Early Childhood and Family Education


Contact

Rori Hodges, Specialist, Early Childhood (405) 522-0755

Yvonne Rossiter, Specialist, Early Childhood (405) 521-3950

Sharon Morgan
Program Director, Standards and Learning 
(405) 521-3034
 

 


Welcome to the Early Childhood Department of Education at OSDE.  Our department serves the earliest learners in Oklahoma, from birth to 3rd Grade.    


The Early Learning Inventory (ELI) is a free, comprehensive tool to assess students’ knowledge and skills at the start of the school year and to monitor students’ progress in these areas across the year. The ELI covers foundational knowledge and skills, such as counting and alphabet knowledge, as well as dispositions and abilities critical to early learning. Educator can quickly and purposefully gather information about their students’ knowledge and skills using the ELI’s observational rubrics that outline the progression of children’s learning across six essential domains of school readiness: 

  • Literacy;
  • Mathematics;
  • Approaches toward learning;
  • Physical Development, Health, and Well Being;
  • Scientific Conceptual Understanding; and
  • Self, Family, and Community.

Beyond providing insight to educators on the entry point of the students in their class, it allows for rich conversation and information sharing with families on student goals. 

For more information see the Oklahoma Early Learning Inventory Webpage:

https://sde.ok.gov/earlylearninginventory


Oklahoma Pre-K

Children who are age four on or before September 1, are eligible for the voluntary public school pre-kindergarten program.  Currently, 65% of Oklahoma’s four-year-olds attend public school and have access to:

  • an Early Childhood Certified Teacher
  • a 10:1 child to teacher ratio
  • comprehensive school services
  • full day or half-day programs
  • state-adopted curriculum standards

Early Childhood Education Programs under Oklahoma Administrative Code Section 210:15-11-2 

Oklahoma Pre-K Profile

The National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER) produces a yearly Preschool yearbook in which programs for our early learners are evalutated on 10 benchmarks of quality.  In 2021 Oklahoma ranked 2nd in the nation for access to preschool programs. 

View the Oklahoma Preschool Profile

Research


Kindergarten

Children who are age five on or before September 1 are eligible for the public school Kindergarten program.  Full-day Kindergarten is currently offered in every school district in Oklahoma (some exceptions apply).  Kindergarten children have access to:

  • a school readiness program
  • a state-adopted curriculum standards
  • an Early Childhood Certified Teacher

Oklahoma State Statutes for Kindergarten 


Oklahoma Academic Standards

Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS) serve as expectations for what students should know and be able to do by the end of the school year. These standards were written by Oklahomans for Oklahoma.

Learn more about Oklahoma Academic Standards here and find the Instructional Frameworks here


Skills and Behaviors that Promote Learning Webinar Series

This fall, we heard from early childhood educators across the state handling a new set of challenges around foundational skills and behaviors that students need to achieve academic and personal success in the classroom.  In response, OSDE launched a webinar series to assist educators in supporting students with these skills and behaviors.  Below, you will find the recordings of the first three sessions hosted in November, December, and February.  Each session is full of practical strategies that can be taken back to your classroom and implemented immediately.

Session #1 - Essential Skills and Behaviors that Promote Learning

Session #2 - Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood 

Session #3 - You Can't Say you Can't Play 


Family Guides

The OSDE Family Guides are resources aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards and developed specifically for Oklahoma families to complement classroom learning. They illustrate what is expected of students at each grade level in different content areas along with activities families can do at home to further support children's learning experiences. These guides are great resources for families at Open House, Parent Teacher Conferences, Family Nights, and School Newsletters.  For more information or to see other grade level family guides click here


    Child Care

    Early Learning Guidelines - Ages 0-2
    Early Learning Guidelines - Ages 3-5
    Oklahoma Human Services Child Care Licensing Requirements 

    Child Care Resource and Referral 


    Early Childhood Newsletters

    Please subscribe to the #OKEarlyEd Newsletter here.


    Early Childhood Professional Development

    The Office of Instruction is available to provide customized professional development to school districts in their local area. Please contact the Office of Early Childhood and Literacy at (405) 521-3034 or complete the online request form.

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    Last updated on March 14, 2024