• The benefits of a top-notch pre-kindergarten program extend way beyond time spend in the classroom. Over the last two decades, studies have found significant programs, including strong early reading and math skills and social and emotional skills.  Children who enter kindergarten ready to learn do well, and children who succeed in kindergarten are more likely to continue on the path of academic success throughout their school years.
• 90% of brain growth occurs before kindergarten.
• Children who do not know the alphabet when they enter kindergarten are behind in reading at the end of kindergarten.
• Children who do not know the alphabet when they enter kindergarten are behind in reading at the end of first grade.
• Children who do not know their numbers when they enter kindergarten are behind in math at the end of kindergarten.
• Children who do not know their numbers when they enter kindergarten are behind in math at the end of first grade.
• Nearly 90% of first graders having reading problems at the end of first grade will still have problems reading in fourth grade.
• Nearly 75% of third graders who are poor readers will still be poor readers in ninth grade.
• Too many children from all families are not ready for school:
• More than one-third of middle class children do not know the alphabet upon entering kindergarten.
• More than one-quarter of upper-middle class children do not know the alphabet.
• 49% of children who do not know the alphabet as they enter kindergarten are middle class or higher.
• The gap in reading skills between middle class children and their more affluent peers is greater than the gap between middle class and poor children.
• Adults without Bachelor’s Degrees have significantly lower literacy skills.

Source: A Policy Primer: Quality Pre-Kindergarten, The Trust for Early Education, Fall 2004.