Wisconsin's adoption of the Common Core State Standards provides an excellent opportunity for Wisconsin school districts and communities to define expectations from birth through preparation for college and work. By aligning the existing Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards with the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards, expectations can be set from birth through high school completion. Since 2003, the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards have helped all programs serving children under mandatory school age to identify what children from birth through age 5 should know and be able to do. Schools across the state have worked with child care, Head Start, and other community programs to incorporate the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards into their early childhood special education, four-year-old kindergarten, and five-year-old kindergarten programs. The adoption of "Wisconsin Common Core State Standards" will allow significant alignment between the "Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards" and the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards provide developmental expectations for young children from birth through kindergarten that are foundational to the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards for kindergarten through grade 12. School districts are encouraged to use both the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards as they move forward with their standards work in early childhood special education, four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten programs, and the primary school years. This brief document provides information that will assist in these efforts.