About
The Learning, Equity, Advancement, and Development Office (LEAD) provides system infrastructure and professional development supports to the child care workforce. LEAD supports continuous quality improvement through advocacy, professional development, and workforce incentives. The office provides statewide technical assistance to local program administrators that oversee quality infrastructure grants and contracts that are primarily funded with federal Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF).
Early Learning Resources:
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) develop early learning resources to support the child care and early education workforce to improve their knowledge and skills in serving young children. The information below provides a multitude of publications and videos, including the California Learning Foundations, Frameworks, and Program Guidelines.
Publications
Infant-Toddler Resources
- Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Foundations
- Framework for Infant-Toddler Learning and Development
- Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines
- Program for Infant-Toddler Care (PITC) Caregiving Guides
Early Education Resources
- The Alignment of the California Preschool Learning Foundations with Key Early Education Resources, Second Edition
- Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children
- California Early Childhood Curriculum Review Guide
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) Competencies
- Guidelines for Early Learning in Child Care Home Settings
- Inclusion Works! Second Edition
Preschool Resources
- Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations
- Preschool Curriculum Frameworks
- Preschool Program Guidelines
- Preschool English Learners
Parent Resources
- Care About Quality: Your Guide to Child Care
Infant-Toddler Resources
- California Framework for Infant-Toddler Learning and Development
The California Framework for Infant-Toddler Learning and Development supports early learning and care providers and educators working with children birth to three years of age in implementing high quality practices that lead to acquisition of the knowledge and skills described in the Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Foundations.
- Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Program Guidelines, Second Edition | English, Spanish
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.
- Cognitive Development and Learning
- Creating Partnerships with Families
- Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization
- Culturally Sensitive Care
- Language Development and Communication
- Routines
- Setting Up Environments
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Early Education Resources
- Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color: Disrupting Disproportionate Outcomes
- Family Partnerships and Culture
- The Integrated Nature of Learning
- Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
- The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education
- California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies | English
- California Early Childhood Educator Competencies Supplemental Add-on
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. A set of ECE Competency videos can be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/ececomps.asp
- Guidelines for Early Learning in Child Care Home Settings | English, Spanish
Recognizing the importance of home-based child care settings in today's society, this publication 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.
- Inclusion Works! Creating Child Care Programs that Promote Belonging for Children with Disabilities, Second Edition | English, Spanish
Updated with new information and is an essential guide for anyone providing child care for children from birth to twelve years old. It offers guidance for providers of child care programs and highlights resources and strategies that promote inclusion and belonging for all children.
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Preschool Resources
- California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) The California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) outline key knowledge and skills that most children ages three to five and a half years old can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments that research has shown to promote early learning and development. The foundations can provide preschool and transitional kindergarten (TK) educators, parents, and the public with a clear understanding of the wide range of knowledge and skills that children typically attain when given the benefits of a high-quality preschool program, whether it be in center-based, home-based, or TK settings. The PTKLF is available in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
- California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks
Created as companion volumes to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, the California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks present strategies for early childhood educators that enrich learning and development opportunities for all of California’s preschool children.
- California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 1 | English, Spanish
- California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2 | English
- California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 3 |English
- California Preschool Program Guidelines | English, Spanish
The California Preschool Program Guidelines provides the detailed guidance needed by administrators and teachers to offer high-quality preschool programs that prepare children to arrive in kindergarten with the foundational skills necessary for school success.
- Preschool English Learners: Principles and Practices to Promote Language, Literacy, and Learning: A Resource Guide (2nd Edition) | English, Spanish
This resource guide offers a user-friendly review of current research on how to support the language development of English learners during the preschool years (ages three to five).
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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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Companion Videos
Companion videos for many of these publications are available to stream for free online and can be found on California Early Learning Video Streaming.
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Contact Us
For questions about Publications, please contact us at CCDDPublications@dss.ca.gov