PA Early Learning Standards

As part of Pennsylvania’s Build initiative, the Departments of Public Welfare and Education convened a task force of representatives from education, Head Start and child care to draft a common set of early learning standards to guide the development of pre-kindergarten. The vision is that these standards will become the standards used to develop state-funded pre-k programs, including programs funded by the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.

The standards cover the following learning areas:

  • Approaches to learning
  • Creative Arts
  • Language & Literacy
  • Logical – Mathematical
  • Personal Social
  • Physical – Health
  • Program Partnerships
  • Science
  • Social Studies
     

The standards include several tools to help the teacher implement each key area:

  • Indicators – the benchmarks are small steps that children exhibit
  • Examples- how the child will display competence in this area
  • Supportive practices – examples of how the adult will foster the development area in the child
  • Crosswalk – references to other guidelines and standards used often by child care professionals (eg, NAEYC, ECERS).

The standards are designed as a framework for quality in pre kindergarten programs and to provide guidance about what children should know or be able to do when they enter kindergarten. The Standards are inclusive of all children. They can be used to:

  • Inform teachers and administrators about curriculum and assessment and to guide the selection of program materials
  • Inform parents of appropriate expectations for children who are ready to enter kindergarten
  • Support community early care and education partnerships by providing a common framework for discussions about curriculum, assessment and transition into kindergarten

The Early Learning Standards are NOT meant to be used:

  • As a specific curriculum or to mandate specific teaching practices and materials
  • To prohibit children from entering kindergarten
  • To assess the competence of children or teachers

An update of the Standards was released in August.

In addition to the standards, there is a guide for selecting an assessment tool and curriculum that will align with the Standards. You can access the “Early Childhood Assessment For Children From Birth to Age 8” athttp://www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/cwp/view.asp?Q=101706&A=179.  This report provides information about Pennsylvania’s recommendations for assessment and curriculum for young children and demonstrates how closely aligned certain assessment and curriculum materials are aligned with the Early Learning Standards.

Partners should use the Early Learning Standards to develop common expectations for children’s learning and outcomes, and to support their transition from one program to another.

  • Download standards from PA Dept of Ed website (PDF)
  • Early Childhood Assessment For Children From Birth to Age 8 (PDF)
  • Read PACCA's Spring 2005 newsletter article, "Using the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards" - Member Access
  • Build Final report and guidelines on assessment and curriculum and how they align with the PA Early Learning Standards
  • Members: visit the Pre-K Toolkit resources page and Quality Resources eLibrary for information on other standards related to early childhood care and education.
  • Crosswalk: other standards that are listed in the Crosswalk portion of the PA Early Learning Standards
    • NAEYC Performance Criteria
    • Head Start Performance Standards
    • ECERS (Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales)
    • PA Academic Standards
    • Core Body of Knowledge


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