How does the Illinois Early Learning Standards align with curriculum development?

The Illinois Early Learning Standards serve as a comprehensive framework designed to align educational practices with developmental benchmarks for young children. This framework outlines expectations for what children should know and be able to do at various stages of development, thereby guiding educators in selecting age-appropriate activities, materials, and teaching strategies that support learning.

By providing clear benchmarks, the standards help ensure that educational programs promote the holistic development of children across multiple domains—including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive areas. This alignment aids curriculum development by encouraging educators to thoughtfully plan lessons that not only meet but also respect the unique developmental needs of each child. Therefore, the focus on developmental benchmarks fosters an intentional approach to curriculum that prioritizes high-quality early education experiences.

The other options present ideas that are misleading or do not align with the intent of the Illinois Early Learning Standards. The standards do not restrict educators to a specific set of materials; instead, they encourage the use of diverse resources that are developmentally appropriate. They also do not eliminate the need for assessments; rather, assessments are integral in evaluating children's progress and guiding instruction. Finally, while the standards provide a framework, they do not allow for complete freedom in lesson plans, as they encourage alignment with developmental goals to ensure effective learning outcomes.