Ky.gov
School Readiness

The Early Childhood Profiles

​​The Early Childhood Profile is designed to provide each Kentucky county with data that will assist them in developing local strategies to ensure that ​every child in their community arrives at kindergarten ​ready to grow, learn and succeed.

The Early Childhood Profile contains

  • Results from the kindergarten screener and information about participation in publicly funded preschool, head start and childcare
  • Information about the quality and availability of childcare and the education of the early childhood workforce​
  • Demographic data representing key indicators of possible barriers to success for young children and their families and participation in public health and social service programs that can help

The Early Childhood Profile can help change the conversation in each community in Kentucky to achieve these goals:

  • Every Kentucky child will enter school ready to succeed
  • Every parent will know what their child needs to be ready for school
  • Every c​ommunity will come together in support of their youngest children

It is our hope that the compilation of data in the Early Childhood Profiles will create local dialogue and inform local action to ​improve early childhood outcomes. We believe that what gets measured gets done. Making sure that every child in the Commonwealth gets the best possible start in life must be everyone’s priority.​

Early Childhood Profiles

We are ​pleased to provide this tool in partnership with the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, Kentucky Department of Education, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

View Latest Reports​​

Using Data Trends ​​t​o Identify Local Bright Spots

Kentucky and county-specific data from the last five years indicate that more Kentucky children are prepared for kindergarten.

Across the commonwealth, 31% or 52 of 170 ​school districts have improved kindergarten readiness scores overall, and among economically disadvantaged stude​nts and those with Individualized Education Plans.

The data is helping leaders identify early childhood bright spots of progress in the state that may be contributing to positive change and is increasing its investment to $3.39 million per year in grants to Kentucky’s Regional Network Collaboratives over the next two fiscal years. Investing in data-driven solutions through local innovation and decision making and ​implementing proven strategies for children from birth to 5 years old will lay the foundation for school readiness across the ​state.

At the Kentucky Governor’s ​Office of Early Childhood, we know that every child in the commonwealth can have a robust start when we work together. We are committed to uniting organizations at the state and lo​cal level to address the critical early years of a ​child’s life to ensure that every child has a strong start in life and school.

​31​%of ​school districts
(​52 of 170)improved kindergarten readiness scores​

Kentucky is increasing its investment to​$3.39million per year
in grants​​to Kentucky’s Regional Network Collaboratives​​​​​​​​

How Local Bright Spots are Making a Difference for Young Children and their Families

  • Home visitation supports expectant mothers, families and young children.
  • High-quality professional development helps early childhood ​practitioners create nurturing, developmentally appropriate environments.
  • Pre-natal to three strategies give mothers, families and babies a strong, healthy start.
  • Early literacy programs improve awareness and use of successful literacy practices.
  • Best ​practice transition strategies support effective, high-quality planning, coordination, family engagement and professional development by using data to ensure kindergarten children start school ready to learn.​

Kindergarten Screenings
from 2017 to ​2021

Overall Screening Scores

The school districts ​​highlighted in green ​​experienced gains from 4.3 to 42.7 p​ercentage points in overall kindergarten screening ​scores.

Among Economically Disadvantaged Students

The school districts in ​blue experienced gains from 5.2 to 47.6 percentage ​points in overall kindergarten ​screening scores ​among economically ​​disadvantaged students.

Among Students with Individualized Education Plans

The school districts in pink experienced gains from 7.5 to 67.5 percentage ​points in overall ​kindergarten screening scores ​among students with Individualized Education Plans.

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