Many kids in the Tulsa-area arrive at kindergarten on the first day not prepared for success. They are not ready physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
In an effort to grasp early childhood and kindergarten readiness disparities, a pilot conducted in Tulsa using the Early Development Instrument (EDI) showed that “at-risk” kindergarteners varied widely based on their family’s socioeconomic status. For lower income families, 14%-26% of their kindergarteners were at-risk across racial/ethnic groups compared to higher income families, 3%-8% of their affluent peers.
Enrollment in a quality Pre-K program matters as it reduces students at-risk status by 8%. The goal of Countdown to Kindergarten is to utilize data to help ensure more kids enter kindergarten ready for success.