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.

Language proficiency is a key predictor of school success. Early literacy skills (size of vocabulary, recognizing letters, understanding letter and sound relationships) at kindergarten entry are good predictors of children's reading abilities throughout their educational careers. Language and literacy skills enable children to develop cognitive skills and knowledge and to interact effectively with peers and adults.

 







 

Child Care Funding: The Story Since 1996, The Challenges in Reauthorization (March 2003); The Center for Law and Social Policy.

 

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Head Start Reauthorization: A Preliminary Analysis of H.R. 2210, the "School Readiness Act of 2003" (June 2003); The Center for Law and Social Policy.

 

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Building a Bridge from Birth to School: Improving Developmental and Behavioral Health Services for Young Children (May 2003); The Commonwealth Fund.

 

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Health Insurance for Children (2003); The Future of Children, volume 13, number 1.

 

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Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers: Case Studies of Three Community Strategies (April 2003); Mathematica Policy Research Inc.

 

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America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2003; The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics.

 

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Low-Income Children in the United States (2003); The National Center for Children in Poverty.

 

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Toward the ABC's, Building a Healthy Social and Emotional Foundation for Learning and Living; The Ounce of Prevention Fund.

 

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Significant Changes Proposed for Head Start Reauthorization (Spring 2003); Birth to 5 News.

 

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A Compendium of Multi-State Early Childhood Initiatives (February 2003).  Des Moines, IA: State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network.

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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