Policy Brief - Child Outcome Standards in Pre-K Programs: What Are Standards; What Is Needed To Make Them Work?

By Elena Bodrova, Deborah Leong, and Rima Shore
NIEER Policy Brief (Issue 5, March 2004)

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Summary

"A standard by any other name..."

In the early childhood field, terms such as building blocks, desired results, or learning goals have all been used to describe the kinds of development and learning that should take place in prekindergarten programs – a.k.a., child outcome standards.

This brief provides an overview of the extension of the standards movement to preschool programs. It presents the conditions and special considerations necessary for standards to have a positive impact on preschool children and strengthen accountability. Policy recommendations include writing standards in ways that allow for appropriate, effective assessment and that take into account the unique ways that young children develop and learn.

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