Better Beginnings: The State of Early Learning and Kindergarten Readiness in East Yakima and White Center

As the nation focuses more than ever on educational accountability and performance of public schools, policymakers, educators, and concerned parents are taking stock of developmental milestones children must reach to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. A sound beginning in school is critical to later achievement, yet many children lack key building blocks.

Research suggests that many of Washington state’s children need enhanced early learning support to improve their readiness for school. In its strategy document, “Investing in Children: An Early Learning Strategy for Washington,” the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation identified six key demographic risk factors that put significant numbers of Washington state children at a disadvantage when they enter kindergarten, such as living in poverty and living with a single parent or no parent.

Almost a quarter of Washington state’s children under age 5 experience two or more risk factors. Furthermore, in a 2005 survey, teachers judged that 75 percent of their kindergartners from lowest-income families were not ready when they began school.