Delivery of 100% of the children ready to read starting kindergarten would change everything in urban city public schools. The proof already exists in pockets of the public schools, suburban, small city, and “rural” communities that have readiness as a very high priority. The 3rd grade proficiency just follows it.

• Rigor and commitment is needed.
• Education would be less expensive and more effective if we did this.
• For what it would cost to just deliver 100% with early reading skills, counting skills and the social ability to understand positive direction, We must ask the question why is it not being done for our most at-risk children and schools. For our own good.
• I challenge you to read what kindergarten teachers think, just think what they would say if 100% of the children were ready. Read Now »
• How is it that 50% of the kids are actually reading when they start kindergarten? It is because the child’s brain is wired (it is easier to teach them early) to learn language at age 3-6 when an adult is paying attention to them.
• Our education system has missed this. The sensitive period to language acquisition has been known for more than 80 years. Materials have existed for 80 years to take advantage of that.

We have no choice if we want to stay in first place.

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman pages 337 to 400.

This is no longer a test, page 374. It is real that other countries are building more brain power with efforts focused on their children at age 3-6; and our shortages will catch up to us. But remember there is not another country in the world in position to reach 100% of the children like we are. So we can still seize the per capita total best and brightest advantage.