School Readiness
The Right Start
Public education is the one entitlement offered to every child in the U.S. To benefit fully from education, children need to enter school ready to learn -- prepared emotionally, behaviorally and socially to participate in school activities. The goal of school readiness is to ensure that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability status, health status or class, have access to high-quality, early learning opportunities, health care and nutrition so that they can be successful in school.
Resources for School Readiness
UW Resources
Experimental Education Unit (EEU) at the Haring Center: A comprehensive, early childhood center that puts the research on school readiness into action everyday. The EEU provides a high quality early learning program for children with and without disabilities from birth through kindergarten.
Head Start Center on Inclusion: This UW program, funded by the Office of Head Start, is designed to increase the competence, confidence and effectiveness of educators in Head Start programs to include children with disabilities. The site offers training materials as well as tools for teachers and coordinators.
The Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences: ILABS is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to discovering the fundamental principles of human learning that will enable all children to achieve their full potential.
Parenting Clinic: The University of Washington's Parenting Clinic provides programs that promote children's social competence and reduce behavior problems.
External Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics Technical Paper on School Readiness: This report, founded on the premise that the beginning of a child’s educational experience begins years before kindergarten, provides school readiness tips for parents and other caregivers of children from birth to age 5.
Childcare.gov: This site, run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, offers school readiness activities for child care providers.
Getting Ready for Back to School: Developed by the national Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), this site fosters positive transitions for school success.
New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative: The Early Education Initiative seeks to promote a high-quality and continuous system of early care and education for all children, birth to age 8.
Parent Map: This Seattle-based company provides a website with articles written for, by and about parenting and news in the area of early childhood development.
Pre-K Now: This project of the Pew Center on the States is a public education and advocacy campaign that advances high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds.
Prepare My Child For School: This guide, developed and distributed by the U.S. Department of Education, provides activities and information to help you prepare your child for school. For children from infancy to 5 years old.
Thrive by Five Washington: A public-private partnership committed to making sure all children have the opportunity to thrive by the time they are 5.
Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL): The DEL offers information and resources to parents and teachers that help nurture safe and healthy early learning experiences for all Washington state children.
Washington State Association of Head Start (WSA) and Early Child Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP): WSA and ECEAP provide an intensive combination of education, health and nutrition screening and assistance, parent involvement and family support.
