Studies show that educational achievement gaps already exist at Kindergarten entry.  Children from low-income families are more likely to start school with limited language skills, health problems and social and emotional problems that interfere with learning.  The larger the gap at school entry, the harder it is to close.

Schools can improve the readiness of young children by making connections with local child care providers and preschools by creating policies that ensure smooth transitions to kindergarten.  Schools must be ready to address the diverse needs of the children and families in their community and be committed to the success of every child. 

 







Third National Meeting

This was the Third National Meeting of the 17-state initiative to use child well-being indicators to improve school readiness and ensure early school success. Over the course of the Initiative, states will work individually and collectively to develop a comprehensive set of measures to monitor the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and economic well-being of young children. Indicators will reflect state investments in programs and policies for young children and families as well as child outcomes. States will develop policy goals and communications strategies to improve school readiness in their states.  

Meeting Objectives:

     * To link indicators of school readiness to policy and communication strategies.

     * To highlight state work on school readiness policy issues and kindergarten assessment strategies. 

     * To present outcomes from the second Residency Roundtable on indicators of language and literacy.

     * To share strategies for communicating with policymakers, community leaders and the public in order to create policy change to improve school readiness.

     * To reflect on the first year of the Initiative and plan long-term strategies.
  
 
       

© 2005, School Readiness Indicators Initiative
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The School Readiness Indicators Initiative is supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
The 17-state initiative is managed by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT