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| June 17, 2010
Ready For Kindergarten? A Review of State Practices
Every year, more than three million children enroll in a public kindergarten program, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Research has shown a significant achievement gap already exists between low-income children and their more affluent peers at kindergarten entry. To improve long-term academic outcomes, increased attention is being given to supporting and assessing school readiness and identifying successful, evidence-based programs in early childhood that can ensure a more even start at school.
A new Child Trends research brief provides an overview of state Early Learning Guidelines and school readiness assessments. The brief, A Review of School Readiness Practices in the States: Early Learning Guidelines and Assessments, also outlines key policy considerations for developing and utilizing school readiness assessments at the state level. Researchers analyzed state approaches to school readiness assessments in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, identifying seven states that utilize assessments in order to monitor statewide levels of school readiness.
Among the findings:
- Though all states have early learning guidelines around what children should know and be able to do by kindergarten entry, very few states (just seven) administer a school readiness assessment to children upon school entry to monitor statewide readiness. The seven states with such assessments are: Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, and Vermont.
- States that monitor school readiness of kindergarten children in aggregate statewide can use the data to inform policy and investment decisions.
Policy considerations:
- School readiness is more than academics. Assessments that consider children's physical, social, and emotional progress will be most effective in supporting school readiness.
- Align standards in developmentally appropriate ways.
- Carefully consider the challenges associated with assessing young children.
- Readiness depends on supportive families, schools and communities.
The brief includes a complete list of state early learning guidelines and states' current school readiness assessment practices for children in kindergarten.
A Review of School Readiness Practices in the States is part of Child Trends' Early Childhood Highlights series, which summarizes the latest research on early childhood. Follow this and other early childhood research on Twitter at www.twitter.com/YoungChildFacts.
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