Parent Resources

Early Learning Standards

The goal of these standards is to provide teachers and caregivers useful information directly needed as part of their daily classroom responsibilities. Standards are organized to parallel in content the K-12 Illinois Learning Standards. Included are benchmarks for learning in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, and Social/Emotional Development.

“Standards are an essential first step for designing effective preschool curricula since they represent an agreed upon agenda for teaching and learning.

“The Illinois Early Learning Standards are excellent because they recognize the interconnectedness of emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development and learning the whole child.

“Like all good standards, they should be used as the base for reflective teachers as they create learning experiences that build on what children already know and capture their interest in learning.”

Barbara T. Bowman, Chief Officer

Chicago Public Schools

Office of Early Childhood Education

Illinois Early Learning Standards (PDF)

Illinois Early Learning Standards - Kindergarten (PDF)