Less than half of students were ready for kindergarten in five states

The Government Accountability Office reported on Thursday 12 November 2026 that less than half of students were ready for kindergarten in each of five selected states.

The agency analyzed kindergarten entry assessment data from Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and Ohio. It found that school districts with higher enrollment in public or private preschool were associated with higher kindergarten readiness in three of five selected states. The regression analysis covered the association between preschool enrollment, demographic factors, and readiness.

Higher-poverty school districts were associated with lower readiness in four states. Readiness rates also varied by developmental area, including language, social, and motor skills, by school district urbanicity, and by student demographics.

GAO reviewed 11 peer-reviewed research studies examining the link between attendance in publicly funded preschool and kindergarten readiness. The studies were selected in part because they examined preschool attendance in the last 10 years.

10 studies found positive associations between preschool programs and kindergarten literacy scores. seven of the studies that assessed math scores also found positive associations. One study did not find evidence of an effect in either area.

The review also found differences among student demographic groups. In one study, English learners benefitted more from a public preschool program in Virginia than non-English learners. Children from lower-income families benefited more than children from higher-income families.

The agency used the most recent comparable kindergarten entry assessment data available for the five states. It selected the states because they had publicly available and reliable data and required a statewide assessment of literacy and math. The report follows a GAO report issued in 2024 on how states assess kindergarten readiness.