Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning: The official early learning standards framework
Utah’s early learning standards are organized under two documents: the Utah Core Standards for Early Learning (Ages 3 to 5, adopted May 2020) for preschool-age children, and the Utah Early Childhood Core Standards (Birth through Age 3) for infant and toddler programs — both administered by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). Together they apply to licensed childcare centers, family childcare homes, and Utah’s School Readiness programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry.
Utah’s Core Standards for Early Learning define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality statewide. Programs can view current guidance at the Utah State Board of Education Early Childhood page.
Utah’s QRIS is called Quality Stars Utah (also known as Care About Childcare), administered through USBE and the Utah Office of Child Care. Programs are evaluated on quality indicators including curriculum and learning environment. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Utah’s Core Standards for Early Learning supports higher Quality Stars Utah ratings.
Explore by developmental domain
Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Utah Core Standards for Early Learning indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Utah Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Utah Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Utah Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Utah Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Utah Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Utah Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Utah Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Utah Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning 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 Utah Core Standards for Early Learning Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Utah Core Standards for Early Learning indicator.
For Utah 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 Stars Utah curriculum documentation requirements.
The Utah Core Standards for Early Learning Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Utah’s Utah Core Standards for Early Learning indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
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