Considerations and Models in Presenting Early Learning Standards. Prepared for the Indiana Department of Education

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is preparing to undertake the work of reviewing the state early learning standards - Indiana's Early Learning Foundations (the "Foundations"). In anticipation of this work, staff at IDOE have requested support from the Region 8 Comprehensive Center in identifying approaches states have taken in sharing their early learning standards and related supports, and ensuring alignment with other, related, learning standards. This brief summarizes findings related to three primary questions: (1) How do states provide access to their early learning standards? (2) What supports do states provide for using their early learning standards? and (3) How do states align their early learning standards across systems? Fundamental to these questions is clarity in the purposes for which early learning standards are being disseminated, and what degree of support the state is able to provide in implementing the standards. This document provides several options in response to each of the three primary questions and key considerations for IDOE are identified.