Starting Strong: Preparing Children and Families for Kindergarten Success

“This simple but profound shift changed our thinking from asking ‘Is this child ready for kindergarten?’ to ‘Is our system ready for the child?’” 

– Nadira Rizkallah, Eugene School District 4J 

The June 3, 2025 Kindergarten Matters session focused on the vital role that the kindergarten year plays in setting the stage for long-term learning, health, and development — and highlighted promising strategies to make the transition smoother and more supportive for children and families. Swati Adarkar, who served as moderator for the conversation, opened by framing kindergarten as a critical yet often overlooked bridge between early childhood and the early grades. She stressed the importance of aligning supports, building strong relationships, and treating kindergarten as a universal early learning opportunity to help close persistent opportunity gaps and ensure early school success. 

Attendees then heard from David Jacobson, Ph.D., of First 10 at Education Development Center (EDC), who discussed how school-community partnerships can better align early learning systems to support children and families. He shared how First 10 communities implement strategies such as transition plans, play-and-learn events, and joint professional learning, and highlighted examples of more coherent, equitable, and relationship-driven approaches to kindergarten. 

Heidi Schumacher, MD, FAAP, with the University of Vermont, emphasized the deep connection between health and school readiness. As a pediatrician, she noted that preventive care — for example, developmental screenings, immunizations, and attention to family well-being — helps children arrive at school ready to learn. She called for greater collaboration between educators and health care providers through joint advocacy, aligned messaging, and shared efforts to support families holistically. 

The conversation then shifted to on-the-ground perspectives from leaders across the country, who provided examples of how they are putting these ideas into practice. 

Deidre DeJear of Oakridge Neighborhood, Iowa’s largest affordable housing community, described how the organization supports families through housing, workforce development, out-of-school programs, and early learning. She emphasized how strong partnerships — with more than 50 organizations — are enabling them to meet broader needs like health and food access. To boost readiness and enrollment, Oakridge now offers on-site registration and is keeping soon-to-be kindergartners in structured classroom settings through the summer to help them build key routines and skills. 

Jennifer Andrews of Chattanooga 2.0 shared how her organization is improving kindergarten readiness in Hamilton County, Tennessee, by addressing gaps in alignment and access. In the absence of a statewide definition, they launched the Ready, Set, Kindergarten! campaign, creating a community-driven readiness definition and tools including skill-building materials, Spanish-language videos, and transition guides. Through their Early Matters team, Chattanooga 2.0 has also hosted school-based events and developed toolkits to help schools consistently support families. 

Nadira Rizkallah and Gretta Sagolla of Eugene School District 4J in Oregon outlined their district’s system-wide approach to strengthening kindergarten transitions. Rizkallah explained how their Kindergarten Transition and Alignment Plan centers on the belief that the system must be ready for the child — not the other way around — focusing on trust, equity, and coherence through trauma-informed practices and inclusive planning. Sagolla highlighted efforts such as shared professional development, preschool visits to kindergarten classrooms, social stories, and after-hours enrollment sessions that help families feel welcomed and informed. Looking ahead, the district plans to expand its work through online enrollment and new community partnerships, laying the foundation for broader, systemwide change.