Washington study explores school readiness test

Most Washington elementary-school principals, preschool teachers and parents think it would be a good idea to screen children to make sure they are ready for kindergarten, but they wonder who would pay for this proposed new state requirement.

Many schools already screen children just before they start kindergarten or soon afterward, but the Washington Department of Early Learning was asked by the Legislature to explore a statewide policy for readiness testing.

In a report to the governor and the Legislature on Monday, the department summarized its research on how welcome such a system would be.

The report also reviewed the state's new child-care quality-rating system, for which field testing was suspended earlier this month to save the Department of Early Learning $2.8 million, per the governor's order to cut state budgets because of a looming deficit.

The voluntary rating system would have told parents how a child-care provider rated, on a scale of 1 to 5, in its learning environment, professional development, family relationships and management.

The program to improve early learning has been a priority of Gov. Christine Gregoire's and is closely tied to the other goals of the Department of Early Learning, including the kindergarten-assessment project.

Nearly half the schools that offer kindergarten in Washington participated in the assessment study in some way. Almost all of them reported they test kids going into kindergarten by taking a look at language, literacy and communication skills.

About three-quarters also look at cognition and general knowledge. Only about a quarter look at physical well-being, health and motor development. A few assess social development and enthusiasm for learning.

Only about three-quarters of the schools in the study also assess children for developmental delays.

Schools use prekindergarten and early school assessments to help teachers figure out what to teach and to inform parents of children's strengths and weaknesses.

Although 67 percent of the elementary-school principals, preschool teachers, parents, education policymakers and tribal members surveyed think it would be a good idea to establish a statewide system for testing kids before they start school, 20 percent didn't.

Most of those who didn't want a new testing system were concerned about the cost to districts and schools. Many also expressed concern about adding to the work of kindergarten teachers and using their time for something other than instruction.

The report recommends one more year of planning and then a pilot program the following year.