The Partnership for School Readiness (PSR) is comprised of private grantees and community agencies, each with an interest in helping prepare children for school. FIRST 5 has been a member of the Partnership since its earliest days in 2001. The mission of the PSR is to advance school readiness and success for all children in the county through age eight.

In 2004 PSR launched a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment as their “flagship” project, and since then has been focused on developing a shared portrait of the children who are entering our local kindergartens, the family factors that are correlated with readiness, and the teacher expectations that greet them when they arrive.

FIRST 5 gives a HIGH 5 to PSR recognizing their key accomplishments:

• A definition of school readiness that has evolved to include definitions of the Basic Building Blocks of readiness, and profiles of readiness.
• 2 major Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Results release events that commanded extensive press coverage
• Completion of a 3 year baseline of kindergarten readiness in Santa Clara County
• Approximately 15 additional community presentations sharing results with educators, service providers and parents.
• Distribution of more than 1500 books to children and classrooms in the community
• Support to other communities considering similar assessments br>
  

2006-07 has been called the Awareness to Action year for PSR with the launch of 2 study circles to help develop concrete recommendations based on the kindergarten readiness data and 3 guiding principles;

1. Build systems to ensure more children arrive at school ready
2. Make sure schools are ready to support the diverse sets of skills that children bring to kindergarten, and
3. Focus on Language Development and Self-Regulation as fundamental drivers of readiness.
   The study circle work is currently underway with recommendations expected soon.
   
   For more information on PSR and Kindergarten Readiness Assessment results visit www.uwsv.org.