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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.
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.
Watch this video blog from Dr. Deborah Bergeron to learn five ways Head Start programs can connect with the schools that will receive their children.
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.
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.
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.
Explore this simulation to practice relationship-building between a Head Start coordinator and a special education team leader from a receiving public school.
Explore “Bring a Principal to your Head Start” Celebration
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 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 national kindergarten transition policies. Learn how these policies inform the decision-making and practices of Head Start and elementary school leaders as they support the transition process.
HeadStart.gov
official website of the Administration for Children and Families
