Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards

Hawai`i’s Preschool Content Standards describe the content of well-rounded preschool programs.

They cover the five developmental domains that are meaningful to preschool four-year-olds. These content standards were developed to align with the DOE’s K-2 Content and Performance Standards. Both the Hawai`i State Legislature and the Board of Education have adopted the standards and dissemination has begun in public and private preschools statewide.

2006 Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards

Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards POSTER

School Readiness Definition
Young children are ready to have successful learning experiences when there is a positive interaction among the child’s developmental characteristics, school practices, and family and community support. - School Readiness Task Force, 2003 Legislature Act 13



The 2003 Legislature made this definition a law when they passed Act 13. This definition underscores the shared responsibility that schools, families, and communities have in supporting young children. In Hawai`i, we are all publicly accountable for helping our children be successful in school.

These preschool content standards represent one way preschools can support children’s learning and success in school - by offering learning opportunities in their programs that promote the full development of our young children.



What are Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards?
Hawai`i’s content standards describe the content of well-rounded preschool programs. They cover the five developmental domains that are meaningful to preschool four-year-olds. For example, one domain, called Social and Personal Development, has five standards that describe the opportunities a preschool program should provide four-year-olds.

• Physical Development, Health & Safety
• Social and Personal Development
• Communication, Language Development & Literacy
• Cognitive Development
  
  • Symbolic Play
  
  
  • Mathematics
  
  
  • Science
  
  
  • Social Studies
  
  
• Creative Development
  
  • Art
  
  
  • Music
  
  
  • Creative Movement/Drama
  
  
  • Aesthetic Appreciation
  
  

Who are Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards for?

• Hawai`i’s content standards are for preschool teachers and directors first. They may also be shared with parents of preschoolers to help them understand the “content domain” of a quality preschool program.


• Professional organizations, foundations, other funders, and state agencies may also find the content standards useful when working in the area of early education.

They were written by Hawa`ii early childhood educators with extensive consultation from all parts of the community. They were reviewed by early childhood experts in other states.

Why are Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards Important?

• Hawai`i’s preschool content standards can guide a review of your preschool’s curriculum. Such use can help show which areas are strong, which need strengthening, and which areas may be missing altogether.


• Because the content standards build toward K-12 expectations for children in Hawaii public schools, their use as a preschool curriculum guide should help to ease the transitions to elementary school for young children and their families.


• The use of content standards as a program’s review guide would contribute to the NAEYC accreditation process. However, they do not affect licensing.


• Most of all, their use can enhance children’s learning and achievement.

• Guidelines for comprehensive developmentally-based preschool programs.


• NOT a curriculum and should not be confused with curriculum: they can guide selection or design of curriculum.


• NOT assessment strategies, but they can guide the selection or design of young children’s assessment. See NAEYC position statement on assessment (www.naeyc.org).


• NOT child outcomes, nor do they prescribe what all four-year-olds must learn. However, when these learning opportunities are present in a preschool program, they will enhance children’s curiosity and learning.

Our faculty were among those who developed the standards and we recognize along with the developers that early childhood education is the foundation for all other levels of education, including higher education. If we are to reach our potential as a state and nation of learners, we must provide the best possible education for our youngest citizens… Research indicates that meaningful standards that are thoughtfully implemented lead to positive learning outcomes for young children. - Randy Hitz, Dean UH Manoa, College of Education

Want To Know More?

Are you interested in learning more about Hawai`i Preschool Content Standards - how they might look in a classroom’s day-to-day activities; how you might use them to review curriculum; how you could share them with parents?

If so, please contact Good Beginnings Alliance. Training modules for using Hawai`i Preschool Standards are being developed.