What is School Readiness?

School readiness refers to the development of a group of skills children need to participate in formal learning activities, generally kindergarten. It can include readiness to read, write, and count; to sit and listen to adults and other children; to follow two-step directions; to ask an adult for help; to interact appropriately with other children; to use the toilet independently. Although there are many skills considered important for early school success, there is no universal set of behaviors required for a child to enter kindergarten. In fact, the sole entry requirement for kindergarten in the United States is chronological age: children must be five years old by a certain date, usually by September first.

What Do We Know About School Readiness?

Young children learn at different rates; this is particularly noteworthy from preschool through about age eight. For example, while the average child can learn to decode words at about age six, it is normal for children to learn this skill as early as age four and as late as age seven. This wide but normal range is also true for drawing, writing letters and numbers, counting, speaking articulately, and following multiple directions. Therefore, a typical kindergarten class will include children entering with wide variation in their school- related skills.

We know that most children will perform satisfactorily in school, regardless of their age of school entry. Most differences related to age seem to disappear by third grade. Socio-economic status is a better predictor of academic success than chronological age, perhaps because parents with more economic resources are more likely to provide experiences to better prepare children for school. We also know that children who attend preschool programs tend to perform better in kindergarten, both academically and socially.

Finally, we know that children who have disabilities or who are at risk for learning problems benefit by beginning school as soon as possible so that they can receive any special help they need.

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