Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood

1. Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood Barbara G. Minzenberg, Ph.D. Deputy Secretary Office of Child Development and Early Learning Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare

2. History of Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood • 2002 - Cross-Sector group of Stakeholders begin work on standards • First step was to design “guiding principles” • 2004 - Pre-Kindergarten Standards adopted • 2007 - Infant/Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten (revision); Kindergarten; 1st grade and 2nd grade Standards adopted

3. History of Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood • 2008 - Alignment study conducted by Catherine Scott-Little and Sharon Lynn Kagan • 2009 - Learning Standards for Early Childhood revised and adopted (Infant/Toddler; Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten)

4. Integration of Learning Standards into programming • Required use in state funded early childhood programs • School-based Pre-kindergarten • Private academic schools • Basis for transition efforts between Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten • Certification of child care programs

5. Integration of Learning Standards into programming • Early Intervention • PQAS certified instructors • Higher Education • Curriculum and Assessment • Family – friendly calendars, materials based on standards

6. Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS) • Launched in December 2009 • Repository of free materials and • resources for teachers, families • and administrators • Approximately 120,000 registered • users to date

7. Standards and SAS • Collaboration with Office of Elementary and Secondary Education • Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and Mathematics Standards for • Pre-Kindergarten posted on the SAS Portal in 2010 • Science and Social Studies Standards to be posted on the SAS Portal by • June 2012 • Social Emotional Standards (Student Interpersonal Skills) to be posted on • the SAS Portal by June 2012 • Environment and Ecology Standards currently in revision www.pdesas.org

8. Standards and Common Core • Pennsylvania adopts Common Core in July 2010 • Pennsylvania drafts PA Common Core Standards in English Language • Arts and Mathematics – 2011 and 2012 which include Pre-Kindergarten • standards • Pennsylvania Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 Common Core Standards Draft • presented to Pennsylvania Board of Education March 2012 and await • approval

9. Next Steps • Continued collaboration with Office of Elementary and Secondary • Education • Environment and Ecology, Physical Health and Wellness, Creative Arts and • Approaches to Learning Standards to be refined and posted on the SAS • Portal (anticipated 2012-2013) • Reprint of Learning Standards for Early Childhood booklets to include standards revisions, concepts and competencies and supportive practices

10. Challenges • funding issues continue to be a challenge • underlying philosophical differences present challenges • relationship building takes time

11. Thank you Barbara G. Minzenberg, Ph.D. Deputy Secretary Departments of Education and Public Welfare Office of Child Development and Early Learning 333 Market Street, 6th Fl Harrisburg, PA 17126 Phone: 717.346.9320 Fax: 717.346.9330