The transition to kindergarten involves preparing young children and their families for the move from early childhood programs to elementary school.
Resources in this collection focus on enhancing parent–child relationships, facilitating effective transitions, partnering with local schools, planning collaboration meetings, preparing for school visits, and more.
Discover information and strategies to help Head Start program staff support children who are dual language learners (DLLs) and their families as they make the transition to kindergarten.
Explore the key parts of successful kindergarten transitions. Learn how staff and elementary school leaders can use information, relationships, and alignment to support smooth transitions for Head Start children.
Explore this resource to learn how sharing child-level data between Head Start programs and receiving elementary schools can help programs and schools better serve children.
Explore “Bring a Principal to your Head Start” Celebration
Explore this simulation to practice relationship-building between a Head Start coordinator and a special education team leader from a receiving public school.
Explore strategies to support transitions from Early Head Start up to kindergarten. Discover how professional development and relationships between Head Start programs and receiving schools support the process.
View this video to learn how Head Start programs can partner with receiving elementary schools to provide stability and consistency for children and families transitioning to kindergarten.
More than 320,000 Head Start children enter kindergarten every year. When Head Start programs and receiving schools partner on school readiness, children have smoother transitions and continued progress.
Making a transition to a new care and learning setting can have an impact on families. Explore ways to support and help families feel secure as they get ready to make the move to a new setting.
Review the standards for developing community partnerships and coordinating with other early childhood programs through memoranda of understanding, quality rating and improvement systems, and data.