Preschool program boosts kindergarten readiness and academic success

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the promising outcomes of the State Preschool Program (SPP) in preparing students for kindergarten and beyond. The analysis revealed that SPP participants, who were all eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly outperformed their peers in kindergarten readiness assessments.

The data indicated that SPP students had higher attendance rates and better scores across all domains measured by the WA Kids assessment, particularly excelling in math. This suggests that participation in the SPP correlates with improved readiness for kindergarten, with students showing substantial gains compared to those who did not participate.

Looking further ahead, the meeting highlighted the positive impact of SPP on third-grade performance as well. Participants scored higher in both math and English Language Arts (ELA) compared to their counterparts from state-funded preschool programs. These findings underscore the potential long-term benefits of early childhood education programs like SPP.

To build on this success, Education Northwest will conduct further analyses to evaluate the program's impact over recent years and with larger cohorts. Recommendations include enhancing communication between SPP educators and kindergarten teachers to ensure a smooth transition for students, as well as providing additional training for teachers to better support multilingual learners and children with special needs.

Overall, the discussions emphasized a commitment to continuous improvement of the SPP, aligning with national trends that show access to quality preschool education leads to better academic outcomes in elementary school.