Find professional development tools and resources below for training and technical assistance providers, state collaboration directors, consultants, educators, administrators, policy makers, and leaders in the early childhood education field.

Resource Compilations

These compilations provide background information to states and territories. Explore these key resources that can help to build and sustain professional development system frameworks for the early care and education workforce.

• State/Territory Infant/Toddler Credential Overview
• State/Territory Preschool Credential Overview
• Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships: The Why, What, and How
• Helping States, Territories, and Tribes Implement Developmental Screenings in Early Care and Education Settings
• Compilation of State Early Learning Guidelines

Brief Series on the Early Childhood Workforce: Pathways to Progress

In 2015, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) released the report, Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth to 8. It offers recommendations for building a high-quality early childhood workforce with the knowledge, competencies, education, and support to promote children’s development and learning. This series of briefs summarizes the findings in the report. Use them to inform early childhood programs, states, institutes of higher education, and other interested stakeholders to strengthen the support they offer the early childhood workforce.

• Introduction: Pathways to Progress
• The Science of Child Development and Learning
• Workforce Development: Higher Education and Preservice Professional Preparation
• Workforce Knowledge, Competencies, and Educational Practices

Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS)

A QRIS is a systemic approach to assessment, improvement, and communication focused on determining quality in early and school-age care and education programs.

• Supporting Babies Through QRIS: Inclusion of Infant and Toddler Quality Standards
• About QRIS

State Early Childhood Advisory Councils

The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Learning and Care is a governor-appointed leadership body that ensures statewide collaboration among early childhood programs to define future policy for children birth to kindergarten. Find out about how they function within the professional development arena.

• State Advisory Councils (SAC)

State Early Childhood Registries

Take a look at the state registries that track teacher qualifications, degrees, and credential information for early childhood and school-age professionals.

Building Professional Development Systems

Designing a professional development system is a complex and challenging activity. The following resources provide guidance on factors to consider when building a comprehensive system.

• A Framework for Choosing a State-Level Early Childhood Governance System
• Toward the Identification of Features of Effective Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators: Literature Review
• Strengthening Early Childhood and School Age Workforce
• State TA Professionals Knowledge and Competencies
• Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE)

Designing a professional development system is a complex and challenging activity. The following resources provide guidance on factors to consider when building a comprehensive system.

• A Framework for Choosing a State-Level Early Childhood Governance System
• Toward the Identification of Features of Effective Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators: Literature Review
• Strengthening Early Childhood and School Age Workforce
• State TA Professionals Knowledge and Competencies
• Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE)

Glossaries

Explore definitions of approaches to professional development delivery.

• Early Childhood Education Professional Development: Training and Technical Assistance Glossary
• Early Childhood Education Professional Development: Adult Education Glossary 
• Key Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Strategies

Last Updated: June 28, 2024