Kindergartners' Skills in Smart Start Counties in 1995: A Baseline from Which To Measure Change

Smart Start is North Carolina's partnership between state government and local leaders, service providers, and families to better serve children under 6 years and their families with the aim of ensuring that all children are healthy and prepared to succeed as they enter school. This study examined the baseline skills of a representative sample of kindergartners in the 43 counties participating in Smart Start. Participating were 858 kindergarten teachers who rated 3,782 kindergartners on their pre-academic and social skills, estimated the number of children who were not ready at school entry to participate successfully, listed the characteristics necessary for kindergarten-readiness, and provided information on each child's poverty status and previous child care. Baseline findings are presented for the overall sample as well as for each county separately. Overall findings indicated that 18 percent of kindergartners were not ready at school entry to participate successfully. Although children's individual skill levels varied, the average child had many skills in the fall of kindergarten. Forty-two percent of children were from low-income families, with poor children less ready for school than children from more affluent families. Fifty-four percent of the children attended organized child care prior to school entry, with such participation associated with better school readiness. Teachers identified the following as the most important characteristics necessary for a children to be ready to attend kindergarten: listens and pays attention, good social skills, follows directions and instructions, basic knowledge, and good language and communication skills. (Copies of the data collection instruments are appended.) (Author/KB)