Minnesota’s Knowledge and Competency Framework for Early Childhood Professionals is now available. The framework is based on the Board of Teaching standards and combines what an early childhood educator needs to know about research and theory, with the skills and abilities needed to work effectively in the field.

The framework puts into action the idea of “tiered representation of shared and specialized standards” found in the report Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth through Age 8: A Unifying Approach. It has versions for those working with preschool-age children in center and school programs, those working with infants and toddlers, and family child care providers. Each version includes the core skills needed to work with young children, with more specific skills in added for areas of specialization.

The competencies are arranged in eight broad content areas, including: child development and learning; developmentally appropriate learning experiences; and assessment, evaluation and individualization. There are three levels of competency: Explores—Implements—Designs and Leads. Each level includes and builds on the competencies of the level before it.

Find Minnesota’s Knowledge and Competency Framework for Early Childhood Professionals on MDE’s website. (http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/EarlyChildRes/index.html)

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