California’s DRDP: The official early learning standards framework
California’s early learning standards are organized under the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), a comprehensive observation-based assessment tool developed and maintained by the California Department of Education (CDE). The DRDP applies to all licensed childcare and development programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry, and is used by programs funded through the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and Title 22-licensed centers.
A significant update — the DRDP (2025) — is currently in early adoption phase across California, representing a developmental continuum from infancy through grade three. Programs can view current guidance on the CDE’s official DRDP page.
California’s Quality Rating and Improvement System is called Quality Counts California (QCC). Programs using a research-based, DRDP-aligned curriculum with embedded observation tools and family engagement materials typically score higher in the Curriculum and Learning Environment domain of the QCC rating rubric.
Explore by developmental domain
California’s DRDP domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how California’s DRDP defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each DRDP indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore California Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore California Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore California Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore California Physical Development standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore California Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore California Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore California Creative Arts standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore California Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to California’s DRDP
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to California’s DRDP 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 California Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific DRDP measure and developmental level.
For California programs using brightwheel, DRDP observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting QRIS documentation requirements under Quality Counts California.
The California DRDP Alignment PDF is a free resource accepted by CDSS-licensed programs as curriculum alignment documentation and suitable for QRIS review submissions.
Frequently asked questions