Minnesota’s Knowledge and Competency Framework (KCF) for Early Childhood Professionals has 3 versions: one focused on infants and toddlers, one on family child care providers, and one on preschool-age children in center and school programs. All versions include the skills needed to work with young children, with more specific skills added for the area of specialization. Each version has a corresponding companion guide that combines key concepts found in the framework with suggestions and examples of what it might look like in an early childhood setting. It is intended to help people working with young children have a beginning understanding of what to do. The companion guides do not replace the original framework but support it.

The framework combines what an early childhood educator needs to know about research and theory, alongside the skills and abilities needed to work effectively in the field. The framework aligns vertically to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) Standards and horizontally to show a progression of skill development.

The competencies are arranged in broad content areas, such as:

• Child development and learning
• Developmentally appropriate learning experiences
  
• Assessment, evaluation and individualization
  

There are three levels of competency; each level includes and builds on the competencies of the level before it.

1. Explores
2. Implements
   
3. Designs and Lead

Revision of the Knowledge and Competency Framework for Early Childhood Professionals began in 2019 to include the addition of three new components: addressing cultural responsibilities, trauma informed care and support for multilingual learners. View this one-page summary to learn more about the three new components: Trauma Informed Care and Practices, Working with Multilingual Children and Families, and Cultural Responsibilities and Practices.

• Knowledge and Competency Framework Informational Handout - 5/12/23