Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
LEO Team
“It’s become really clear how important it is in this moment, where so much is happening in education, to leverage kindergarten as that sturdy bridge between early learning — where developmental, culturally responsible practices and family engagement are really core — and the later grades.”
–Karla Ruiz, Sobrato Philanthropies
Kindergarten is the first at-scale learning opportunity for children, making it a critical, yet often overlooked, year in a child’s educational journey. What happens during this transitional year lays the foundation for learning and development that is essential to early school success, academic achievement, and life outcomes. Long recognized as the bridge between early childhood and the elementary grades, kindergarten has the potential to connect developmental, equitable, and family-centered practices with academic growth.
Viewing kindergarten as an inflection point on the pathway to early school success and third-grade reading proficiency, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) developed a prominent focus on kindergarten in 2022, working to ensure that the kindergarten year functions as a “sturdy bridge” between the early years and the early grades. Leveraging our Learning and Engagement Opportunities webinar platform, we brought together 82 national, state, and local leaders with expertise in research, policy, practice, and philanthropy to explore what it will take to increase the number of children and families who cross that “sturdy bridge” successfully.
This effort began with the Kindergarten as a Sturdy Bridge webinar series, hosted in partnership with New America in 2022–2023 and continued with the Kindergarten Matters webinar series in 2024–2025. Together, these two series have sought to highlight kindergarten’s critical role in a child’s educational journey while underscoring the importance of culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate practices; inclusion of children with learning differences and disabilities; social, emotional, and behavioral supports; and authentic partnerships with parents, caregivers, and families.
Across the 21 webinars in these two series, expert panelists discussed strategies for enhancing kindergarten to ensure it meets the strengths and needs of young learners and prepares them to flourish in the years to come. Panelists emphasized how developmentally aligned and culturally responsive classrooms — including those that honor play, are inclusive of all students, and strengthen family engagement — are foundational to academic success. They highlighted the promise of multilingual and dual-language programs in fostering belonging and achievement, the urgency of early identification and support for children with learning differences, and the need for inclusive instructional models that meet all students where they are. These insights were echoed in sessions that examined how to improve transitions into and out of kindergarten, where family engagement and community partnerships emerged as key levers for smoother and more successful experiences.
“For success in supporting students both at school and at home, it is critical that parents become part of the equation. That means helping the parents understand what is going on within the school and providing the support needed for them to help the students at home.”
– Robai Werunga, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts
“If we can concentrate on children and families, especially those with challenges to school success, and provide them with solid transition supports, we’re going to experience success”
– Janice Kilburn, Ph.D., South Carolina First Steps
Both series also elevated the role of leadership and philanthropy in driving systemic change. Participants from across sectors called for deeper collaboration between early learning and K–12 systems, investments in educator pathways and professional development, and sustained policy attention to the PreK–3 continuum.
Together, these conversations illuminated what it would take to make kindergarten a cornerstone of learning recovery and long-term academic progress — a year that not only welcomes children into school but also connects the best of early learning with the promise of the elementary years. Doing so will mean ensuring that every child — regardless of background, language, or ability — enters a kindergarten classroom that affirms their potential and lays the groundwork for lifelong learning.
“Implementing these programs and getting the work done is not always easy. But the more we can help each other out and lift [each other] up, the better.”
– Lisa Guernsey, New America
