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. 

 







Building Early Learning Systems in the States: The Build Initiative. Fact sheet.

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Findings of a Survey Conducted for The Packard Foundation (October 2002). Washington, DC: Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

Click here to download this publication.


"Improving the Readiness of Children for School" from State Policies That Work: A Series of Policy Briefs from the Policy Matters Project, Brief no. 2. Washington, DC: Center for the Study of Social Policy.

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Pianta, Robert et. al. Enhancing the Transition to Kindergarten: Linking Children, Families, and Schools (2000). Charlottesville, VA: National Center for Early Development and Learning, University of Virginia.

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Rosenbaum, Sara, et. al. Room to Grow: Promoting Child Development Through Medicaid and CHIP (July 2001). Washington, DC: The Commonwealth Fund.

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"Transition to Kindergarten" from Early Childhood Research and Policy Briefs, Winter 2002, vol. 2 no. 2. Charlottesville, VA: National Center for Early Development and Learning, University of Virginia.

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WEB RESOURCES

The Build Initiative
www.BuildInitiative.org

The Council of Chief State School Officers
www.ccsso.org

The Child and Family Policy Center
www.cfpciowa.org

The Commonwealth Fund
www.cmwf.org

The Center for the Study of Social Policy
www.cssp.org

Education Commission of the States
www.ecs.org

Peter D. Hart Research Associates
www.hartresearch.com

The National Association for the Education of Young Children
www.naeyc.org

National Center for Early Development and Learning
www.ncedl.org

National Conference of State Legislatures
www.ncsl.org

National Governors Association
www.nga.org
       

© 2005, School Readiness Indicators Initiative
One Union Station Providence, RI 02903 401.351.9400 fax 401.351.1758
If you have a question or comment about this website, please contact us.

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