Good Start, Grow Smart.NCCIC. Good Start. Status of State Efforts to Develop and Implement Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs)

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Status of State Efforts to Develop and Implement Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs)

The Good Start, Grow Smart initiative has promoted the development of early learning guidelines for preschool-age children in all care settings. States are in various stages of developing and implementing ELGs. This document summarizes State efforts at a given point in time.

State	ELG Status* (by age range)	Ages Addressed by ELGs	Comments (see Glossary for definitions of specialized terms)
Alabama	Developed	4-year-olds	Standards for 4-year-olds were adopted by the Board of Education in July 2004. The standards were developed by the Office of School Readiness as a result of legislation.
Alaska	Developing	Prekindergarten	A stakeholder group will be convened in August 2004 with plans to complete the first draft of the ELGs by June 2005. A contracted consultant is leading the development process.
Arizona	Implementing	3- and 4-year-olds	Early Childhood Education Standards was developed through the Even Start project. Initial awareness level training has begun.
Arkansas	Implementing	Birth to 4-year-olds	Arkansas Early Childhood Education Framework includes program standards, learning standards, and strategies and activities for children ages 3 and 4. The Framework for Infant and Toddler Care follows a similar format. The State has developed numerous trainings and documents to support implementation with parents and providers.
California	Implementing	Birth through age 14	California is providing professional development on the guidelines to all providers that participate in the subsidy program. The Desired Results Access Project provides information on modifications for children with special needs.
Colorado	Implementing	2 ½ to 5-year-olds	Guidelines are being implemented in multiple domains. Community-based professional development is offered on special topics such as literacy.
Connecticut	Implementing	3 to 5-year-olds	The Connecticut Framework includes preschool curricular goals and benchmarks. The State has implemented a school readiness assessment system linked to the benchmarks. The State is currently developing infant and toddler early learning guidelines.
Connecticut	Developing	Birth to 3-year-olds
Delaware	Implementing	Prekindergarten	The Office of Child Care Licensing, professional development section (Delaware First), has recently incorporated the Foundations into the early care and education competency document. The Delaware First office also plans to incorporate the Foundations into the State's Core Competency training program.
District of Columbia	Developing	Prekindergarten	A team of early care and education stakeholders is developing early learning guidelines for children ages birth to 5.
Florida	Implementing	3 to 5-year-olds	Guidelines cover multiple domains. A train-the-trainer program, Beyond Centers and Circle Time, provides community-based training to early childhood practitioners on the use of the guidelines. Standards for children ages birth to 3 have recently been developed.
Florida	Developed	Birth to 3-year-olds
Georgia	Implementing	Prekindergarten children	The State has released the birth to 3 outcomes and indicators, Wise Choices for Georgia's Children, as a result of a major initiative involving multiple stakeholders.
Georgia	Developed	Birth to 3-year-olds
Hawaii	Implementing	4-year-olds	Guidelines are mandatory for prekindergarten programs that serve children with special needs. Providers and parents have access to training on the use of guidelines through community-based "Learning to Grow" resource centers.
Idaho	Developed	3 to 5-year-olds	Standards were initially developed to meet requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). They address multiple domains and are applicable to children in diverse settings. Planning for implementation has just begun.
Illinois	Implementing	Prekindergarten	The State has developed training for center-based and family care providers. A Web site, available in English, Spanish, and Polish, contains a wealth of information for parents and providers on using the ELGs in a variety of care settings.
Indiana	Implementing	3 to 5-year-olds	A video has been produced to increase awareness of the guidelines and how to implement them. Trainings on specific domains have been developed. Infant/toddler guidelines are being developed.
Indiana	Developing	Infants and toddlers
Iowa	Developing	Birth to 5-year-olds	ELGs have recently been drafted and are in the review/feedback process.
Kansas	Developing	Birth to kindergarten	A broadly representative stakeholder group is meeting regularly to develop ELGs that align with the K-12 standards and cover multiple domains.
Kentucky	Implementing	Birth to kindergarten	The early learning standards have been disseminated throughout the State. Kentucky is currently developing a guide for curriculum and assessment aligned with the early learning standards.
Louisiana	Implementing	4-year-olds	Guidelines for 4-year-olds were first piloted in 2002. They are mandatory for publicly funded programs and voluntary for other care settings. Guidelines for infants and toddlers have recently been developed.
Louisiana	Developed	Infants and toddlers
Maine	Implementing	3-years-old to kindergarten entrance	A pilot of implementation in a variety of care settings, including a Tribal site, was recently completed. Professional development opportunities that are linked to the ELGs are being identified.
Maryland	Implementing	4-year-olds	The Maryland Model of School Readiness (MMSR) includes content standards for 4-year-old children. The State is currently developing early learning standards for 3-year-olds. Professional development activities related to implementing the MMSR are offered to child care, Head Start, and public pre-K.
Maryland	Developed	3-year-olds
Massachusetts	Implementing	3 to 4-year-olds	The Department of Education has developed Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences for children in publicly funded preschool programs. In March 2004, the Massachusetts Early Education and Care Council, a cross-sector stakeholder group mandated by the legislature, called for the development of a single set of standards and guidelines for all early care settings.
Michigan	Implementing	Prekindergarten-2^nd grade	Guidelines in multiple domains, originally developed in 1991, are being revised to be inclusive of a broader range of care settings. Guidelines have been distributed widely and are available in hard copy.
Michigan	Revising	Prekindergarten
Minnesota	Implementing	4-year-olds	1997 guidelines are now being reviewed. Training is provided via regional professional development sites throughout the State.
Mississippi	Implementing	Prekindergarten	Guidelines have been developed in multiple domains. They are mandatory for publicly funded prekindergarten programs. Guidelines are being developed for 3-year-olds.
Mississippi	Developing	3-year-olds
Missouri	Implementing	Prekindergarten	Parent and teacher guides in Spanish and Bosnian are available for multiple domains of the guidelines. Professional development targeted to various provider groups is offered. The State is beginning work on birth-to-3 guidelines.
Montana	Developed	3 to 5-year-olds	ELGs were developed in 2004 covering multiple domains and applicable to all early care and education settings.
Nebraska	Developing	Birth to 5-year-olds	A team with representatives from child care, education, and Head Start is in the process of developing guidelines.
Nevada	Developed	Children entering kindergarten	Pre-K standards, developed by a group representing education and child care, were adopted by the Board of Education in March 2004. They cover multiple domains.
New Hampshire	Developing	Birth to 5	A broadly representative stakeholder group is currently writing the early learning guidelines.
New Jersey	Implementing	Preschool	Revised in July 2004, the Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations: Standards of Quality identifies learning outcomes for preschool children in multiple domains as well as recommends teaching practices to support early learning. The standards are mandated for publicly funded programs.
New Mexico	Developed	3 to 4-year-olds	The State Early Learning Planning Committee has developed learning outcomes to be inclusive of all care settings. The standards will be aligned with the professional development system.
New York	Implementing	Preschool	In 1998, the Education Department developed the Preschool Planning Guide: Building a Foundation of Language and Literacy in the Early Years, describing essential elements of quality preschool education.
North Carolina	Developing	Birth to 3-year-olds	Child care is developing ELGs for birth to three.
North Carolina	Developed	3 to 5-year-olds	ELGs for ages 3 to pre-K 5 have recently been developed.
North Dakota	Developing	Not yet determined	In June 2004, the planning committee began to meet.
Ohio	Implementing	Prekindergarten	Ohio has developed a Literacy Mentoring Project which is linked to the early learning standards. It has also developed "Ready to Learn" workshops for family care providers linked to the ELGs. An Implementation Guidance Tool is available on the Department of Education's Web site.
Oklahoma	Implementing	Prekindergarten	The Office of Child Care is working with the Department of Education and now has the ELGs on the Web. Groups are working on implementation and alignment. The Better Baby Campaign workgroup is developing guidelines for infants and toddlers.
Oregon	Developing	3 to 5-year-olds	Drafts are currently being reviewed. Multiple domains are being addressed. A more comprehensive early care and education plan is being developed.
Pennsylvania	Developed	Preschool through Grade 2	A broadly representative stakeholder group has been created to draft the guidelines. Indicators for language and mathematics have been developed.
Rhode Island	Implementing	4-year-olds	Guidelines have been implemented through community-based training and mentoring in selected communities across the State. Parent materials in English and Spanish have been developed.
South Carolina	Developed	3 to 5-year-olds	An expanded group of stakeholders has developed guidelines for 3 to 5-year-olds linked to the pre-K–2nd grade content standards.
South Dakota	Developing	3 to 5-year-olds	Draft guidelines are out for comment. Multiple domains are being addressed.
Tennessee	Developed	Birth to 5-year-olds	ELGs across multiple domains have recently been developed.
Texas	Revising	4-year-olds	New guidelines are in development in partnership with the University of Texas/Houston Early Childhood Center.
Utah	Developed	3 to 4-year-olds	ELGs inclusive of all care settings are planned for revision.
Virginia	Developed	Entering kindergarten	The Department of Education has developed the Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: Guidelines for Literacy and Mathematics.
Vermont	Implementing	Entering kindergarten	Guidelines were developed by a broadly representative group and have been widely distributed. Higher education faculty were recruited to participate in train-the-trainer sessions. Plans are underway to align the ELGs with the professional development system and to develop family materials.
Washington	Developing	Birth to 5-year-olds	A contract has been awarded to lead the ELGs development process. Early drafts are currently being reviewed by various stakeholders.
West Virginia	Developed	Prekindergarten	In June 2004, the Department of Education adopted the Early Learning Standards Framework: Content Standards and Learning Criteria for West Virginia Pre-Kindergarten.
Wisconsin	Implementing	Children completing kindergarten	The State is planning implementation activities. Early Learning Standards is voluntary for all care settings.
Wyoming	Implementing	5-year-olds entering kindergarten	A consultant has been hired to develop training modules to be delivered at key early childhood conferences around the State.

*ELG Status is categorized using the following terms:

Developing means that the State is in the process of developing ELGs.
Developed means that the State has approved the ELGs, but has not yet developed or initiated an implementation plan.
Implementing means that, in addition to having developed ELGs, the State has embarked on implementation efforts which may include dissemination, training, or embedding ELGs in the professional development system.
Revising means that a State has previously developed ELGs (typically by the Department of Education) and is now revising those guidelines.

Glossary of Terms

Content Standards: A description of the content knowledge, skills, and understanding of appropriate stages of development, usually organized under the heading of a domain.

Domains/Developmental Domains: Broadly defined areas of human development, such as cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative expression.

Early Learning Guidelines: Descriptions of what children should be able to know, understand, and be able to do at various stages of development.

Prekindergarten: The years before traditional kindergarten entrance, often 3-5 years of age; sometimes refers to State-funded early care and education programs for "prekindergarteners."

Stakeholders: Those who have a stake in the outcomes of a given activity.

Updated March 2005

The document is for informational purposes only. No official endorsement of any practice, publication, program, or individual by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Child Care Bureau, or the National Child Care Information Center is intended or is to be inferred. For additional information on this or related topics, please contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or info@nccic.org.

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Page Updated: March 26, 2007