Kindergarten readiness is one of the earliest predictors of a child’s future course. Here in Franklin County, Ohio, only 40% of children are ready for kindergarten. To help more children prepare for kindergarten, the City of Columbus partnered with Schoenbaum Center’s community programs to create Ready4Success, a program to provide participating preschool teachers in Early Start Columbus classrooms with instructional support and guidance in implementing Read It Again.
The City of Columbus funds this initiative as part of its effort to expand quality pre-kindergarten and enhance teachers’ instructional practices. To do this, center-based early care and education providers receive professional development from our highly skilled Ready4Success coaches. Educators receive training on research-based and effective instructional strategies that can increase early literacy and math skills in preschoolers, helping them to meet school readiness goals. The program is built upon the Crane Center’s evidence-based Read It Again curriculum.
Ready4Success uses a multi-layered approach that includes:
- Initial assessments of children’s skills and knowledge when entering preschool,
- Ongoing measurements of a child’s gains in math and literacy skills throughout the year, and
- Continual professional development for teachers.
Ready4Success Online Professional Development Toolkit
The Ready4Success online professional development modules provide evidence-based instructional content, best practices, and strategies on topics essential to improving kindergarten readiness. All online professional development trainings are free and Ready 4 Success partners receive 1.5 hours of Ohio-approved credits for each completed module.
