What kinds of things are my children learning in preschool?
The Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) help inform families about the development and capabilities of children from birth through grade 3 and guide educators in the development and selection of program-wide curriculum and educational strategies for children from birth through grade 3. These standards are central to the shared vision of what we want for young children in Vermont and highlight the importance of high quality early childhood experiences as the foundation for school success and lifelong learning. Plainly said, early experiences matter.
The Vermont Early Learning Standards
The Vermont Early Learning Standards were developed by a cross-section of early childhood development and education stakeholders, and approved by the State Board of Education, to better capture the essential areas of development and learning in the early childhood years from infancy through grade three. VELS is aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as Next Generation Science Standards.
How can you tell how much my child is learning?
TeachingStrategies GOLD® (TSGOLD) is used to assess children from birth through kindergarten. Extensive field tests have shown it to be both valid and reliable. Available online, the system can be used with any developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum. Grounded in 38 research based objectives that include predictors of school success and are aligned with the Common Core State Standards, Vermont Early Learning Standards, and the Head Start Child Early Learning Outcomes Framework, Teaching Strategies GOLD® helps teachers focus on what matters most for school readiness. It can be used to support all types of learners, including children with special needs and children with advanced knowledge and skills. Teaching Strategies Gold has been adopted as the progress monitoring tool for Universal PreK.
To search for prequalified PreK programs or childcare centers for infants through toddlers please following the link to Building Bright Future