National Survey of State Policies on Readiness
Investigators:
Gitanjali Saluja
(saluja@mail.fpg.unc.edu)
, and Richard Clifford of NCEDL and Catherine Scott-Little of SERVE
Research structure: A survey was made of early childhood state representatives in all 50 states
Key findings include: Data indicate that efforts to minimize the misuse of readiness assessment tools may have had some impact at the state level. Respondents seemed to indicate an increased awareness of recommended early childhood assessment practices.
Results indicate that as of January 2000: - Age was the criteria most used to determine eligibility for kindergarten.
- No state had an official statewide definition of school readiness.
- Several states were studying the issue of school readiness.
- Local school districts were often making decisions about how children should be assessed and how data on children should be used.
A number of states reported that local districts continued to use standardized testing with young children. A number of states mandated formal screenings for every child to meet the federal IDEA requirements for a plan to identify children with disabilities. Many reported efforts to clarify the difference between readiness testing and screening, and how screening results should be used.
Other findings: - Five states say that local districts may have formal definitions for school readiness.
- Five states report they have frameworks or benchmarks to describe readiness.
- Six states say they believe states should place emphasis on schools being ready for all children.
- Thirteen states say they conduct statewide screening when children enter kindergarten.
- Twenty-six say they do not mandate readiness assessments, but local districts may chose to assess children prior to, or as they enter, kindergarten.
- Twelve states say they use data collected on children prior to kindergarten for instructional purposes. Seven say the data help identify high-need schools and improve outcome and services for children in families in need.
- Most states do not have statewide readiness assessments in place for children with special needs.
Products:
National Center for Early Development & Learning. (2000, September). Spotlight # 26: State polices on readiness surveyed. Chapel Hill, NC: author.
(The "Readiness for School: Survey of States" survey used in this study is available. Go to the Survey page.)
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