Blog - Ready at Five

New Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Data Is Released For 2017-2018

Maryland's Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is a developmentally appropriate observational and assessment tool administered to kindergarteners in the fall of each year that measures school readiness across four domains. Readiness levels, as well as in each domain and by specific subgroups, are reported statewide and for each of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions.

Please go to Readiness Matters 2018 to see the entire series.

Introducing Our New Parent Leadership Learning Parties!

Ready At Five is pleased to introduce a new Parent Leadership Learning Party!

The Parent Leadership Learning Party, developed in collaboration with experts at EPIC (Every Person Influences Children), provides parents and families with important leadership and advocacy skills to promote civic engagement in the familiar and comfortable Learning Party format. The Parent Leadership Learning Party is designed to support parents/family members as they take an active role in their child’s education and in schools, early learning programs, and local communities. Parent Leadership Learning Parties support growth and development in four areas:

Trust and Conflict
Communication
Advocacy
Idea Implementation

We have opportunities to implement these statewide - please contact Robin Hopkins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Ready At Five Celebrates 25 Years of Improving the Quality of Early Childhood Education with a Campaign for Kids!

"High-quality early childhood experiences are the foundation for school success and life achievements. Ready At Five is a strong collaborative partner in analyzing and using the kindergarten assessment data to support families, elevate the early childhood profession, provide research-based professional learning opportunities, and advocate for children and families. Their efforts are critical to the Department's work."

Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D,

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools

Dear Friends of Ready At Five,

This year, Ready At Five celebrates 25 years of improving the practice and quality of early childhood education in Maryland so that all children have the foundational skills needed for success in school, career and life. Thank you for your support over the years.

Today though, we are faced with an urgent call to action. Newly released data reveals that 55% of Maryland's kindergarteners do not have the foundational skills to prepare them for a successful kindergarten year. Too many of our youngest learners lack the pre-reading, math, and social-emotional skills needed to thrive when they begin school.

Looking Forward to 2018

Dear Colleagues,

Years ago, an administrator stopped by my kindergarten classroom while on a site visit. He quickly scanned the room and my students -- a room bubbling with robust activity and children fully engaged in learning -- hesitant to enter, remarking aloud, “Oh, so this is the daycare.”

Clearly, he didn’t ‘get it.’

The end of the year is a good time to celebrate how far we’ve come, and how our understanding of brain development and early learning has evolved over the last few years. That being said, there is work to be done. Last week, it was announced at the Maryland State Board of Education that the 2017 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment shows only 45% of our children enter kindergarten demonstrating the readiness skills needed for success. While that is a 2% increase from last year, I take that data as an urgent call to action.