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    Early Learning

    Early Learning Standards

    Linking Standards to Curriculum and Assessment

    Quality early learning environments are essential for preparing children to be successful learners as they go through elementary school. One means of attaining high quality learning environments is to implement curriculum that meets the needs of all children. A curriculum reflects the program's philosophy, goals and objectives for children as well as the guidelines to target children's development in such areas as cognitive, social-emotional, language, and fine and gross motor domains (Freede & Ackerman, 2006). The intent of a curriculum is to provide the framework for what happens within a planned environment to allow for learning and interactions with materials, peers and adults. The curriculum framework also helps to guide the evaluation criteria that are appropriate for the program.

    The Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood are a critical piece for assisting teachers in designing classrooms that meet the developmental needs of children to help them succeed in school. In conjunction with the curriculum, a second equally important piece in an early childhood classroom, is conducting on-going assessments of children. Assessments that are implemented in the classroom and aligned with Pennsylvania's Learning Standards for Early Childhood (birth to 3rd grade) will help inform teachers about designing a curriculum that provides multiple learning opportunities that best suits how each child learns. Developmental assessments allow one to understand a child's competencies and to design learning environments which will help a child grow to his or her developmental potential.

    Choosing a Curriculum

    There are many needs to be considered when planning a preschool curriculum. The physical environment should contribute to well-planned activities that can help young learners meet their goals, but it should also allow for spontaneous and unplanned learning to occur. The following resources from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning helps clarify the fundamentals of assessments in Early Childhood in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The resources advocate and promote the responsible and accurate use of assessments linked with curriculum and Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood, so our children's needs of young learning in an early childhood environment will be met.

    Publisher Curricular Alignments to the 2014 Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood (in alphabetical order):Please note the Office of Child Development and Early Learning is not recommending the use of any specific curriculum.

    Comprehensive Coverage
    (aligns to ALL domains)

    Approved Curriculum Information

    **Please check back often as this listing continues to be updated.

    Assessment

    Assessing children's progress in early childhood programs. Assessment is a critical piece in high-quality standards-aligned programs. Parents, teachers, and caregivers are the most qualified to assess young children because they observe children in authentic environments and are most familiar with each child's development and learning expectations. Teachers observe children through all activities in the day that yield the necessary information to determine skill levels. They collect information through many different sources of evidence, such as regular family engagement, observations throughout a child's daily routines, collection of children's artwork or writing samples, and by talking with the child or other adults about the child's accomplishments. This information is used to make good decisions about how to support children's learning and development.

    Child outcome data should not be used to determine placement in a program, class or special education, or to deny or exclude access to eligible services.

    Approved Child Assessment Information

    Learning Standards for Early Childhood

    Infant/Toddler; Pre-Kindergarten; Kindergarten; Grade 1 and Grade 2

    Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood were developed in 2004 through cross-sector collaboration from the departments of Health, Education and Public Welfare (now Human Services), and representatives from child care, early intervention, school districts, Head Start, higher education, family support programs and researchers.

    The standards delineate benchmarks along the birth to grade 2 continuum to promote readiness and early school success and are aligned with standards that span to the 12th-grade. Pennsylvania’s standards are research-based according to age and development and form the foundation for curriculum, assessment, instruction and intervention within early care and education programs. They also comprise the primary device for ensuring high quality, consistent childcare across geographies and programs. Pennsylvania was one of the first states in the country to develop and align early learning standards to grade three academic standards.

    In 2010 Pennsylvania began integrating its early learning standards into the Standards Aligned System (SAS), the K-12 online resource portal designed to provide educators with a framework and integrated tools to enhance their teaching effectiveness.

    Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) Standards were adopted by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education in January 2022. The new STEELS Standards will begin implementation in all Pennsylvania Schools in school year 2025-2026.

    The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) revised our Science Standards to ensure alignment to the STEELS Standards. In 2024, revisions have been made to all Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood: Infant Toddler, Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, and the Continuum.

    Additional highlights to the 2024 Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood include:

    1. The Social and Emotional Development domain was moved to the front of the book, after Approaches to Learning through Play. The Approaches to Learning Through Play and Social Emotional Development domains are found first in our standards because they are foundational skills. These standards provide children with skills needed for school, life, and career success. 
    2. The Partnerships for Learning section was removed from the 2024 Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood. Providers are to utilize The Pennsylvania Family Engagement Birth through College, Career, Community Ready Framework (PDF).

    For more information, please contact Maryanne Olley at molley@pa.gov or 717-214-8434.