The purpose of the Early Childhood Essentials Framework is to synthesize and communicate the essential skills and competencies children should be acquiring before they enter kindergarten and the related skills and competencies early childhood educators must cultivate in order to provide high-quality early learning experiences that will set all children on the path to success in school and in life. The unique goals of this framework are to clearly convey the link between early educator competencies, early education practice, and the school readiness and success of all children and to acknowledge the foundational conditions necessary for children and educators to achieve these essential skills and competencies. This framework provides a baseline of knowledge to help decision-makers think critically about how to improve the early learning programs they oversee. [Report originally published October 15, 2019. Document last revised November 20, 2019.]