The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) provide a comprehensive framework for children from birth to the entrance of first grade. Unlike K-12 standards which are strictly grade-level dependent, WMELS is designed as a **Developmental Continuum**, recognizing that children develop at different rates. The framework is organized into five interrelated domains that map directly to core academic subjects and holistic developmental needs.

{
"framework": {
"name": "WMELS",
"full_name": "Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards",
"governing_body": "Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Department of Health Services (DHS)",
"website": "https://dpi.wi.gov/early-childhood/practice/wisconsin-model-early-learning-standards",
"description": "A comprehensive framework outlining developmental expectations for children from birth to first grade. It provides a common language for families and educators to support the multidimensional growth of young children across five key domains.",
"year_adopted": "2017"
},
"grade_levels": [
"Birth to Age 3 (Infant/Toddler)",
"Age 3 to 4 (Preschool)",
"Age 4 to 5 (4K/Pre-K)",
"Age 5 to 6 (5K/Kindergarten)"
],
"subjects": [
{
"name": "Language Arts (Language Development and Communication)",
"standards_by_grade": {
"Early Childhood Continuum": [
{
"code": "A.EL.1",
"domain": "Listening and Understanding",
"standard": "Derives meaning through listening to communications of others and sounds in the environment.",
"key_skills": ["Auditory discrimination", "Receptive language", "Contextual meaning"]
},
{
"code": "B.EL.2a",
"domain": "Speaking and Communicating",
"standard": "Uses vocalizations and spoken language to communicate (Language Form: Syntax/Grammar).",
"key_skills": ["Sentence structure", "Grammar usage", "Verbal expression"]
},
{
"code": "C.EL.2",
"domain": "Early Literacy",
"standard": "Develops alphabetic awareness.",
"key_skills": ["Letter recognition", "Letter-sound correspondence", "Symbol identification"]
},
{
"code": "C.EL.3",
"domain": "Early Literacy",
"standard": "Develops phonological and phonemic awareness.",
"key_skills": ["Rhyming", "Syllable segmenting", "Sound manipulation"]
}
]
}
},
{
"name": "Mathematics (Cognition and General Knowledge: Mathematical Thinking)",
"standards_by_grade": {
"Early Childhood Continuum": [
{
"code": "B.EL.1",
"domain": "Mathematical Thinking",
"standard": "Demonstrates an understanding of numbers and counting.",
"key_skills": ["One-to-one correspondence", "Cardinality", "Number recognition"]
},
{
"code": "B.EL.3",
"domain": "Mathematical Thinking",
"standard": "Explores, recognizes, and describes shapes and spatial relationships.",
"key_skills": ["Geometry", "Spatial awareness", "Shape naming"]
},
{
"code": "B.EL.5",
"domain": "Mathematical Thinking",
"standard": "Understands the concept of measurement.",
"key_skills": ["Comparing size", "Using non-standard units", "Seriation"]
}
]
}
},
{
"name": "Science (Cognition and General Knowledge: Scientific Thinking)",
"standards_by_grade": {
"Early Childhood Continuum": [
{
"code": "C.EL.1",
"domain": "Scientific Thinking",
"standard": "Uses observation to gather information.",
"key_skills": ["Sensory observation", "Noticing details", "Describing properties"]
},
{
"code": "C.EL.2",
"domain": "Scientific Thinking",
"standard": "Uses tools to gather information and seek answers to questions through active investigation.",
"key_skills": ["Inquiry", "Tool usage (magnifiers, scales)", "Experimentation"]
},
{
"code": "C.EL.3",
"domain": "Scientific Thinking",
"standard": "Hypothesizes and makes predictions.",
"key_skills": ["Predicting outcomes", "Cause and effect", "Logical reasoning"]
}
]
}
},
{
"name": "Social Studies (Cognition and General Knowledge: Social Systems)",
"standards_by_grade": {
"Early Childhood Continuum": [
{
"code": "A.EL.1",
"domain": "Exploration and Discovery",
"standard": "Uses multi-sensory abilities to process information about the social environment.",
"key_skills": ["Community awareness", "Social observation", "Cultural curiosity"]
},
{
"code": "D.EL.1",
"domain": "Social Systems",
"standard": "Understands family and community relationships and roles.",
"key_skills": ["Role identification", "Community helpers", "Family structures"]
},
{
"code": "D.EL.2",
"domain": "Social Systems",
"standard": "Shows understanding of and respect for diversity.",
"key_skills": ["Cultural awareness", "Empathy", "Inclusive behavior"]
}
]
}
}
],
"implementation_notes": "WMELS is implemented as a voluntary framework to guide curriculum and assessment. It uses a 'Developmental Continuum' rather than rigid age-cutoffs, allowing educators to meet children where they are. It is designed to align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for 5K and beyond.",
"assessment_info": "Assessment is typically observation-based and ongoing. Wisconsin uses the 'Child Outcomes' summary process and tools like the 'WMELS Alignment Tool' to ensure local curricula meet these standards.",
"sources": [
"https://dpi.wi.gov/early-childhood/practice/wisconsin-model-early-learning-standards",
"https://www.collaboratingpartners.com/wmels-documents.php",
"https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/youngstar/providers/wmels"
]
}