This update of a School Readiness Technical Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, published in Pediatrics, cites the Reach Out and Read program as “the most studied and scaled primary prevention program” seeking “to prevent gaps in readiness before they occur.”
Starting with a comprehensive overview of the definition of, and assessments of school readiness, it covers the evidence showing a disparity of achievement as children enter kindergarten that increases as they progress through school. Concluding that early childhood education is essential to reduce this disparity, the report details the effectiveness of universal preschool, and the importance of reaching families with children in that critical 0-3 year window through programs like Reach Out and Read implemented through the medical home. You can download the full report, click here.