Data has been released showing the readiness of kindergarten students for life in school.
The first year of data from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey, or KIDS, provides data that will help shape future policy, help the school, and provide communities with information to help better prepare children for school.
Data from KIDS does not reflect the work taking place in school districts, but the early childhood experiences before students enter kindergarten.
Using 14 different metrics, the survey assesses students on three developmental areas; social-emotional development, language, and literacy.
Data shows that Galesburg District 205 had 17% of Kindergartners demonstrated readiness in all three areas 61% showed no readiness in all three categories.
Looking at other districts in the area, Knoxville District 202 showed 48% readiness in all three categories while only 21% showed no readiness.
United District 304 kindergartners displayed a 37% readiness in all three areas while an equal share displayed no readiness.
33% of Monmouth-Roseville kindergartners displayed readiness in all three areas while Abingdon-Avon kindergartners were behind that number at 32%.
Another key part of the data is the comparing students who meet the criteria for free/reduced price lunches and students who did not meet the criteria for free/reduced price lunches.
In most cases, the percentage of students who displayed readiness in all three categories was higher for those who do not receive free/reduced lunches than those who do.
In Galesburg, 31% of children who do not receive free/reduced lunches display readiness in the three categories, compared with 9% for those who do.
Other area districts display a similar trend. For Knoxville, those numbers are 63% and 26%. United it’s 54% and 17%.
ROWVA, however, showed a reversal of the trend: 17% and 21%.
For the most part, the data reinforces the importance of high-quality early learning experiences for all children to get a strong start.
