Tests find many WA kids not ready for kindergarten

January 18, 2013 @ 2:55 pm

SEATTLE (AP) - Washington education officials who are struggling to help high school students pass a statewide math exam may want to take a close look at the first results from a new kindergarten readiness test.

The new assessment is designed to help kindergarten teachers better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their incoming students. It is one part of a new approach to welcoming new students that also includes individual parent-teacher meetings before school starts.

When the fall 2012 kindergarten test results are seen as a group, however, the data shows many 5- and 6-year-olds do not have the skills expected for kids entering school.

The biggest deficit is math. Only 52 percent of the 21,811 kids tested have the math abilities they are expected to have when they start school.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Yer Kidden Me, Right?!..............
    January 18, 2013 1:50 pm
    How the HE11 can anyone NOT be ready for kindergarten?!?

    Sounds to me like the education system is blaming 5 and 6 year old's, instead of blaming their teachers for craptacular teaching skills?

    I had to teach all my kids math......AFTER.......they came home from school. They all said the same thing: "Dad, you showed me how to do this in 30 minutes when the teacher has been trying to teach us this ALL semester".

    All 3 of my kids also said this: "most of my teachers spend their time on Facebook, the internet, or texting........rather than with us one on one, or as a class".

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