Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Carol Copple is Director of Publications and Initiatives in Educational Practice at NAEYC. She taught at Louisiana State University and the New School for Social Research and at the Educational Testing Service co-developed and directed a research-based model for preschool education. With Sue Bredekamp, Dr. Copple is co-editor of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (1997; 2009). Among her other books are Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children (NAEYC) and Educating the Young Thinker: Classroom Strategies for Cognitive Growth (Erlbaum). She received her doctorate from Cornell University.


Sue Bredekamp is an early childhood education specialist from Washington, DC who serves as a consultant on developmentally appropriate practice, curriculum, teaching, and professional development for state and national organizations such as NAEYC, the Council for Professional Recognition, and Head Start. From 1981 to 1998, she was Director of Accreditation and Professional Development for NAEYC. She is the author of an introductory textbook Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education: Building a Foundation. Her doctorate is from the University of Maryland.