ERIC Number: EJ1483662
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Dec
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1976-5681
EISSN: EISSN-2288-6729
Available Date: 2025-09-15
Examining Science, Technology and Engineering Content in Early Learning Guidelines: A Count and Content Review and Analysis
Jessica A. Amsbary1; Ann M. Sam1; Hsiu-wen Yang1; Elica Sharifnia2; Kellen Reid1; Chih-Ing Lim1; Megan Vinh1
International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, v19 Article 17 2025
Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs) support early childhood educators, administrators, and professionals in developing and implementing early learning experiences to support young children's knowledge and skill development. Previous reviews of ELGs examined content addressed across states. However, no reviews have focused on science, technology, or engineering, which are becoming increasingly prevalent as target areas for all learners in the United States. The current review examined the extent (or count) to which science, technology, and engineering content are identified and included within ELGs and the content and processes included in the indicators. The results indicated most ELGs included specified science domains, with far fewer specified domains for technology or engineering. However, all ELGs addressed content at the indicator level for science, technology, and engineering. Individual indicators focused on earth and life science, physics, building and creating, and sequencing. Explicitly identifying content as science, engineering, and technology and expanding on the content to include additional topics (such as planning, designing, simple machines, and foundational computational thinking) could empower early educators to address these topics. To ensure indicators clearly articulate inclusive learning for science, technology, and engineering, additional evaluation of the content of indicators is needed.
Descriptors: Literature Reviews, Content Analysis, STEM Education, Early Childhood Education, Guidelines, Educational Legislation, State Policy
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015; Head Start
Grant or Contract Numbers: H327G180006
Department of Education Funded: Yes
Author Affiliations: 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Chapel Hill, USA; 2University of Denver, Marsico Institute for Early Learning, Denver, USA