Learning Guidelines and Standards
Parent activities are based on the themes and activities in the MA Early Learning Curriculum, which have been fully aligned to the standards and guidelines listed below. (Visit the Educator’s section to view the MA Early Learning Curriculum and the standards alignments.)
- Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences: developed by the Massachusetts Department of Education in April 2003 http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/
- Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy, Grades Pre-Kindergarten–12: (which include MA Common Core standards): developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) in March 2011 http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/
- Pre-K Science and Technology Engineering Standards (STE): developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) in 2013 www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/
- Massachusetts Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers: developed by the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) in 2010 www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/
- Massachusetts Quality Rating System (QRIS): developed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and revised in December 2010 http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/provider-and-program-administration/quality-rating-and-improvement-system-qris.html
- The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework: developed by the Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and revised in September 2011 http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ttasystem/teaching/eecd/Assessment/Child%20Outcomes/HS_Revised_Child_Outcomes_Framework(rev-Sept2011).pdf
Research shows that a child’s brain development and growth is at its most rapid during her early years (0–5). In these first years, a child forms her orientation to the world, builds a foundation for learning, develops her social emotional character, and builds skills that will help her succeed.
Aligning activities to frameworks, guidelines, and standards helps provide guidance and a clear understanding to educators and parents about the knowledge and skills that most preschoolers are capable of learning during these early years, both in the content areas (such as math, science, social studies) and in the developmental domains (such as language, cognitive, and social-emotional).
For more information about the guidelines and standards, including definitions of terms, visit http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/curriculum-and-learning/.