Strategic Plan

Support communities, educational environments, families, and children to ensure that each child entering kindergarten at age five is socially, emotionally, and academically prepared.

5.4.1   Provide information to families and technical assistance(Technical Assistance (TA) is the provision of targeted and customized aid to develop or strengthen processes, knowledge application, or implementation of services by a professional(s) with subject matter expertise and skills in adult learning practices.) to school systems to increase the number of students who participate in the Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot (the Ages and Stages Questionnaires).

5.4.2   Build community partnerships between elementary schools and early childhood care and education providers to ensure smooth transitions to Pre-K and kindergarten.

5.4.3   Inform families and community-based organizations about the importance of transitions, and help families develop transition plans to ensure they receive needed services during times of change, including but not limited to age-related transitions, changes in conditions, and/or geographic moves.

What do these icons mean(To help Kansans see themselves as key contributors to the important work ahead, each tactic displays one or more icons representing where stakeholders can have impact.)?

The Kindergarten Transitions Toolkit, developed by the Early Childhood Recommendations Panel and adopted by the Early Childhood Advisory Council, helps communities build a sustainable kindergarten transition plan, while the PDG Quality Subgrants for Kindergarten Readiness fund partnerships to support this transition. Additionally, the updated Kindergarten in Kansas booklets are now available in five languages. The Kansas Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot initiative continues to support the administration of the ASQ developmental screening tool, and the Bridges Pilot has expanded care coordination(Care coordination models center services around a child and family, and share information among partners for the best possible experience.) for families with children transitioning from Part B to Part C services by partnering with Infant Toddlers Services.

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet’s work to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library throughout the state directly supports families and literacy by mailing free books to children from birth to age 5. Research has shown that children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library increased kindergarten readiness by 28.9%, and the program has been linked to significantly stronger reading skills from kindergarten to 3^rd grade, an entire four years after participating.