1. Common Core State Standards
What do they mean for Early Childhood Education?

2. What are Common Core State Standards?
Oregon is one of over 45 states that has adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
The CCSS provide consistent, aligned standards for K-12.
Standards define what students should understand and be able to do.
Currently there are standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics.
There are not currently Common Core State Standards for early childhood.

3. Does Oregon have Standards for Early Childhood?
Oregon has adopted the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework as the early learning standards for children ages 3-5.
Oregon’s early learning foundations for children ages 0-2 will be revised to link with the Framework.

4. What do the Common Core State Standards Mean for Early Childhood?
The CCSS fit with Oregon’s vision of education from birth to college and career.
By aligning the PK-12 system with the expectations of colleges and universities, Oregon will have a more seamless education pipeline from early childhood to postsecondary.
There are current efforts to align the Framework with the CCSS. Ensuring alignment between the Early Learning Framework and the CCSS for Kindergarten means children entering elementary school will be prepared to succeed.
By becoming familiar with the common core state standards for kindergarten, early educators can plan and facilitate early experiences that will prepare children for success in school.

5. CCSS English Language Arts (ELA)--Kindergarten
By the end of kindergarten, students are comfortable recognizing and writing letters of the alphabet and know the primary sound/symbol relationship for every letter.
Students are able to read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding so they will be ready to read grade-level texts in first grade.

6. Example of CCSS ELA Kindergarten Standard
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.
Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.
Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

7. CCSS Math--Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, content focus is on critical areas of :
representing and comparing whole numbers, initially with sets of objects
describing shapes and space
Kindergarteners are expected to think deeply and creatively about solutions, and use precise math language to communicate.

8. Example of CCSS Math Kindergarten Standard
Counting and Cardinality
Know number names and the count sequence.
Count to tell the number of objects.
Compare numbers

9. CCSS Toolkit for Early Childhood
For more information about early learning standards or the common core state standards, visit the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Childhood Toolkit: