Strengthening the Transition to Kindergarten
Children enter kindergarten with a wide variety of previous education experiences: some have participated in pre-K programs, whether private, state-funded, or part of Head Start, while others have spent time in a family child care setting or in informal arrangements with family, friends, and neighbors. Regardless of the setting, this transition is fraught with stress and uncertainty for many children and their parents. It is up to the educators in both elementary school and pre-K settings to ease the transition into formal education.
New America is exploring strategies that support the planning of a stable, well-connected transition between early education and kindergarten. See below for our body of work on this issue.
Policy Papers
State Policies to Enhance Transitions Into Kindergarten
This Policy Guide provides an overview of state strategies for streamlining and making successful the transition from pre-K into kindergarten. It draws on examples from nine states and identifies three types of policy options for state policymakers to consider.
Blog Posts
Supporting Smooth Transitions to Kindergarten During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Communities across the country must get creative with how to ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten.
Who’s Helping Families Recover?
One young child on the autism spectrum who had been in their early childhood programs before the pandemic and was struggling with the transition into kindergarten. Prior to COVID-19, special education teachers and home visitors had worked closely with the child’s mother to offer suggestions for home routines consistent with what teachers were doing in the classroom. And they saw real progress. But now, after having been home for so long, the child’s challenging behaviors have returned, and the elementary school is not able to offer anywhere close to the same level of support.
Going Big for Little Kids: Why Kindergarten is Critical in the COVID-19 Recovery
Meghan McCormick and Christina Weiland highlight the importance of kindergarten and provide five research-backed investments in kindergarten state and district leaders can make as the country recovers from the pandemic.