Building the Sturdy Bridge: New Evidence and Everyday Practice for Kindergarten Transitions

October 20, 2026
Building the Sturdy Bridge: New Evidence and Everyday Practice for Kindergarten Transitions

Join the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for a Kindergarten Matters session on the transition into and through kindergarten.

New research from NWEA, Behind at the Starting Line, finds that the reading and math skills of students at kindergarten entry strongly predict whether they reach proficiency by third grade. For students who start kindergarten in the bottom 20%, the odds are just over 1 in 10. But researchers stress that these trajectories aren’t predetermined, and early intervention can change them.

A State of the Field Research Brief from the Center on Early Learning Success and the Buffett Early Childhood Institute treats transitions as an ongoing process rather than a single event, and highlights the relationships, communication, alignment, and coordinated supports that create continuity from preschool through third grade.

Panelists will pair these findings with perspectives from educators and leaders who make the transition work every day. They’ll also preview NWEA’s forthcoming brief on bright spots and discuss how shifts in the early childhood landscape may shape what comes next for young learners and their families.