School Readiness

School readiness is a key way to measure the success of early care and education programs and resulting student wellness and success. High-quality environments, experiences and supports ahead of kindergarten have been linked with a multitude of positive benefits, including reading and math achievement.

To support equitable opportunities and outcomes, state policymakers can use the resources below to assess early care and education governance structures, search trends in state legislation, and find key strategies to support students and the workforce.

Recently Published Resources

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Featured

Topic

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

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Policy Brief

State Information Request: School Readiness and Outcomes

A state education leader asked for research that connects kindergarten school readiness with later student outcomes. Our response includes a summary of national research on school readiness and some examples […]

A Systems Focus to Improve School Readiness

This Special Report looks at the malleable and transformative components of educational and health considerations (and their intersections) as they impact school readiness. It provides examples of innovative state programs and policies, highlights new federal financial supports and closes with state-level policy takeaways.

Early Care and Education Governance

This Policy Outline provides examples of innovative practices from around the country, as well as a key set of questions for state leaders to consider.

Ed Note Blog Posts

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K-12

How States Can Support Ongoing Academic Recovery

School closures, quarantines and staffing uncertainties have contributed to the biggest math and reading declines our country has seen in more than two decades. The recent State of the American […]

Early Education (P-3)

3 States Share Efforts to Improve Kindergarten Transitions

Attendance declines and interruptions to instruction and care have led to a rise in behavioral issues and growing gaps in literacy and math for young children. Given these challenges, the […]

K-12

6 Ways Policymakers Can Support Learning in 2021-22 and Beyond

The phrase “back-to-school” has taken on a whole new meaning as students across the country are returning to the classroom — many for the first time after months of learning at home. Looking back to understand how the disruptions from the […]

Postsecondary

Lessons Learned From National Transfer Reform Efforts

Through decades of higher education evolution, credit transfer has been top of mind for policy makers, institutional leaders and students. From common course numbering to reverse transfer to broader pathways work, policy efforts and national initiatives […]

Postsecondary

How State Policy Can Help People Rebound and Advance

Updated: Oct. 5 An equitable economic recovery supports people who have been historically underserved and left out of opportunity, including people of color, individuals from low-income backgrounds and people with […]

K-12 Postsecondary

States Explore Solutions to Learning Loss and Equitable Transitions

In the year since the pandemic brought the country to a halt, state policymakers faced challenges transitioning to a remote work and schooling environment and began to lay the groundwork […]

Postsecondary

Governors Leading the Way to Career Readiness

Recognizing that the key to financial success increasingly can be found in higher levels of education, America’s governors are taking steps to build stronger connections between the education their residents […]

K-12

The Advantages of a Dedicated State School Safety Center

As one of the few states in the country with an established state School Safety Resource Center, Colorado schools have a partner in helping them meet required safety legislation. Established […]

K-12

Identifying the Gaps in Access to Technology and Rigorous Coursework Between Rural and Non-Rural Students

I went to school in a rural area, surrounded by cornfields. Our high school mascot was even named the Greenwave in honor of the landscape. I was fortunate in that, […]

Postsecondary

Disproportionate Representation at the State Level May Be Hurting Rural Communities

Recently, our colleagues Molly Sarubbi and Lauren Sisneros wrote about some of the challenges facing education in rural communities. From the availability of Advanced Placement courses or relevant career and […]

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