Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines: The official early learning standards framework
Idaho’s early learning standards are organized under the Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines, administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW). The eGuidelines apply to licensed childcare programs, Head Start, and early intervention programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry statewide.
Idaho’s eGuidelines define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality in licensed early care and education programs. Programs can view current guidance at the IDHW Early Learning eGuidelines page.
Idaho’s QRIS is called Steps to Quality, supported through IdahoSTARS. Steps to Quality is a voluntary six-step system evaluating programs across seven quality domains including Curriculum and Instruction, Learning Environments, and Child Development. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Idaho’s Early Learning eGuidelines supports higher Steps to Quality ratings.
Explore by developmental domain
Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Idaho Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Idaho Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Idaho Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Idaho Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Idaho Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Idaho Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Idaho Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Idaho Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines across all three age bands — Baby (birth to 18 months), Toddler (18 to 36 months), and Preschool (3 to 5 years) — and all 8 developmental domains. The Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines indicator.
For Idaho programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting Steps to Quality curriculum documentation requirements.
The Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Idaho’s Idaho Early Learning eGuidelines indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
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