A commitment to promoting universal school readiness requires:
1. giving all children access to the opportunities that promote school success,
2. recognizing and supporting children’s individual differences, and
3. establishing reasonable and appropriate expectations for what children should be able to do when they enter school.
NAEYC believes it is the responsibility of schools to meet the needs of children as they enter school and to provide whatever services are needed to help each child reach his or her fullest potential.
The following points ar
e discussed in depth in NAEYC’s position statement on school readiness.
School readiness requires access to
opportunities
• All families of young children need access to resources that will allow them to give their children the nurturing relationships and experiences that promote school readiness.
• High-quality early education programs provide the foundation for school readiness and must be available to all young children and families.
• Early intervention efforts support children who may be at risk for later school failure. These efforts are most effective when they offer comprehensive services rather than simply addressing isolated skills.