Kansas’s KELS: The official early learning standards framework
Kansas’s early learning standards are organized under the Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS), revised in 2024 and administered by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). A dedicated website at kels.ksde.gov was launched in July 2024 to support implementation. KELS applies to licensed childcare programs, Head Start, and early childhood special education programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry.
KELS defines developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guides curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality in Kansas’s licensed early care and education programs. Programs can view current guidance at the KELS website.
Kansas does not currently operate a formal statewide QRIS. Programs can support quality improvement through KSDE’s early childhood initiatives and local CCR&R agency resources. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Kansas’s KELS supports program quality improvement, licensing compliance, and Head Start Performance Standard requirements.
Explore by developmental domain
Kansas’s KELS domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Kansas’s KELS defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each KELS indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Kansas Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Kansas Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Kansas Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Kansas Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Kansas Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Kansas Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Kansas Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Kansas Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Kansas’s KELS
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Kansas’s KELS 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 Kansas KELS Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific KELS indicator.
For Kansas programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting Quality Improvement curriculum documentation requirements.
The Kansas KELS Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Kansas’s KELS indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
Frequently asked questions