The focus of this multiple case study was to examine what programs exist to support
children, their families, and schools during the transition to kindergarten process.
This study helps to better understand the different perspectives on expectations and beliefs
in early childhood education and how the different parts and participants can work
together and fit together. It also helps to further examine the reasons behind new alignment
and readiness strategies, and why we are thinking about what can be done to support
the transition to kindergarten.
This study has documented various strategies that can be used in our current public
education setting to best support children at the beginning of their school experience.
This can range from visits to the classroom before the start of school, meeting the teacher,
pre-k summer camps, to families talking to their children about what kindergarten wll
be like. Examination of the different models of transition programs allows for an analysis
of the various people involved in the process and how they can work together and coordinate
their efforts. Finally, the changing landscape of the school system and the expectations
of children from an early age contribute to an increasing need for support during
the transition to elementary school.