LibGuides: Early Childhood Education: Websites

Google Scholar Search

NOTE: Often, Google Scholar will only provide a citation, abstract, or summary of an article for free. If you find an article that you would like to use, but are unable to access it through Google, contact a librarian at library@mitchellcc.edu. The article may be available in a database to which Mitchell Community College Library subscribes.

Website Best Bets
Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test

Websites

Center for Early Learning Literacy (CELL)
"The goal of the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) is to promote the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning practices. This site has resources for early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers of children, birth to five years of age, with identified disabilities, developmental delays, and those at-risk for poor outcomes."
Center on Enhancing Learning Outcomes (CEELO)
From "Our Mission": "One of 22 Comprehensive Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) will strengthen the capacity of State Education Agencies (SEAs) to lead sustained improvements in early learning opportunities and outcomes. CEELO will work in partnership with SEAs, state and local early childhood leaders, and other federal and national technical assistance (TA) providers to promote innovation and accountability."
Child Care and Early Education Research Connections
The Conversation
"The Conversation is a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of experts for the public good. We publish trustworthy and informative articles written by academic experts for the general public and edited by our team of journalists."
Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
"The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC is an international membership organization for those who work with or on behalf of young children (0-8) with disabilities and other special needs and their families."
Early Childhood Education - AP News
Earlychildhood NEWS
The Early Childhood Personnel Center - University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
An organization partnered with the Office of Special Education Programs, among other groups, to support states in creating, implementing, and evaluating Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) systems for children ages birth to five years old who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Use the map on the homepage to browse personnel standards by state, browse resources, and more.
Early Learning Homepage - U.S. Department of Education
"Find the latest information about ED's work in supporting our nation's youngest learners." Includes information about the Race to the Top Early Learning challenge and other various resources.
EdNC.org - News
ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)
ERIC is a free, online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.
ETS Home
This website offers a wide array of test preparation information, including for Praxis assessments. To access Praxis materials, click on "The Praxis Series." Please note that, while some preparatory materials do require payment, many others (including tips, videos, etc.) are free of charge.
The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute - University of North Carolina
From "About FPG": "The mission of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) is to enhance the lives of children and families through interdisciplinary research, technical assistance, professional development, and implementation science. FPG generates knowledge, informs policies, and supports practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children of all backgrounds and abilities from the earliest years."
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - U.S. Department of Education
K-12 Curriculum and Instruction/NC Standard Course
has specific DPI goals and objectives for classroom subjects and grade levels for North Carolina.
KinderArt
Art lesson plans and tips for children of all ages.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NC Budget and Management - Demographics
Demographics and statistics related to North Carolina. Click on "Facts and Figures" (top right) to get started.
NC State Center for Health Statistics
NC State Data Center
A consortium of agencies cooperating with the US Bureau of the Census to provide the public with data about the state and its component geographic areas.
North Carolina Child Development and Early Education via NC Health and Human Services
A wealth of information for early childhood professionals, including NC state laws and regulations, licensing information, state statistics (see NC Childcare Snapshot), program information, and more.
North Carolina Education Directory
Contains addresses and phone numbers of every NC public, federal, or charter school, all employees of the DPI, contact information for education organizations, associations, and educational material suppliers.
Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Education, Training, and Library Occupations
Find information about projected job growth or loss, wages, job summaries, required education, and more for careers in education, training, and library occupations.
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) - U.S. Department of Education
"The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts."
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
School Jobs - The North Carolina Public Schools Application System
UNC TV Learning Media
A free digital media service for educational use from public broadcasting and its partners. Find thousands of media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons, individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning communities.
Zero to Three
Provides resources to help caregivers and parents give children ages birth to three years a great start in life. Use the Explore our Topics tab to browse popular subjects, or check out the Find Resources and Services tab to find professional development resources and events.

The CRAAP Test

Wondering whether that article you found is "good enough" to use for your assignment? Use the CRAAP Test to check the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of the article before trusting it for scholarly research.

Currency - the timeliness of information.
- When was the information created or published?
- When, if ever, was the information revised or updated?
- How current does your information need to be? Did your instructor provide you with specific guidelines for currency? Is the topic or field you are studying (science, for example) one that changes rapidly and requires the use of the most recent information available?
Relevance - how well the information meets your specific needs.
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (not too advanced or elementary in nature for your needs)?
- Do you feel, overall, that this source is appropriate for use in college-level work?
- Have you compared information from other sources in order to find the most appropriate and useful one(s) for your research?
Authority - the source of the information.
- Who is the author/creator/publisher/sponsor of the work?
- What are the author's credentials? If the source was sponsored or produced by an organization, what are the affiliations of that organization?
- Is the author qualified to speak on this subject?
- Is contact information for the author and/or publisher of the work available?
- Does the URL tell you anything about the author or the source? For example:
  - .com indicates a commercially available website (anyone could purchase/own these domains).
  - .gov indicates a government website.
  - .edu indicates an educational institution.
  - .org indicates an organization of some kind, such as a non-profit or trade organization.
  - .net indicates a network website, usually used by Internet providers, web-hosting companies, or similar businesses.
Accuracy - the reliability, correctness, and truthfulness of the information
- Is the information provided supported by evidence/facts?
- Has the information been reviewed or edited? Who was it reviewed/edited by?
- Can you verify the information provided by comparing it to other trusted sources, or based on your own personal knowledge?
- Does the source seem biased toward one particular viewpoint? Does it use emotional, inflammatory language?
- Are there any spelling, grammar, or typographical errors? This may be a red flag that the information was not professionally edited or reviewed.
Purpose- why the information exists.
- Does the source seek to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? The best sources for scholarly research should aim to inform/teach readers rather than sell, entertain, or change their point of view.
- Does the author/sponsor make his/her intentions clear?
- Does the information include facts, opinions, propaganda, or a combination? Look for sources that stick the the facts.