Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines: The official early learning standards framework
Oklahoma’s early learning standards are organized under the Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). For infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds, Oklahoma uses the Early Learning Guidelines for Infants, Toddlers and Twos. Together these apply to licensed childcare centers, family childcare homes, and Head Start programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry statewide.
Oklahoma’s Early Learning Guidelines define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality. Programs can view current guidance at the OKDHS Child Care Services page.
Oklahoma’s QRIS is called The Stars Program (also known as “Reaching for the Stars”), administered by OKDHS. Oklahoma was the first state in the nation to implement a statewide QRIS (1998). The Stars program evaluates programs across staff qualifications, learning environment, family partnerships, and health and safety. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Oklahoma’s Early Learning Guidelines supports higher Stars ratings.
Explore by developmental domain
Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Oklahoma Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Oklahoma Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Oklahoma Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Oklahoma Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Oklahoma Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Oklahoma Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Oklahoma Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Oklahoma Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines 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 Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines indicator.
For Oklahoma programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting The Stars Program curriculum documentation requirements.
The Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
Frequently asked questions