Kansas Early Learning Standards
The Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) serves as a comprehensive guide for early childhood providers and educators, encompassing those in the early primary grades. Spanning from birth to kindergarten, it delineates the developmental trajectory of learning. These standards outline the knowledge and skills young children should acquire through interactions with nurturing, knowledgeable caregivers, evidence-backed curricula, and activities tailored to their developmental stage. A versatile tool, the KELS aids providers and teachers in crafting activities, selecting and implementing curricula, and fostering meaningful dialogues with both children and their families about early learning.
This fourth iteration of the Kansas Early Learning Standards is the result of collaborative efforts among various early childhood stakeholders in Kansas. Originating in 2006, subsequent revisions took place in 2009 and 2013. Endorsed by both the Kansas State Board of Education and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, these updated standards represent a collective endeavor to ensure high-quality early childhood education in the state.