This document summarizes research from the E3 Alliance on early childhood education in Central Texas. It finds that 75% of eligible children in Central Texas attend public pre-K, but half of all Central Texas students are not ready for kindergarten. While low-income children who attended pre-K are as ready as non-low-income children who did not, pre-K alone does not fully overcome readiness gaps related to income in areas like language and math. The research concludes that pre-K programs improve social-emotional and emerging literacy readiness but other factors also impact kindergarten preparation.

1. 2012 Central Texas Profile
Made possible through the investment of:
www.e3alliance.org

2. EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION

3. 75% of Eligible Children Attend Public Pre-K
100% Enrollment in Pre-K Programs, Fall 2011
Percentage of Eligible Children
80%
75%
69%
60%
40%
31%
20% 25%
0%
Texas Central Texas
In Public Pre-K Not in Public Pre-K
3
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of 2010 and 2011 PEIMS enrollment data at UT Educational Resource Center © E Alliance, 2012

4. Half of Central Texas Students Are
Not Ready for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness, Central Texas, 2011
Not Ready, 50% Ready, 50%
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of CTGSR assessment data, weighted sample © E3 Alliance, 2012

5. 3 Out of 4 Objectives Below Target in
Central Texas Kindergarteners
Percentage of Children Entering Kindergarten
100
School Ready, by Component of Readiness, Fall 2011
Percentage of Kindergarteners
80
E3 Alliance Objective for 2015
71
60 Social Emotional
61 62
58
Language &
40 Communication
Emerging
20 Literacy
Mathematics
0
Children Entering Kindergarten in 2011
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of CTGSR assessment data, weighted sample © E3 Alliance, 2012

6. Low Income Children Who Attended Pre-K
are School-Ready at The Same Rate
as Non-Low Income Children Who
Did Not Attend Pre-K
The Percentage of Students Meeting Kindergarten Readiness Components,
Low Income vs. Non-Low Income Students, Fall 2011
Percentage of Kindergarteners
100%
80%
60% 63%
40% 45%
42%
20%
19%
0%
Low Income Non-Low Income
No Pre-K Any Pre-K
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of CTGSR assessment data, un-weighted sample © E3 Alliance, 2012

7. Pre-K Programs Improve Social &
Emotional and Emerging Literacy Gaps
Social and Emotional Emerging Literacy
100 100
Percentage of Kindergarteners
Percentage of Kindergarteners
80 80
73
72
60 60
55 55
51 52
40 40
41
20 20 23
0 0
Low Income Non-Low Income Low Income Non-Low Income
No Pre-K Any Pre-K No Pre-K Any Pre-K
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of CTGSR assessment data, un-weighted sample © E3 Alliance, 2012

8. Pre-K Programs are Not Enough to
Overcome Differences Due to Income in
Language & Communication and Math
Language and Communication Mathematics
100
Percentage of Kindergarteners
100
Percentage of Kindergarteners
80 82 80 83
60 67
60 66
58
58
40 40
42
30
20 20
0 0
Low Income Non-Low Income Low Income Non-Low Income
No Pre-K Any Pre-K No Pre-K Any Pre-K
Source: E3 Alliance analysis of CTGSR assessment data, un-weighted sample © E3 Alliance, 2012

9. Kindergarten Readiness
© E3 Alliance, 2012

10. The conclusions of this research do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official position of the Texas Education Agency,
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the State of Texas.
www.e3alliance.org/moreinfo