Standard 7: Professionalism and Ethical Practice

The purpose of this module is to introduce the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (EI/ECSE) Standard 7. The learning resources provided are designed to be used in both pre-service and in-service to facilitate the integration of the knowledge and skills addressed by this standard.

Standard 7
Candidates identify and engage with the profession of early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) by exhibiting skills in reflective practice, advocacy, and leadership while adhering to ethical and legal guidelines. Evidence-based and recommended practices are promoted and used by candidates.
Components
7.1 Candidates engage with the profession of EI/ECSE by participating in local, regional, national, and/or international activities and professional organizations.
7.2 Candidates engage in ongoing reflective practice and access evidence-based information to improve their own practices.
7.3 Candidates exhibit leadership skills in advocating for improved outcomes for young children, families, and the profession, including the promotion of and use of evidence-based practices and decision-making.
7.4 Candidates practice within ethical and legal policies and procedures.
Note: The Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (EI/ECSE) standards and components use the term candidate to refer to preservice students in higher education programs. For the purpose of these modules, the term will be maintained in the EI/ECSE standard and component statements. The term learner will be used in the support materials and resources.
Purpose
The purpose of this module is to: (a) identify what learners should know and be able to do specifically to Standard 7: Professional and Ethical Practice and its components, (b) provide higher education faculty and PD providers with a variety of learning resources for this standard, and (c) identify the relationship of these resources to adult learning practices. It is designed to be used flexibly for preservice and ongoing professional development.
Objectives
After engaging with these resources, IHE faculty and PD providers will be able to:
  • Identify learner outcomes specific to professional and ethical practice.
  • Identify resources to integrate into the higher education curriculum and/or content for PD.
  • Identify the relationship of the resources with evidence-based practices for adult learners.