Crosswalks HOME

About Crosswalks

Participants

Research

Toolbox

Toolbox HOME

Aspects of Diversity

Instructional Tools

Search for Resources

The North Carolina Early Learning Standards/NC Widely Held Expectations

The Widely Held Expectations (Early Learning Standards) are a foundation for all the instruction of all preschool-age children in North Carolina. They were created to provide a common set of age-appropriate developmental standards for children three, four, and five years old who are not yet age-eligible for kindergarten. They were written to include all children in preschool environments, taking into account their individual differences and uniqueness.

After carefully studying child development theory and research in the course of developing the Widely Held Expectations and teaching strategies, the committee developed five guiding principles regarding how children learn and grow: each child is unique, development occurs in predictable patterns, preschool-age children are active learners, many factors influence a child's development, and children with disabilities learn best in inclusive settings. There are five domains of development outlined in the standards, all of which are included in North Carolina's official definition of school readiness.

What are the The North Carolina Early Learning Standards/NC Widely Held Expectations?

To discover instructional strategies, tools, and resources, click on a specific domain below.

Domain 1	Approaches to Learning
Domain 2	Emotional and Social
Domain 3	Health and Physical
Domain 4	Language and Communication
Domain 5	Cognitive

SCPP HOME | Crosswalks HOME | About Crosswalks | Participants | Research | Toolbox | Resource Guide