--- title: "Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards" id: "22350" type: "page" slug: "mississippi" published_at: "2026-05-29T16:59:52+00:00" modified_at: "2026-05-29T16:59:52+00:00" url: "https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/" markdown_url: "https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi.md" excerpt: "Standards-alignedAll 8 domains coveredNAEYC & Head Start aligned Browse other states Arizona Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Michigan Minnesota Missouri New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Texas View all 51 states → Mississippi framework overview Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards:..." taxonomy_language: - "English" --- [Brightwheel](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/) › [Early Learning Standards](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/) › [Mississippi](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/) › Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards # Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards ## Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards: The official early learning framework — all 8 developmental domains and how Experience Curriculum aligns to each one. Standards-alignedAll 8 domains coveredNAEYC & Head Start aligned Browse other states [Arizona](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/arizona/) [Colorado](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/colorado/) [Florida](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/florida/) [Georgia](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/georgia/) [Illinois](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/illinois/) [Indiana](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/indiana/) [Michigan](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/michigan/) [Minnesota](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/minnesota/) [Missouri](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/missouri/) [New York](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/new-york/) [North Carolina](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/north-carolina/) [Ohio](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/ohio/) [Pennsylvania](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/pennsylvania/) [Texas](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/texas/) [View all 51 states →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/) Mississippi framework overview## Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards: The official early learning standards framework Mississippi’s early learning standards are organized under the Mississippi Early Learning Standards for Classrooms Serving Infants through Four-Year-Old Children (2018), administered by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Early Childhood. The 2018 edition updated the name from “Guidelines” to “Standards.” They apply to licensed childcare centers, Head Start programs, and Mississippi Building Blocks pre-K programs serving children from birth through age 4. Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards define developmental expectations across all 8 domains and guide curriculum planning, developmental assessment, and program quality statewide. Programs can view current guidance at the [MDE Early Childhood page](https://mdek12.org) . Framework name Mississippi Early Learning Standards for Classrooms Serving Infants through Four-Year-Old Children (2018) Administered by Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Early Childhood Age range covered Birth through age 4 Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System Mississippi’s QRIS is called the Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System, a star-based system funded by state and CCDF Quality funds and implemented by Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute (MSU ECI). Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards supports higher quality step ratings. Explore by developmental domain## Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards domains and Experience Curriculum alignment Select a developmental domain below to see how Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards defines that domain, the key milestones by age group, and exactly how Experience Curriculum activities and skills map to each Mississippi Early Learning Standards indicator. [Social-Emotional DevelopmentSelf-regulation, peer relationships, identity, empathy, and emotional expressionExplore Mississippi Social-Emotional Development standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/social-emotional/) [Language & LiteracyReceptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, early reading and writingExplore Mississippi Language & Literacy standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/language-literacy/) [Mathematics & ReasoningNumber sense, patterns, measurement, spatial reasoning, and early problem-solvingExplore Mississippi Mathematics & Reasoning standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/mathematics/) [ScienceObservation, inquiry, cause-and-effect, and exploration of the natural worldExplore Mississippi Science standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/science/) [Social StudiesCommunity, family, cultural identity, roles, and civic understandingExplore Mississippi Social Studies standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/social-studies/) [Creative ArtsVisual arts, music, movement, dramatic play, and creative expressionExplore Mississippi Creative Arts standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/creative-arts/) [Physical DevelopmentGross and fine motor skills, body awareness, health, and self-careExplore Mississippi Physical Development standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/physical-development/) [Approaches to LearningCuriosity, persistence, initiative, flexibility, and attentionExplore Mississippi Approaches to Learning standards →](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/early-learning-standards/mississippi/approaches-to-learning/) Curriculum alignment## How Experience Curriculum aligns to Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards across all three age bands — Baby (birth to 18 months), Toddler (18 to 36 months), and Preschool (3 to 5 years) — and all 8 developmental domains. The [Mississippi Early Learning Standards Alignment PDF](https://www.mothergoosetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MississippiEarlyLearningStandards.pdf) documents how every Experience Curriculum activity and skill maps to a specific Mississippi Early Learning Standards indicator. For Mississippi programs using brightwheel, developmental observations can be logged directly in the app during or after activities, automatically building each child’s portfolio and supporting Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System curriculum documentation requirements. Download the alignment PDF The [Mississippi Early Learning Standards Alignment PDF](https://www.mothergoosetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MississippiEarlyLearningStandards.pdf) is a free resource documenting how every Experience Curriculum activity maps to Mississippi’s Mississippi Early Learning Standards indicators — suitable for QRIS review submissions and licensing documentation. Frequently asked questions## Common questions about Mississippi’s early learning standards What is Mississippi’s official early learning framework? Mississippi uses the Early Learning Standards for Classrooms Serving Infants through Four-Year-Old Children (2018), administered by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Early Childhood, as its official early learning framework. The 2018 edition changed the name from “Guidelines” to “Standards” and covers all 8 developmental domains from birth through age 4. Is Experience Curriculum aligned to Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards? Yes. Experience Curriculum is formally aligned to Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards across all age bands (Baby, Toddler, and Preschool) and all 8 developmental domains. The Mississippi Alignment PDF maps every Experience Curriculum activity to the specific standard it supports, providing documentation for the Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System reviews and licensing visits. Does Mississippi have a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)? Yes. Mississippi’s QRIS is called the Mississippi Child Care Quality Step System, a star-based system funded by state and CCDF Quality funds and implemented by Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute (MSU ECI). Using a research-based curriculum aligned to Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards supports higher quality step ratings. Which Mississippi programs are required to follow the Early Learning Standards? Mississippi Building Blocks pre-K programs, licensed childcare centers receiving CCDF funding, and Head Start programs are expected to use a curriculum aligned to Mississippi’s Early Learning Standards. ## See Experience Curriculum in your Mississippi program Research-based, state-aligned curriculum delivered to your door every month. [Get a free tour](https://brightwhedev.wpengine.com/experience-curriculum/)