Illinois is one of several states that mandates that a kindergarten readiness assessment be administered in the first 40 days of kindergarten, known as the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS).  

A 2024 study conducted by state researchers found that the KIDS assessment can accurately predict how students will perform on state standardized tests, such as the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, in third grade. 

In other words, the students who are most ready for kindergarten are most likely to succeed academically in the future….

….The role of early childhood education

Experts agree that strong early childhood education programs significantly influence kindergarten readiness. High-quality preschool, strong family engagement, and clear expectations for school readiness can set students up for success.

Emily Hanno, senior research associate at MDRC, underscores the importance of making readiness assessments useful. “It’s not enough to say a child is ready or not ready. We need to provide teachers with actionable insights that inform instruction.” MDRC is currently developing early learning assessment tools to gauge a child’s development more accurately.

New Mexico has taken steps to expand its statewide free pre-K program, with a proposed 2026 budget that will make pre-K available to 96 percent of state four-year-olds, in part to improve kindergarten readiness. The curriculum emphasizes executive functioning skills to help students develop attention, memory, and self-regulation abilities….

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