Early Childhood & School Readiness
You are in the Family and Community Involvement section of the Casey Foundation Knowledge Center, which offers resources that are either published or funded by the Casey Foundation. Resources address the importance of empowering families and communities actively engaged in schools and school systems.
See also the Our Work: Education, an overview of the Casey Foundation's investments in this issue.
See also all Education resources in the Knowledge Center.
Featured Publications
Ensuring Success for Young Children: Early Childhood Literacy
2009
Research shows that reading abilities in third grade act as a tell-tale barometer for later school success, since children who read at grade level are more likely to graduate from high school. And those who graduate from high school are more likely to pursue further education or get a job. This discussion guide for small foundations explores strategies for supporting nonprofits that provide early childhood education programs and services, especially those that focus on early childhood literacy and reading at grade level by third grade.
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View the Investing Strategies to Serve Vulnerable Children Series >>
Feeding Our Future: Growing Up Healthy with WIC
2009
This report by Children’s HealthWatch highlights the implications of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on very young children. The report details research indicating that WIC improves children’s health as well as reduces the risk of developmental delays.
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Present, Engaged, and Accounted For: The Critical Importance of Addressing Chronic Absence in the Early Grades
2008
Thousands of this country’s youngest students are academically at-risk because of extended absences when they first embark upon their school careers. Nationally, an estimated one in ten kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent (i.e., miss nearly a month or more of school over the course of a year). This report, commissioned by Casey, raises awareness of this issue, presents data on the scope of the challenge, and shares emerging insights about how to address it.
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Close to Home: State Strategies to Strengthen and Support Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care
2007
In this report the authors highlight a variety of policy options that offer opportunities to strengthen the early learning experiences of this country’s poorest children who receive child care provided by family, friends, and neighbors.
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Low Income and Impoverished Families Pay More Disproportionately for Child Care
2010
This brief demonstrates how working families with young children who are living in poverty pay nearly five times more than families living at more than 200 percent of the poverty level.
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What Works? A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs
2009
This report is targeted toward states and communities interested in data-driven guidance around the creation and implementation of childhood mental health consultation programs. Through visits to six consultation programs, the authors explore the essential components of effective mental health programs, such as the skills, competencies, and training of the mental health professionals, and detail the extent to which consultation efforts occur nationally.
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Guide to Opportunities to Assure Children are Healthy and Prepared to Succeed in School for Making Connections Communities
2009
This guide, part of a series developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy for communities participating in the Casey Fuondation's Making Connections initiative, explains how the provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can be used to ensure that children can read at grade level by third grade, are screened for developmental delays, and receive appropriate follow-up services.
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View the Resources Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Series >>
Ensuring Success For Young Children: Transition to Kindergarten
2009
Research shows that as much as half of school failure may be due to gaps in school readiness even before children transition to kindergarten. This discussion guide for small foundations explores strategies for supporting nonprofits that provide early childhood education programs and services, especially those that focus on ensuring school readiness and smoothing transition to kindergarten.
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View the Investing Strategies to Serve Vulnerable Children Series >>
Executive Summary - Present, Engaged, and Accounted For: The Critical Importance of Addressing Chronic Absence in Early Grades
2008
This executive summary highlights the Casey-funded report from the National Center for Children on how schools and communities can work together to reduce chronic absenteeism among young school-age children.
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