How Family Engagement Supports Kindergarten Readiness /Early School Success

Family engagement is a critical driver in ensuring that all children enter kindergarten “ready to learn” and experience early school success. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kindergarten readiness can impact how successful a child is in high school and beyond, leading to better grades and lower dropout rates, as well as better health and lifestyle habits. Children who enter school with key readiness skills have an 82 percent chance of mastering basic skills by age 11, compared with 45 percent for young children who are not “kindergarten ready.” Yet, many children nationwide are still unable to reach this pivotal benchmark.

Moreover, emerging research confirms that the substantial gaps at the end of the kindergarten year persist well into elementary school and predict which students will experience early school success. That research supports the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to acknowledge that kindergarten is a bridge between the early years and early grades—and that we must make it a strong and sturdy bridge.

Join us on Tuesday, June 27 from 1-2:30 p.m. EST to hear from education leaders and practitioners who will share the latest research and on-the-ground lessons for how family engagement has improved kindergarten readiness and early school success in their states, districts, and communities. Moderated by Yolie Flores, President and CEO of Families In Schools, this panel conversation will explore:

• Why engaging families early matters for children’s long-term success
• How innovative technologies can be leveraged to support families
• The role that curriculum, professional development, and supplemental resources play in family engagement

This webinar is the fifth in a series of conversations designed to boost family engagement practices between school and home. The six-month series, produced by the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with Carnegie Corporation of New York and Overdeck Family Foundation, will explore bright spots in the field and provide education leaders and practitioners with resources and evidence-based strategies to support student success.

Featured panelists include:

• David Cintron, Superintendent, District 14, NYC Department of Education, New York, NY
• Rebecca Crouse Kelley, J.D., Executive Vice President of Advocacy, Waterford.org
• Shawn Foster, Ed.D., Superintendent, Orangeburg County School District, Orangeburg, SC
• Kai-ama Hamer, Director, ParentCorps
• Priscilla Hopkins, Executive Director, Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO
• Deborah Leong, Ph.D., Co-founder and President, Tools of the Mind