Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies


California Early Childhood Educator Competencies (PDF; 2MB)

California Early Child Educator Competencies Supplemental Add-On (PDF; 1.5 MB)

The California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) 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 California ECE Competencies are organized into twelve overlapping areas: (1) Child Development and Learning; (2) Culture, Diversity and Equity; (3) Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance; (4) Family and Community Engagement; (5) Dual-Language Development; (6) Observation, Screening, Assessment, and Documentation; (7) Special Needs and Inclusion; (8) Learning Environments and Curriculum; (9) Health, Safety, and Nutrition; (10) Leadership in Early Childhood Education; (11) Professionalism; and (12) Administration and Supervision. The term early childhood educator includes everyone responsible for the care and education of young children.

The California ECE Competencies are research-based, and 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.

This revised version of the California ECE Competencies now includes a second section (Focus 2) that displays the same information found in Focus 1 in an alternate grid format. The Focus 1 section gives us a grid-format chapter for each of the 12 competency areas (12 chapters). The Focus 2 section provides an alternate grid chapter for each of the 4 competency contexts (4 chapters).

Development of the California ECE Competencies began in June 2008 in collaboration with First 5 California, and has involved expert advisors including representatives from the California Community Colleges and California State University systems to ensure that the competencies are based on current research and practice.

ECE Competencies Videos

An Introduction to Early Childhood Educator Competencies External link opens in new window or tab. (video; 6:42)
Introducción a las competencias de los educadores de la infancia temprana de California External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 6:43)

Child Development and Learning External link opens in new window or tab. (Video: 16:32)
This video addresses “Knowledge About Child Development and Learning” and “Facilitating Child Development and Learning.”
El desarrollo y el aprendizaje infantil External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 16:33)

Culture, Diversity, and Equity External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 16:49)
This video addresses “Respect for All Differences and Similarities,” “Culturally Responsive Approaches,” “Culture and Language Development and Learning,” and “Culturally Inclusive Learning Environments.”
La cultura, la diversidad y la equidad External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 16:50)

Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:44)
This video addresses “Supporting Children’s Emotional Development,” “Social-Emotional Climate,” and “Socialization and Guidance.”
Las relaciones, las interacciones y la guía del comportamiento External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:45)

Family and Community Engagement External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:11)
This video addresses “Communication with Families,” “Relationships with Children and Families,” and “Community Resources.”
La participación de las familias y de la comunidad External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:14)

Dual-Language Development External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 20:52)
This video addresses “Dual-Language Program Models and Strategies,” “Development of the Home Language and of English,” “Observation and Assessment of Young Dual-Language Learners,” and “Relationships with Families of Dual-Language Learners.”
El desarrollo de dos idiomas External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 20:53)

Observation, Screening, Assessment, and Documentation External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:25)
This video addresses “Observation,” “Screening and Referral,” “Assessment,” “Documentation,” and “Interpretation, Planning, and Implementation.”
Las observaciones, las evaluaciones y la documentación External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:26)

Special Needs and Inclusion External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 12:39)
This video addresses “Philosophy, Policies, and Practices,” “Developmentally and Individually Appropriate Practice,” “Collaboration with Families and Service Providers,” and “Environmental Access and Adaptive Equipment.”
La inclusión y las necesidades especiales External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 12:40)

Learning Environments and Curriculum External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 21:26)
This video addresses “Curriculum and Curriculum Planning,” “Environments, Schedules, and Routines,” and “Strategies to Support Learning and Development.”
Los ambientes de aprendizaje y el currículo External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 21:27)

Health, Safety, and Nutrition External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 17:32)
This video addresses “Environmental Health and Safety,” “Emergency Preparedness,” “Nutrition,” “Response to Health Requirements,” “Child and Family Health,” and “Physical Activity.”
La salud, la seguridad y la nutrición External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 17:33)

Leadership in Early Childhood Education External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 22:00)
This video addresses “Systems and Change Development,” “Adult and Community Development,” and “Advocacy and Policy Formation.”
El liderazgo en la educación de la infancia temprana External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 22:01)

Professionalism External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:42)
This video addresses “Professional Development,” Professional Conduct and Behaviors,” “Competence in a Specialized Body of Knowledge,” and “Pedagogy.”
El profesionalism0 External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 19:43)

Administration and Supervision External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 15:02)
This video addresses “Program Planning, Development, and Operations,” “Human Resources,” and “Organizational Systems, Policies, and Procedures.”
La administración y la supervisión External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 15:03

Adult Learning External link opens in new window or tab. (Video: 14.14)
This video addresses "Adult Learning."

Coaching External link opens in new window or tab. (Video: 9:23)
This video addresses "Coaching."

Return to Top

Questions:   Early Education Division | ELCDPublications@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6233
Last Reviewed: Thursday, August 01, 2024
Recently Posted in Early Education
  • CAPSDAC Update #3 (added 16-Oct-2024)
    This web page includes information related to updates in the CAPSDAC Monthly Data Submission.
  • Early Education Careers Webinar (added 11-Oct-2024)
    Early Education Careers Webinar December 2023.
  • CDMIS Update #36 (added 04-Oct-2024)
    Child Development Management Information System (CDMIS) Update Regarding New Date for Separation of CDMIS
  • CAPSDAC Update #2 (added 27-Sep-2024)
    This web page includes information related to updates in the CAPSDAC Monthly Data Submission.
  • CLASS Frequently Asked Questions for CSPP (added 25-Sep-2024)
    This page includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about classroom assessment requirements in the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and implementation of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and CLASS Environment®.

  • Dual Language Learner (DLL) Support (updated 12-Sep-2024)
    Technical support, guidance, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and resources for the identification, reporting, and support of dual language learners in the California State Preschool Program (CSPP).
  • Pilot Legislative Report (added 12-Sep-2024)
    Executive Summary of the legislative report mandated by Assembly Bill 1294 (Statutes of 2021).
  • Overview (added 09-Sep-2024)
    This page shows an overview of the California Preschool Data Collection System (CAPSDAC) manual.
  • Account Management Instructions (added 09-Sep-2024)
    Guidelines on adding, editing, and deactivating user accounts, ensuring secure and accurate management of personnel authorized to submit and certify data.
  • Uploading Classroom Records (added 09-Sep-2024)
    This chapter provides definitions, step-by-step instructions, and templates for managing classroom records, including manual data entry, electronic file uploads, and editing records.