School Readiness
Every child enters school ready to learn. Families, schools, communities, and policy-makers must create a system that supports all young children's learning with respect for individual differences in physical, mental, and social-emotional development. The School Readiness Initiative focuses on the shared responsibility between the public and private sectors in providing quality early learning opportunities for all of Hawaii's young children.School Readiness Definition
Young children are ready to have successful learning experiences when there is a positive interaction among the child’s developmental characteristics, school practices, and family and community support.
- School Readiness Task Force, adopted by the 2003 Legislature in Act 13.
Why School Readiness is Important
- 85 percent of a child’s development occurs in the first five years of life.
- Early education and care reduces the K-12 academic achievement gap.
- Early education and care minimizes future social costs and improves current workforce productivity.
- Kindergarten teachers across Hawai`i report that too many children enter kindergarten unprepared to succeed.
- Only 49 percent of all 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
- Fewer than 60 percent of low-income 3 and 4 year-olds currently receive preschool subsidies.
