School Readiness Initiative

The case for high quality early childhood education becomes clear when linked to the importance of children entering school ready to learn. Children who enter kindergarten today are expected to know more than children in past decades. Children who participate in high quality early childhood education enter kindergarten with better language, pre-reading skills, social skills and critical thinking skills needed for math.

Focus On Our Future began its School Readiness Initiative in 2003 through a grant from the Heinz Endowments in partnership with York County Community Foundation, with five early childhood education programs and four school districts. In 2006, the initiative was expanded to work with nine programs and all York County School districts.

The School Readiness Initiative focused on assuring a smooth transition to kindergarten, tracking children in early childhood education programs as they moved to kindergarten and assisting providers in maintaining quality programs through accreditation and staff retention and training. To learn more about the School Readiness Initiative, click on the links.