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Early Childhood

Early childhood experiences lay the foundation for a child’s future success. The Early Childhood Team at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) supports local agencies providing early learning opportunities and collaborates with internal and external partners to strengthen early childhood in Kansas. Early childhood spans birth to age 8 (third grade). Our goal is that each student enters kindergarten at age 5 socially, emotionally and academically prepared for success.

Strengthening Early Childhood in Kansas

The All In For Kansas Kids needs assessments and strategic plan map our state's future direction for early childhood. Since 2019, thousands of Kansans have shared their experiences and perspectives about the needs of young Kansas children and their families. Now early childhood partners are working together to put this plan into action. Visit the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund website to learn more and get involved

 

Kansas Early Learning Standards Update

The Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) is a document that provides information and guidance to early childhood providers and teachers, including early primary grade teachers, on the developmental continuum of learning for children from birth through kindergarten. The KELS provide information regarding what young children should know and be able to do as a result of engagement with caring knowledgeable adults, evidence-based curriculum, and developmentally appropriate activities. It is a dynamic resource that providers and teachers can use as they plan activities for, choose and implement curriculum, and engage in conversations with young children and their families around early learning.

In 2023 and 2024 a collaborative group of Kansas early childhood partners worked together to review and complete the fourth revision to the Kansas Early Learning Standards. The Kansas State Board of Education and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund approved the updated Kansas Early Learning Standards in 2024. 

Visit kels.ksde.gov (external link) to view the updated Kansas Early Learning Standards and access supporting resources.

Early Childhood Updates

The KSDE Early Childhood team regularly shares updates in KSDEweekly, the weekly newsletter that is the one-stop source for KSDE news and information. Click here to get KSDEweekly in your inbox. To view previous updated related to early childhood,click this link to the KSDEweekly webpage. Email ksdeweekly@ksde.gov with questions, comments or story ideas.

However, please email Beccy Strohm (Beccy.Strohm@ksde.gov) with updates to district points of contact for all early childhood programs.

Kansas Parents as Teachers (KPAT)

The Parents as Teachers® (PAT) evidence-based affiliate model provides parents with the skills and knowledge they need to help make informed decisions regarding their child’s education. The program includes personal visits, group connections, health, vision, hearing and developmental screenings, and supports family connections with other community services. KSDE serves as the Parents as Teachers® State Office and supports local programs with implementing the Parents as Teachers affiliate model. The Kansas Parents as Teachers page has more information. 

Preschool Programming

Quality early learning opportunities prepare students to enter kindergarten at age 5 socially, emotionally and academically prepared for success. KSDE administers several programs that provide funding to support preschool for Kansas students: the Preschool-Aged At-Risk program, the Kansas Preschool Pilot grant, and Early Childhood Special Education (Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act). While these programs each have unique requirements, KSDE encourages local districts to offer services that support the needs of each student in combined classrooms supported by multiple funding sources. KSDE also hosts the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC), which is responsible for advising and assisting the Kansas governor and legislature on matters that impact Kansas families with children ages birth to 5 who have, or are at risk for, developmental delays. For more information about Preschool Programs visit our Preschool Program link.

Kansas Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot Tool

Engaging with families to better understand children’s development prepares children, families and schools for a successful start to the kindergarten year. To advance kindergarten readiness, all Kansas elementary schools are partnering with families of incoming kindergarten students to collect kindergarten-entry data. The Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) provide a snapshot of children’s developmental milestones. The Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot page has more information.

 

Page Links

Early Childhood Home Page
    (General information, Webinars)


Early Childhood Director
Amanda Petersen
Amanda.Petersen@ksde.gov

Parents as Teachers Coordinator
Lisa Williams
Lisa.Williams@ksde.gov

Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
Position Filled starting July 1st, 2025

Preschool Programs Coordinator
Natalie McClane
Natalie.McClane@ksde.gov

State Interagency Coordinating Council Coordinator
Stacy Clarke
kansasicc@ksde.gov

Data Coordinator
Trevor Huffman 
Trevor.Huffman@ksde.gov

For problems with this webpage
Please Contact
Beccy Strohm
Beccy.Strohm@ksde.gov
(785) 296-6602

 

Resources

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