Connecticut Documentation & Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS)

Connecticut’s Documentation & Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS) is a framework to guide early care and education providers in a process of monitoring children’s progress on the skills, abilities, and behaviors in the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS).

This video provides an overview of CT DOTS, including information about the purposes for this tool, the layout of the materials, and how you can appropriately use CT DOTS.

Used in conjunction with the CT ELDS, CT DOTS is a foundation for:

  • Gathering data about children’s skills, abilities, and behaviors
  • Planning additional supports (e.g., curriculum, instruction, professional development, family activities, adult support) 
  • Summarizing evidence of children’s progress
  • Communicating around common goals

CT DOTS supports early care and education providers to:

  • Observe children in naturally occurring situations
  • Plan engaging experiences for children and observe their behavior and skills
  • Partner with families to share information about their children
  • Plan additional supports (e.g., curriculum, instruction, professional development, family activities, adult support)
  • Communicate about common goals for children

CT DOTS Family Input Pages

The CT DOTS Family Pages are one way that teachers can gather information about a child’s learning and development. These fillable forms are available in English and Spanish and include tips for supporting learning and development at home.

Download or print CT DOTS materials

Visit this page to download additional CT DOTS or CT Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS) documents or to order materials.

CT DOTS Forms

CT DOTS Research and Reports

  • The CT DOTS Pilot Report (2017) includes information about the initial development of CT DOTS, as well as data from the initial pilot in early childhood programs across Connecticut. This report was prepared by the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut.
  • The CT DOTS Field Test Report (2018) includes data and recommendations based upon a field test of CT DOTS in 66 early care and education programs. This report was prepared by the CT Office of Early Childhood.
  • The CT DOTS Age Anchoring Report (2019) describes the methods and results from a study of the alignment between age bands and skills represented in CT DOTS as compared with other norm-referenced assessment tools. This study was conducted by the University of Connecticut University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).
  • The CT DOTS Initial Reliability Report (2019) describes the methods and results from an initial study looking at the reliability between raters using CT DOTS.

Last updated February 28, 2024