In Washington State, policymakers are developing a kindergarten readiness program that both shows great potential and how far the education system needs to move to get children ready to start school, according to a report.

The WaKIDS pilot project is a work-in-progress that is developing a three-part kindergarten readiness system. It encourages teachers to engage families for a better understanding of their incoming students, assess students in social/emotional; literacy; cognitive and physical areas, and to collaborate with early learning teachers and providers, according to the Department of Early Learning.

One of the review’s most interesting findings was how little kindergarten teachers know about the educational backgrounds of their new students.

Kindergarten teachers agree that information from early learning providers about entering kindergarten students would be helpful. Few teachers in this study received helpful information from early learning providers, and most were unsure of if and where the child attended prekindergarten programs. – “WA Kids Pilot: Preliminary Report.” (Thrive by Five Washington, DEL and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction are all working on the initiative.)

If kindergarten teachers are not talking with pre-kindergarten and preschool teachers, how can they know where their students stand?

The report also offered a sobering assessment of the overall readiness of Washington kindergarteners. More than one third of the 1,760 children in the study began kindergarten below expected skill levels, and nearly half were below those levels in language, communication and literacy, the interim report said. The results were worse for students from lower-income households, the report added.

The good news is that assessment tools, information and cooperation supported by the WaKIDS program help, according to witnesses at a recent hearing in the state legislature.

Toppenish preschool teacher Krista Goudy-Sutterlict from described how the WaKIDS process strengthens the relationships between preschool and kindergarten teachers which can then guide and strengthen early learning settings.

“What I mean by strengthening the relationship, we’re using the same language,” she said. “WaKIDS shines at joint work session” DEL Connect, Department of Early Learning blog. 2/4/11. (You can watch a video of the House Education and Early Learning & Human Services hearing.)