States revise their early learning guidelines regularly to reflect what research now tells us about how young children develop and learn and to align with their early childhood systems as those systems evolve. Wisconsin contracted with Marzano Research to conduct a focused effort to update its Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDGs), offering a strong example of how to approach this work with rigor and collaboration.
ELDGs define what children should know and be able to do at different stages of development from birth through kindergarten, or sometimes through grade 3. Early childhood professionals across systems, as well as families, may use the ELDGs to support child development.
The revision effort began with a shared goal to align guidance with current research and real-world practice. Wisconsin’s current guidelines have guided the field in the state since 2003. Since then, research in brain science and early childhood development has advanced significantly. State leaders recognized an opportunity to strengthen consistency, improve collaboration, and better support children and families by updating the guidance.
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, in partnership with the Departments of Public Instruction and Health Services, selected Marzano Research through a national procurement process in 2025 to lead the first phase of work, which focused on discovery and engagement.
The work included a comprehensive literature review, an analysis of other states’ guidelines, and extensive input from partners across Wisconsin. Educators, program leaders, and cross-agency partners shared what worked, what needed improvement, and what barriers affected implementation. Marzano Research captured statewide feedback and national trends, identified key themes, and outlined recommended updates to both content and format. We also highlighted common challenges that programs face when using early learning guidelines.
This approach allowed us to develop recommendations that reflect both the latest developmental science and the input from partners. Read a summary of what our research and analysis revealed in this brief.
These findings now guide the next phase of development. This year, Marzano Research is leading the creation of the next version of Wisconsin’s Early Learning and Development Guidelines. This phase will translate research and partner input into a practical, usable framework. Later in the year, the Department of Children and Families and its partners will release a public draft and invite feedback before finalizing the guidelines. This work reaches across Wisconsin’s early childhood system. The guidelines support school district pre-K and kindergarten, child care, Head Start, early intervention, and early childhood special education. They also inform home visiting programs, family resource centers, and community organizations. For Wisconsin early childhood leaders and practitioners, this update will strengthen clarity, ease of use, coordination across programs, and support for children and families through a shared, research-backed understanding of child development.
Learn more about our early childhood work or send me a message to get in touch about our early learning guidelines related services.