The Maryland Department of Education convened the Virtual Education Policy Committee on February 7, 2024, to discuss significant updates to the state's early learning standards. The meeting featured presentations from Dr. Shana Cook and Dr. Collins, who outlined the extensive process of reviewing and revising these standards, which have not been updated in over a decade.

Dr. Cook emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing the new early learning standards. Feedback from educators and early childhood professionals indicated that the previous guidelines were often confused with curriculum and assessment tools, leading to challenges in their application. The new standards aim to clarify expectations for what young learners should know and be able to do, aligning with the latest research in brain science and learning.

The updated standards will replace the outdated guidelines and are structured to reflect developmental appropriateness by dividing age ranges into monthly bands rather than yearly spans. This change responds to feedback indicating that development varies significantly within a single year, particularly for children with disabilities. The new standards also simplify the structure of developmental domains, covering essential areas such as social and emotional development, language and literacy, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

The committee is seeking approval to move forward with these new standards, which are designed to provide a strong foundation for early learning and instruction across Maryland. The next steps will involve releasing the standards to early care and education providers for implementation. This initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing early childhood education in the state, ensuring that it meets the needs of children, families, and educators alike.