Indiana’s Indiana Early Learning Foundations: The official early learning standards framework
Indiana’s early learning standards are organized under the Indiana Early Learning Foundations, administered by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). The Foundations apply to licensed childcare centers, family childcare homes, state-funded preschool programs, and Head Start programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry statewide.
Indiana’s Early Learning Foundations define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality. Programs can view current guidance at the Indiana Department of Education Early Childhood page.
Indiana’s QRIS is called Paths to Quality, a voluntary statewide system administered by FSSA. Paths to Quality uses a four-level block rating structure evaluating programs on Professional Development, Program Administration, Environment and Instruction, and Accreditation. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Indiana’s Early Learning Foundations supports higher Paths to Quality ratings.
Explore by developmental domain
Indiana’s Indiana Early Learning Foundations domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Indiana’s Indiana Early Learning Foundations defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Indiana Early Learning Foundations indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Indiana Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Indiana Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Indiana Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Indiana Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Indiana Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Indiana Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Indiana Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Indiana Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Indiana’s Indiana Early Learning Foundations
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Indiana’s Indiana 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 Indiana Early Learning Foundations Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Indiana Early Learning Foundations indicator.
For Indiana programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting Paths to Quality curriculum documentation requirements.
The Indiana Early Learning Foundations Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Indiana’s Indiana Early Learning Foundations indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
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