Delaware’s Delaware Early Learning Foundations: The official early learning standards framework
Delaware’s early learning standards are organized under the Delaware Early Learning Foundations, administered by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). Two documents cover the full age span: the Infant/Toddler Early Learning Foundations (birth through 36 months) and the Early Learning Foundations for Ages 3–5. These frameworks apply to all licensed childcare programs and state-funded preschool programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry.
Delaware’s Early Learning Foundations define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality statewide. Programs can view current guidance at the Delaware Department of Education Early Learning page.
Delaware’s QRIS is called Delaware Stars for Early Success, supported by the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC). Programs receiving state early care and education funding participate in targeted quality improvement with a Quality Improvement Specialist. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Delaware’s Early Learning Foundations supports quality improvement planning under Delaware Stars.
Explore by developmental domain
Delaware’s Delaware Early Learning Foundations domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Delaware’s Delaware Early Learning Foundations defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Delaware Early Learning Foundations indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Delaware Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Delaware Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Delaware Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Delaware Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Delaware Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Delaware Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Delaware Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Delaware Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Delaware’s Delaware Early Learning Foundations
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Delaware’s Early Learning Foundations 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 Delaware Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Delaware Early Learning Foundations indicator.
For Delaware programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting Delaware Stars quality improvement documentation.
The Delaware Early Learning Foundations Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Delaware’s Delaware Early Learning Foundations indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
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