of this document, Fundamentos del aprendizaje y el desarrollo infantil de California (ISBN 978-0-8011-1709-1) (PDF), was published in 2010.
    • A companion set of DVDs for the California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations depicts children's behavior for each of the 28 foundations at each of the three ages described in the foundations. There is an introductory overview of the foundations, a segment on "The Early Months," and extended segments provided with and without narration. The set is designed to support training on the foundations. This DVD set can be ordered from California Department of Education (CDE) Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099. The price of the set of DVDs is $32.95.

  • California Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework
    The California Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework (ISBN 978-0-8011-1723-7) supports early childhood educators working in programs serving children birth to three years of age in implementing high-quality curriculum practices that lead to acquisition of the knowledge and skills described in the Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations. The publication can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099. The price of the publication is $20.85.
  • The Spanish translation of this document, Marco Conceptual del Curriculo Infantil de California (PDF, 4 MB), can also be ordered by contacting CDE Press at 1-800-995-4099.

  • Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines, Second Edition (PDF; 21MB)
    This publication presents information about how to provide high-quality early and care, including recommendations for program policies and day-to-day practices that will improve program services to all infants and toddlers. The Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines, Second Edition (ISBN 978-0-8011-1798-5) can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099. The price of the publication is $29.95.
  • The Spanish translation of the second edition, Guía para los programas de aprendizaje y desarrollo infantil, 2a Edición (PDF; 14MB), is available for download.
    • Hipervínculos para Guía para los programas de aprendizaje y desarrollo infantil, 2a Edición

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Parent Resources

  • Care About Quality: Your Guide to Child Care
    This resource guide was published by the California Department of Education in 2000 to provide parents and family seeking child care with key indicators of quality child care settings, information on the types of child care available, and tips for interviewing potential child care providers.

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Preschool Resources

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Other Early Education Division Publications

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Questions:   Early Education Division | 916-322-6233
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Recently Posted in Early Education
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  • Dual Language Learner (DLL) Support (updated 12-Sep-2024)
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