Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards: The official early learning standards framework
Wyoming’s early learning standards are organized under the Wyoming Early Learning Standards (2022), administered by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). The 2022 version is the current primary document and updated successor to the earlier Wyoming Early Learning Foundations (2013/2014). Wyoming’s Early Learning Standards apply to licensed childcare programs, Head Start programs, and state-funded preschool programs serving children from birth through kindergarten entry.
Wyoming’s Early Learning Standards define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality statewide. Programs can view current guidance at the Wyoming Department of Education Early Childhood page.
Wyoming’s QRIS is called WY Quality Counts, a voluntary system supporting continuous quality improvement for childcare programs statewide. WY Quality Counts helps providers improve the quality of their programs through resources, training, and technical assistance. Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Wyoming’s Early Learning Standards supports WY Quality Counts quality improvement goals and licensing compliance.
Explore by developmental domain
Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards domains and Experience Curriculum alignment
Select a developmental domain below to see how Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Wyoming Early Learning Standards indicator.
Social-Emotional Development
Self-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expression
Explore Wyoming Social-Emotional Development standards →Language & Literacy
Receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writing
Explore Wyoming Language & Literacy standards →Mathematics & Reasoning
Number sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solving
Explore Wyoming Mathematics & Reasoning standards →Science
Observation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural world
Explore Wyoming Science standards →Social Studies
Community, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understanding
Explore Wyoming Social Studies standards →Creative Arts
Visual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expression
Explore Wyoming Creative Arts standards →Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-care
Explore Wyoming Physical Development standards →Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attention
Explore Wyoming Approaches to Learning standards →Curriculum alignment
How Experience Curriculum aligns to Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards
Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards 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 Wyoming Early Learning Standards Alignment PDF documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Wyoming Early Learning Standards indicator.
For Wyoming programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting WY Quality Counts curriculum documentation requirements.
The Wyoming Early Learning Standards Alignment PDF is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Wyoming’s Wyoming Early Learning Standards indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation.
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