Wisconsin’s Early Learning and Development Guidelines Revision Project In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is updating the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). The reason for this revision project is to incorporate: User feedback New research in the field Promising innovations from other states A complete draft of the updated Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines is now available for public review! Review the documents and take the feedback survey Frequently Asked Questions What are ELDGs? ELDGs are a foundational tool for all early childhood professionals and families. They offer expectations of children’s growth and development to support learning, planning, collaboration, and assessment. They can also improve state and local systems that benefit all children and families served. In Wisconsin, our current ELDGs are the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). The core content of the WMELS has not changed in over 20 years. Research into brain science and early childhood development has evolved during this time. Updating the ELDGs could create opportunities to increase knowledge, consistency, and collaboration, and bring partners together to strengthen Wisconsin’s early childhood state system. Are ELDGs and WMELS the same thing? Essentially, yes! ‘Early learning and development guidelines’ (ELDGs) is the generic federal term used by all states. The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) currently fulfills federal ELDG requirements for the state of Wisconsin. The updated ELDGs will use a title that aligns to their legal federal name — the Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDGs). Use of the term ‘guidelines’ is intended to emphasize that the document offers developmentally appropriate guidance for use across the various settings, sectors, and roles that serve young children from birth to age 5. Why do we have ELDGs? It’s required by federal law. States must establish early learning and development guidelines, “describing what children [from birth to kindergarten entry] should know and be able to do and covering the essential domains of early childhood development.” It's also good for professionals, children, and families. Who uses ELDGs? Implementing this tool requires deep and broad partnerships. DCF is the lead state agency governing ELDG implementation in Wisconsin. We work with many partners, such as the Departments of Public Instruction (DPI) and Health Services (DHS), along with many others at regional support agencies and in local communities. Some of the programs and services who use ELDGs and/or are looking to expand their use include: School district Pre-K and kindergarten Child care Head Start Early Intervention Early Childhood Special Education Pre-service and in-service instructors and professional development trainers Home Visiting Family Resource Centers Child Welfare including CPS, foster care, and kinship care Libraries, children’s museums, play groups, camps, and more! Who is involved in the revision work? In 2025-26, DCF is leading a collaborative process to revise the ELDGs, maintaining a core team of partners from DPI and DHS, and an advisory workgroup representing many other state and local partners. They include: Family Foundations Home Visiting Family Resource Centers YoungStar Quality Rating and Improvement System Head Start DPI Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education DHS Bureau of Children’s Services DHS Division of Public Health, Maternal Child Health University of Wisconsin Extension This process will build on current collaboration and find new ways to connect system partners. In 2025, DCF conducted a national procurement process to identify a partner with significant experience leading early learning and development guidelines (ELDG) revision processes for states. That partner, Marzano Research, is leading the development of the next version of our state’s ELDGs. How did the project engage early childhood professionals and the public to find out what to keep and what to change about the ELDGs? In late 2025, Marzano Research led a public review process of our state’s ELDGs. The results are available in the Wisconsin ELDG Revision Project Phase 1 Findings Brief. A Spanish version of this document is also available. How can I get involved or offer my feedback on WMELS? The public input period is now open! Please visit the WI ELDG Draft review webpage to download the documents and take the feedback survey. What are the next steps in the revision process? Holding project advisory team meetings (see graphic above for membership). Implementing feedback from the public draft release survey. Preparing for final editing and review, translation, and publication of the updated WI ELDGs in fall 2026. Planning for an adequate transition period for early childhood professionals to learn about and implement the updated ELDGs. What training will be available on the updated ELDGs? DCF is partnering with the Professional Development Network (PDN) at UW-Milwaukee - a respected partner with over twenty years of experience that currently provides training support for thousands of staff across child welfare, community health, early intervention, and other systems. PDN already houses trainings for Family Foundations Home Visiting, Family Support Professionals at Family Resource Centers, and child welfare professionals. The Child Care Foundational Training courses are also migrating to PDN. During the fall of 2026, DCF will be working with PDN to identify opportunities for future trainings on the updated ELDGs. The planning and design of new trainings will expand after the revised ELDGs have been finalized, later in 2026. Once the ELDGs are final, updated trainings and resources on the ELDGs will be released and enhanced periodically. Partnering agencies remain committed to the foundational vision and values of WMELS. DCF will work with DPI and DHS to plan for an adequate transition period for the field to become familiar with and begin implementing the revised ELDGs. During this transition period, trainings on current WMELS that are supported by the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners will continue uninterrupted. DCF and its partners are grateful for the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners’ work to develop and support WMELS resources for many years. While the revision process is underway, professional learning opportunities on WMELS should continue. Who can answer my questions about the project? If you have other questions, please contact dcfweldg@wisconsin.gov.
