Foundational Language Development (FLD)
Other California PTK DRDP: An Early Childhood Developmental Continuum sets
Other California PTK DRDP: An Early Childhood Developmental Continuum sets
Understanding Language (Receptive)1
- 1
Understanding Language (Receptive)1
Child understands increasingly complex language, including vocabulary in home language, English, sign language, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Responding
- E
Responds to sounds or sights nearby in the environmentEarlier
- L
Orients toward the source of sounds or tracks sights in the environment, including familiar voices or facesLater
- E
Exploring
- E
Shows understanding that communication with gestures, words, or signs carries meaningEarlier
- M
Shows understanding of a variety of single words in their environment Middle
- L
Shows understanding offrequently used simple phrases or sentences, in the presentLater
- E
Building
- E
Shows understanding of phrases or sentences, including those referring to the past or future Earlier
- M
Shows understanding of vocabulary that describes attributes and comparisons in context (e.g., in conversations, stories, or learning activities) Middle
- L
Shows understanding of language, which refers to abstract concepts, including imaginary events Later
- E
Integrating
- E
Shows understanding of a variety of statements that explain how or why things happenEarlier
- M
Shows understanding of a variety of statements that explain how, why,or the order in which things happen Middle
- L
Shows understanding of a variety of verbs that differ in manner (e.g., "look," "peek,""glare") and adjectives that differ in intensity (e.g., "large," "gigantic")Later
- E
Using Language (Expressive)2
- 2
Using Language (Expressive)2
Child uses increasingly complex language, including vocabulary, sentences, questions, narratives, and explanations, in their home language, English, sign language, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Responding
- E
Makes sounds or moves hands spontaneouslyEarlier
- L
Makes sounds, gestures, or facial expressions with intentionLater
- E
Exploring
- E
Uses vocal sounds with multiple syllables or hand movements in language-like sequences with the intention to communicateEarlier
- M
Uses a growing variety of single words, word approximations, signs, words and signs together, conventional gestures, or symbols to communicateMiddle
- L
Combines two words, signs, a word and a sign, or symbols to communicate simple ideasLater
- E
Building
- E
Uses phrases and sentences of more than two words, signs, words and signs together, or symbols,including a variety of nouns, verbs, or pronouns to communicate Earlier
- M
Uses phrases and sentences that contain nouns, verbs, and their modifiers (e.g., adjectives, adverbs)Middle
- L
Uses complete sentences that communicate ideas or simple stories using common connecting words, signs, words and signs, or symbolsLater
- E
Integrating
- E
Uses complex sentences to describe the relationships between people, objects, or events using words, signs, words and signs together, or symbols Earlier
- M
Combines sentences to communicate complex ideas, providing additional detail about relationships between people, objects, or events using words, signs, words and signs together, or symbols Middle
- L
Uses most ofthe grammar of adultlike language, using words, signs, words and signs together, or symbolsLater
- E
Shared Communication and Conversation3
- 3
Shared Communication and Conversation3
Child engages in back-and-forth communication with shared focus in increasingly extended conversations, using home language, English, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
Responding
- E
Responds to othersEarlier
- L
Pays attention when an adult communicates to themLater
- E
Exploring
- E
Imitates adult speech sounds or signs and engages in turn-taking through vocalization, gestures, or eye gazeEarlier
- M
Uses single gestures, words, or signs to take turns in brief back-and-forth communication with adults, including responding to simple questionsMiddle
- L
Uses combinations of words, gestures, and signs to take turns in brief back-and-forth communicationLater
- E
Building
- E
Engages in brief conversations on topic for several turns, sharing opinions and thoughtsEarlier
- M
Engages in conversations, building on the other person's ideasMiddle
- L
Adjusts responses to meetthe needs of the other person during conversations (e.g., providing clarifying comments), spoken or signed Later
- E
Integrating
- E
Expands on ideas of others during conversations by adding detail, making predictions, or offering possible solutionsEarlier
- M
Seeks additional information during extended conversations to understand and build on the ideas and perspectives of othersMiddle
- L
Displays appropriate turn-taking and social conventions of conversationLater
- E
Foundational Literacy Skills4
- 4
Foundational Literacy Skills4
Child shows increasing ability to manipulate and combine components of language related to early literacy: phonological awareness for children learning to communicate using spoken language; location, handshapes, and movement for children learning to communicate using sign language; and recognition, combination, and use in set phrases for children learning to communicate using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbols
Exploring
- E
There are no earlier levels for this measure.Earlier
- M
Demonstrates awareness of variations in soundsMiddle
- M
Attends, when prompted, to hands or a person who is signingMiddle
- M
Participates in cause and effect playMiddle
- L
Engages in play with syllables or sounds in words or rhymes Later
- L
Produces familiar fingerspelled words as signsLater
- L
Explores devices or symbolsLater
- E
Building
- E
Engages in familiar rhymes or songs Earlier
- E
Plays with how signs are producedEarlier
- E
Points to familiar symbols following modeling from an adultEarlier
- M
Demonstrates understanding ofthe syllables in words with two or more syllables Middle
- M
Recognizes the phonological features of signs (e.g., handshape, location, and movement)Middle
- M
Points to a few core words that are introduced and reinforced by an adult Middle
- L
Isolates and pronounces the first sound of a word, with support of pictures or objectsLater
- L
Produces signs that have specific |phonological features of signsLater
- L
Isolates the first sound of a spoken word, with support of pictures or objectsLater
- E
Integrating
- E
Blends onset and rimes into words in speech, with adult supportEarlier
- E
Segments signs to modify the meaningEarlier
- E
Demonstrates understanding of how language is organized on AAC device to access non-core wordsEarlier
- M
Segments onset and rime of singlesyllable spoken words in English, or segments each syllable of twosyllable words in Spanish Middle
- M
Segments a sentence into isolated signsMiddle
- M
Segments a sentence composed of AAC symbols or print into its core units of meaningMiddle
- L
Segments spoken single-syllable words into their complete sequence of individual sounds, or segments each syllable of three-syllable words in SpanishLater
- L
Demonstrates understanding that the same idea can be communicated in different waysLater
- L
Segments spoken single-syllable words into their complete sequence of individual sounds Later
- E
Alphabetics and Print Knowledge*5
- 5
Alphabetics and Print Knowledge*5
Child shows increasing awareness of symbols, characters, or letters in the environment, including identifying how letter and word names, sounds, or fingerspelling correspond to printed text or braille
Exploring
- E
There are no earlier levels for this measure. Earlier
- M
Follows along briefly when an adult names pictures or objects in a book Middle
- L
Demonstrates awareness that pictures or objects can represent people or thingsLater
- E
Building
- E
Distinguishes letters, signs, or characters (e.g., L with a picture of a mountain next to it) from other symbols or picturesEarlier
- M
Identifies some (3-10) letters by name in an alphabetic languageMiddle
- M
Identifies some characters (e.g., LI; )by meaningMiddle
- L
Identifies about half of letters (11-15) by name in an alphabetic languageLater
- L
Identifies own name in print Later
- E
Integrating
- E
Identifies the corresponding sounds or handshapes of about half of the letters in an alphabetic languageEarlier
- E
Identifies a few familiar printed wordsEarlier
- M
Forall children: Identifies the sounds or handshapes of all letters in an alphabetic language Middle
- M
demonstrates one of the following: Middle
- 1
For children who use a spoken language: Decodes regularly spelled one-syllable words in English or two-syllable words in Spanish
- 2
For children who do not use a spoken language: Identifies a growing variety of printed words
- 1
- L
For children who use a spoken language: Decodes regularly spelled two-syllable words in English or three-syllable words in Spanish in isolation and within sentencesLater
- L
For children who do not use a spoken language: Shows understanding of frequently used simple phrases or sentences in written English
- E
Writing
Writing
Child shows increasing ability to write using marks, scribbles, drawings, letters, characters, or words to represent meaning*
Exploring
- E
There are no earlier levels for this measure. Earlier
- M
Makes marks on paper or other surfaces (e.g., tablet) when provided with writing materialsMiddle
- L
Makes scribble lines or imitates simple shapes on paper or other surfacesLater
- E
Building
- E
Describes theirown drawings or scribblesEarlier
- M
Communicates that lines, curves, or drawings they write on paper or other surfaces represent letters, handshapes, characters, or fingerspellingMiddle
- L
rites letters or characters that are familiar or are personally meaningfulLater
- E
Integrating
- E
ritesown name or other meaningful words using increasingly more recognizable letters or characters Earlier
- M
Writes letters on a page to form a simple sentence to communicate opinions or to describe a picture they drew Middle
- L
Writes a combination of sentences to communicate ideas, respond to a prompt from an adult, or recount an eventLater
- E
Frequently asked questions
- What grade levels do these standards cover?
- PRE-K and Kindergarten
- Where can I read the official document?
- PTK DRDP (2025) An Early Childhood Developmental Continuum
Keep exploring
Keep exploring PTK DRDP: An Early Childhood Developmental Continuum standards
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