Maine's Learning Standards (MELDS)

The Maine Early Learning and Development Standards (MELDS) is a statewide resource for everyone committed to the development of children birth through school entry to support the development of the whole child. The standards provide essential information to support and enhance children's development and learning and provide a continuum to the Maine Learning Results (MLRs), Maine's K–12 learning standards.

The Preschool MELDS has been designed as a resource for those in Maine working with and advocating for the high-quality, developmentally appropriate care of children aged three to five. This may include, but is not limited to: families, caregivers, home visitors, teachers, therapists and other professionals, community members, and policy makers. The intention of this document is to assist parents and those in our communities in working together to support the healthy development of Maine's youngest citizens.

The Preschool MELDS update is now complete. The table below shows the updated structure of the learning domains and how they align to the Infant Toddler MELDS and the Maine Learning Results.

To request a hard copy of the I/T MELDS, P-MELDS, or a matching poster, please reach out to your nearest contact listed below. These are pick-up locations only — there is no expectation for these sites to mail items by request.

The following resources support use of the Infant/Toddler and Preschool MELDS. Documents are available in English, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

• Maine Preschool MELDS aligned to Teaching Strategies Gold
• Maine Infant Toddler MELDS aligned to Teaching Strategies Gold
• Maine Learning Results
• Maine Department of Education Early Learning Team
• Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network
• Maine Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Services
• Maine Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Developmental Milestones
• Help Me Grow