Our North Star

The importance of kindergarten readiness can not be overstated. Research shows a direct connection between students being prepared for kindergarten and long-term success in school and in life. If kids start kindergarten with the basic social, behavioral, and literacy skills they need, this becomes their foundation to succeed.

In 2025, First 5 Alameda County is rolling out a new tool that will measure these “readiness” skills to help us understand where we need to invest. Entering kindergartners across Alameda County will participate in an assessment, which will give us important census-tract level information about what is going well, and where to direct future resources. 

The assessment tool, known as the Early Development Instrument, (EDI) will: 

  • Measure children’s health, well-being, and school readiness 
  • Show how well child care, preschool, and TK are doing to support children birth through age 5. 
  • Identify opportunities to improve early childhood systems and programs through funding and policy change

First 5 is working in partnership with school districts, parents, and child care providers to share what we learn and plan together on how to build up supports that will improve kindergarten readiness for all of Alameda County’s children.

Kindergarten Readiness Resources

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Policy Brief: Introducing a universal county-wide tool to assess kindergarten readiness

In anticipation of the local Measures—the Oakland Children’s Initiative and the Children’s Health & Child Care Initiative for Alameda County—First 5 engaged in a participatory process to select a tool that will help us better understand kindergarten readiness among the County’s youngest learners.

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Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Dashboard

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Report: Kindergarten Readiness in Alameda County 2021-2022 Executive Summary

The 2021-22 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) findings and recommendations show how our county may improve kindergarten readiness in theoverlapping environments that influence children’s readiness—communities, families, and schools.

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Report: 2021-2022 Kindergarten Readiness in Alameda County

The 2021-22 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) findings and recommendations show how our county may improve kindergarten readiness in the overlapping environments that influence children’s readiness—communities, families, and schools.

Learn more