Take Action: School Readiness

Toddler wearing mortar board representing school readiness

School Readiness refers to the field within Early Childhood Education that prepares children, aged 2¾ to 6, to participate in and derive maximum benefit from kindergarten, laying the foundation for continuous success in school. School Readiness programs address language development, cognitive skills, general knowledge, approaches to learning, and social and emotional skills.

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Source: Root Cause

While there are a variety of ways to prepare at-risk children for school, research shows that the best approach is a center-based program that includes:

A curriculum focused on education and socio-emotional development
Parent involvement programs
Access to complementary services through community partnerships

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Source: Root Cause

Program access, quality, and impact are the most important indicators in measuring the school readiness gap for at-risk children. Data for these indicators is not currently available, making it impossible to track long-term progress on the issue.

Access refers to the percent of at-risk children who are able to attend a school readiness program
Quality refers to the percent of school readiness programs serving low-income children that meet statewide quality standards
Impact refers to the percent of low-income children who score at grade level or above in third grade, a significant indicator of continued school success

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Source: Root Cause

Massachusetts
New York City

Massachusetts
Recommended Organization	Recommended By
Action for Boston Community Development	Root Cause
Associated Early Care and Education	Root Cause
Berkshire Children and Families	Root Cause
Children's Services of Roxbury	Root Cause
College Bound Dorchester	Root Cause
Community Action Programs, Inter-City, Inc.	Root Cause
Community Teamwork, Inc.	Root Cause
East Boston Social Centers	Root Cause
Enable, Inc.	Root Cause
Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start Inc.	Root Cause
Horizons for Homeless Children	Root Cause
Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción	Root Cause
Lynn Economic Opportunity, Inc.	Root Cause
Martha's Vineyard Community Services	Root Cause
Monta Chusett Opportunity Council, Inc.	Root Cause
North Star Learning Centers	Root Cause
Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.	Root Cause
Rainbow Child Development Center	Root Cause
Self Help, Inc.	Root Cause
YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Inc.	Root Cause
YWCA of Greater Lawrence	Root Cause
New York City
Recommended Organization	Recommended By
Association to Benefit Children	Root Cause
Children's Aid Society	Root Cause
Brooklyn Kindergarten Society	Root Cause
Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service	Root Cause
Graham-Windham	Root Cause
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House	Root Cause
Women's Housing and Economic Development Corp.	Root Cause

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