Knowledgebase

Early childhood

Child trends provides a wealth of information on early childhood and school readiness.  You can download the Early School Readiness Report for indicators on children and youth from the Child Trends website.  

• The proportion of pre-kindergarten three- to six-year-old children able to demonstrate cognitive and early literacy skills has increased over time.
• Between 1993 and 2007, the share of children able to recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet increased from 21 to 32 percent; those able to count to 20 or higher increased from 52 to 63 percent; and the proportion able to write their names increased from 50 to 60 percent.

Early School Readiness Report:  http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/07_School_Readiness.pdf

According to the Kids Count Data Center 54% of children ages 3 to 4 were not enrolled in preschool. 

• Sixty-three percent of children ages 3 and 4 below 200% poverty were not enrolled in preschool
• Forty-five percent of children ages 3 and 4 above 200% poverty were not enrolled in preschool

Home visitation programs

• US Department of Health and Human Services
  • Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visitation Program
    • The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program facilitates collaboration and partnership at the federal, state, and community levels to improve health and development outcomes for at-risk children through evidence-based home visiting programs.

Early Childhood Development

• State and Regional Contacts