Educational and Fun Project-Based Learning 2026

Workforce Knowledge and Competencies

• 1. Child Growth and Development (CGD) 
• 2. Learning Environment and Curriculum (LEC)

Standards for Quality Afterschool Programs

• 2. Ongoing Training and Staff Development
• 4. Positive Youth Development

Department of Human Services Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education Child Care Licensing Unit

• 14. Nutrition and physical activities

Competencies for Early Childhood Educators and Administrators

• 1. Child growth and development, and learning or courses that align with the competency domains of child growth and development
• 6. Professional development and leadership
• 7. Program planning and development
• 8. Teaching practices

OST Quality Guidelines

• 3. Human Relationships
• 6. Youth Development and Engagement

Early Childhood Education and Care Department

• 1. Child growth, development, and learning
• 4. Developmentally appropriate content
• 5. Learning environment and curriculum implementation

Out-of-School Time (NMOST) Guiding Principles

• 1. Environmental Safety
• 2. Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity
• 6. Programming
• 8. Staffing and Professional Development

Standards of Early Learning and Development

• 1. Childhood Development

Afterschool Quality Standards

• 2. Staff and Youth Relationships
• 3. Youth Participation, Learning, and Engagement
• 5. Programming and Alignment with Regular School Day Learning
• 6. Administration and Organizational Development
• 7. Staffing and Professional Development

Director Annual Training

• 1. Curriculum
• 3. Special Needs
• 4. Child Guidance

Afterschool Alliance Best Practices

• 1. Prepared Staff
• 2. Intentional Programming
• 3. Alignment with School Day
• 4. Promotion of Varied Youth Engagement

All Staff Annual Training

• 2. Social and Emotional Development

Early Learning Staff Professional Development Areas

• All Staff Annual Training
• Director Annual Training

Department of Early Learning and Care: Training

• 1. Diversity
• 5. Learning Environments and Curriculum
• 7. Personal, Professional & Leadership Development

Early Learning and Development Standards

• 1. Early Childhood Education and Child Development

After School Network

• 3. Environment
• 4. Activities and Programming
• 6. Staffing/Professional Development
• 7. Administration/Organization

Afterschool Program Quality Institute

• 1. Environment
• 3. Programming
• 4. Youth Participation and Engagement

Early Childhood - Continuing Education

• 6. Learning Activities

Afterschool Network Quality Standards

• 1. Environment
• 4. Programming

Early Childhood Professional Learning Categories

• 1. Learning Communities
• 3. Resources
• 5. Learning Designs
• 6. Implementation

Network for Youth Success Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) Tool

• 1. Environment & Climate
• 4. Staffing & Professional Development
• 5. Programming & Activities
• 7. Youth Participation & Engagement to Care

NYC DYCD Core Competencies for Youth Work Professionals

• 1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of child and youth development and ability to use this knowledge to achieve the goals of the program.
• 4. Ability to foster academic and non-academic skills and broaden participant horizons.
• 5. Ability to effectively implement curricula and program activities.

School Age Child Care

• 3. Child Day Care Program Development

MOST (Michigan Out-of-School Time) Standards of Quality

• 1. Health, Safety
• 4. Indoor and Outdoor Environments
• 5. Program Activities

Core Knowledge Areas from the Michigan Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for the Early Care and Education Workforce

• 5. Teaching and learning
• 7. Interactions and guidance

After School Program Quality Standards and Indicators

• 1. Health, Safety and the Environment
• 3. Programming and Activities
• 4. Staffing and Professional Development

Early Learning and Development Standards

• 2. Social and Emotional Development
• 4. Literacy
• 5. Cognitive Development
• 6. Mathematics
• 7. Science
• 8. Social Studies
• 9. Creative Arts

Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards

• 1. Indoor and Outdoor Environments
• 4. Professional Development and Qualifications
• 6. Youth Development, Programming, and Activities

B-3 Continuum

• 5. Joint Professional Development
• 6. Aligned Curriculum and Instruction

Building Blocks for Out-of-School Time Quality

• 1. Intentional Program Design
• 2. Supportive Relationships & Environments
• 3. Youth Voice, Leadership, and Engagement
• 5. Community, School and Family Engagement
• 7. Ongoing Staff Support and Volunteer Development

Early Learning eGuidelines Competencies

• 1. Introduction to Inclusive Child Care
• 2. Understanding Child Development in Relation to Disabilities
• 4. Preparing for and Including Young Children in the Child Care Setting
• 5. Community Services for Young Children with Disabilities (including Early Intervention services)
• a. Introduction to Inclusive Child Care
• d. Preparing for and Including Young Children in the Child Care Setting
• e. Community Services for Young Children with Disabilities (including Early Intervention services)

Program Quality Practices

• 1. Physical Environment, Curriculum, and Program Activities
• 2. Assessment, Planning, and Improvement
• 4. Child and Youth Engagement
• 8. Professional Development

Afterschool & Youth Development Standards

• 1. Programming & Youth Development
• 3. Environment & Climate
• 6. Staffing & Professional Development
• 7. Organizational Practices

Child Growth and Development

• 1. Programming and Curriculum
• 2. Children with special needs
• 4. Program Environment
• 6. Social/emotional development
• 7. Challenging behaviors

Child Growth and Development

• 1. Programming and Curriculum
• 2. Children with special needs
• 4. Program Environment
• 6. Social/emotional development
• 7. Challenging behaviors

Career Development

• 6. Strategic leadership and planning

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Child Care Center Professional Development Training Topics

• Career Development
• Child Growth and Development

Quality Guidelines for Ohio's Afterschool Programs

• Child Growth and Development

Quality Standards for Expanded Learning

• 1. Safe and Supportive Environment
• 2. Active and Engaged Learning
• 3. Skill Building
• 10. Continuous Quality Improvement

ECE Competencies

• 2. Culture, Diversity and Equity
• 8. Learning Environments and Curriculum

Goals for Program Management and Delivery

• 1. Safe, Healthy, and Orderly Environment
• 2. Qualified and Diverse Staff
• 3. Opportunities to Learn in Diverse Environments

Goals for Program Connections

• 6. Consistent Participant Attendance

Goals for Program Participants

• 7. Greater Personal Responsibility
• 8. Improved Academics Achievement
• 9. Greater Creativity and Well-Being

Child Care Facilities: Staff Development Topics

• a. Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
• b. Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development
• c. Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development
• i. Learning activities that promote inclusion of children with special needs

North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs (NCCAP)

• Goals for Program Connections
• Goals for Program Management and Delivery
• Goals for Program Participants

Hawaii OST Quality Guidelines

• 1c. Pilina (Relationships) between program and ʻāina & place
• 1d. Pilina (Relationships) between Program and Families
• 1e. Pilina (Relationships) between Programs and Schools
• 1f. Pilina (Relationships) between Program and Community
• 2b. Staff Professional Development and Leadership
• 3a. Program Administration for Staff
• 3b. Policies and Procedures

Core Knowledge and Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals

• 2. Child and youth development

West Virginia Afterschool Program Quality Standards

• 2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• 5. Indoor and Outdoor Environments
• 8. Activities

Early Childhood Educator Requirements: Birth to Second Grade

• 2. Developmental curriculum planning/ environment and curriculum

Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Professional Network

• 2. Healthy Behaviors: Nutrition and Physical Activity
• 4. Indoor and Outdoor Environment
• 5. Programming and Activities

Department of Children & Families: Staff Training Requirements for Childcare Centers

• i. Child growth and development
• ii. Positive guidance and discipline
• v. Program planning and development
• vi. Creating a classroom environment

Afterschool Standards

• 2. Indoor and Outdoor Environments
• 3. Programming and Activities

Core Knowledge and Competencies

• 4. Learning Environment and Curriculum

Standards for Quality Afterschool Programs

• 2. Knowledgeable and Qualified Program Staff
• 3. Positive Communication and Interaction
• 4. Intentional Programming
• 6. Purposeful Family & Community Engagement

Afterschool Network Quality Standards

• 2. Offer a blend of academic and developmental skill-building activities
• 4. Promote high levels of student engagement
• 5. Provide appropriate levels of structure as well as opportunities for autonomy and choice

Early Childhood: Child Care Center Training Topics

• 7. Principles of child growth and development, including brain development

Department of Early Education & Care Standards

• 2. Planning Programs and Environments for Young Children
• 4. Child and Classroom Management
• 10. Supervision or Staff Development in Early Childhood Education

Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) Statement of Quality in Afterschool

• 2. Positive Connections
• 4. Activities

Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PA PSCECE)

• Standard 1: Child Development and Learning in Context
• Standard 4: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
• Standard 5: Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum

Afterschool Program Quality Guidelines

• 2. Programming

Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time Quality Standards

• 2. Staffing, Volunteers & Professional Development
• 5. Active & Engaged Learning
• 8. Environment (Indoor & Outdoor Spaces)

Child Care VA Standards

• 10. Inclusion of All Children
• 13. Foundations of Child Development and Approaches to Learning

Afterschool Alliance's Quality Standards

• 2. Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
• 3. Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
• 8. Principles of child growth and development

Child Care Centers Professional Growth and Development Training Requirements

• 2. Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
• 3. Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development (includes guidance and discipline)
• 8. Principles of child growth and development

Childcare Program: Continuing Education

• 3. Caring for children with exceptionalities
• 6. Indoor and outdoor learning environments
• 7. Behavior guidance

Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals

• 3. Learning Environments
• 5. Cognitive Learning
• 7. Creative Learning
• 9. Social Development
• 10. Guidance

Texas Partnership for Out-of-School Time (TXPOST) Standards of High Quality

• 3. Programming and Activities
• 7. School Linkages

Early Childhood Education: Professional Development Areas

• Annual Training (1) Child growth and development
• Annual Training (3) Age-appropriate curriculum
• In-Service 3. Understanding early childhood brain development.
• Pre-Service 2. Age-appropriate activities for children
• Pre-Service 4. Fostering children’s self-esteem
• Pre-Service 6. Positive interaction with children

Guidelines for Afterschool, Summer, and Youth Development Programs

• 3. Programming and Activities
• 4. Youth Leadership and Engagement
• 6. Cultural Competency, Responsiveness, and Inclusion
• 7. Assessment, Planning, and Program Improvement
• 8. Staff and Professional Development

Child Care Training Regulations

• 5. Curriculum development policies and responsibilities
• 6. Supervision of children
• 21. Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children

Quality Standards for OST Programs

• 3: Youth-Centered Program Design
• 4: Leadership and Management

Core Knowledge Areas, DC Division of Early Learning Training Categories

• 4. Curriculum
• 6. Learning Environments

Early Care & Education Professional Development Content Areas

• 4. Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
• 5. Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academics Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum
• 6. Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

Department of Social Services, Child Care Services (CCS): Pathway to Professional Development

• 10. Cultural diversity
• 11. Learning environments
• 12. Age-appropriate activities and planning
• 15. Inclusion of all children

Department of Education: Standards for Professional Development

• a. Child development and learning
• f. Strategies for working with children with disabilities
• g. Classroom management, which must include, without limitation, positive discipline and guidance and social, emotional, and academic development
• i. Play theory and creativity

Quality Standards for Nevada OST Programs

• a. Youth Development & Social Emotional Learning
• c. Program Management & Professional Development
• d. Program Structure, Curriculum & Activities

Out-of-School Time Program Quality Standards

• Administrative Quality Standards
• Program Quality Standards

Program Quality Standards

• I. Youth Program Climate

Administrative Quality Standards

• I. Youth Program Design and Accountability
• III. Health, Safety and Program Space
• IV. Youth Program Staffing and Professional Development

Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)

• Biennial and Quadrennial Requirements: 3. Equity Training for Educators

Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs

• C. Intentional Programming and Activities

Division of Early Care and Education: Staff Development

• i. Child growth and development
• j. Caring for children with disabilities
• k. Guiding children’s behavior
• r. Business operations