SERVE, the SouthEastern Regional Vision for Education, is a coalition of educators, business leaders, governors and policymakers seeking comprehensive and lasting improvement in education in the five southeastern states. SERVEing Young Children is the early childhood project within SERVE. The first section of this resource booklet introduces the…

A series of eight videoconferences was designed to help educational professionals improve schools by applying knowledge gained from research. During the videoconference programs, which are transmitted by satellite to facilities with receiving capacity, viewers can interact by telephone with the program presenters. Each program covers a specific…

In February 1990, the nation's governors adopted a set of goals designed to shape education reform efforts for the 1990s. The six goals address such pressing national education issues as early childhood education; school completion; student achievement and citizenship; math and science; literacy and lifelong learning; and safe, disciplined, and…

This paper looks at the increase in preschool enrollment from 1970 to 1985. Family characteristics and how they relate to enrollment trends for three- and four-year-olds are examined. The implications of these patterns of enrollment are discussed in conjunction with expected changes in the demographic characteristics of preschool children in the…

These home learning activity guides have been developed for parents to use with their 4-year-old children. Most of the activities require only household items that are often thrown away and can be recycled for learning activities. Some require no materials at all. The guides frequently begin with a discussion of home activities; progress through…

Investigates the ability of the HSRS to identify prekindergarten or prefirst grade children who will be academically unsuccessful. Results, based on a five-year followup study, indicate the HSRS accurately predicted school failure 81 percent of the time. (Author/HMV)

GOALS WERE DEVELOPED TO BE CARRIED OUT OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD. FIRST, CHILDREN WOULD BE EVALUATED IN THE SPRING, PRIOR TO SCHOOL ENTRY IN THE FALL, AND A PREDICTION OF THEIR ABILITY TO COPE WITH SCHOOL WOULD BE MADE. THE STAFF WOULD MAKE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED TO HELP THE CHILD DURING THE EARLY SCHOOL YEARS, EFFECTIVENESS WOULD BE…

The determination of when a child is ready to enter kindergarten or first grade varies from school district to school district. Currently, many school systems are reevaluating their criteria for school entry. In some school systems, chronological age appears to be the sole criterion; in others, social and learning readiness are also primary…

Summarizes school readiness and retention research issues, including youngest first graders' performance, entrance age policies, voluntary decisions to wait an extra year, assessment of children's readiness, and the negative effects of kindergarten and first-grade retention. Concludes that age disadvantages are seldom serious and usually disappear…

The validity of the Lollipop Test: A Diagnostic Screening Test of School Readiness was examined using the Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT), Level I, Form Q, as the criterion. Appreciable concurrent validity was found across test batteries. Implications for school readiness screening are discussed. (Author/BS)

To help ensure that students were being placed in grade levels appropriately, the Mukwonago School District formulated a plan for early educational programing. Criteria and procedures for early admission into kindergarten classes are discussed. (DF)

Investigated the factor composition of the Metropolitan Readiness Test, using first-grade subjects (N=1,241). A total battery score was supported, as well as a second factor believed to represent a language dimension of the test. None of the MRT's other content areas or a distinct prereading measure were identified. (Author/JAC)

A multipart assessment of kindergarten readiness was developed for the State of Vermont. The approach reflects emerging consensus around the appropriate domains of development to include in child assessments, as well as the need to assess schools' readiness for young children and their families. The approach differs from some states' approaches,…

This report summarizes findings from a longitudinal study of 1,215 mothers and children from 10 locations around the United States, focusing on the links between maternal depression and child outcomes. Families were followed from 1 month to 36 months after the birth of their child. Data collection methods included observations of mother-child play…

The focus of this brief is on the value of using the construct of ?Ready to Learn? as an Oregon benchmark and as an agency key performance measure. Oregon takes a high-level look at its young children every 2 years using the Kindergarten Readiness Survey. Kindergarten teachers use a variety of measures to collect information to rate their…