Preschool Standards

Research clearly shows that children entering school with strong pre-reading and learning skills are better readers and learners. To provide guidance on the skills or learning expectations preschool children need to enter school ready, the State Board of Education approved the Standards of Quality & Curriculum Guidelines For Preschool Programs For Four Year Olds in 1986.

These standards are required for the Michigan School Readiness Program (Michigan's state-funded prekindergarten program for at-risk four-year-old children) and recommended by the State Board of education for other programs. These standards are currently under revision so that they will include early learning standards for three- and four-year-old children. The revised standards will be aligned to the Michigan Curriculum Framework for grades K-12.

In addition, in 1992, the State Board of Education approved Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten through Second Grade, designed to assist administrators, teachers, and parents across auspices in developing high quality early childhood education programs for children ages four through eight years old. Revisions of the Early Childhood Standards of Quality are in process. It is intended that the revised standards will be used to promote and improve understanding for the development and implementation of high quality programs for all preschool-aged children.

References Used to Develop Michigan Standards

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