Entering kindergarten ready to learn is a topic of growing concern in this country. The kindergarten year has important consequences for a child's acquisition of knowledge and skills that are powerful determinants for later school success. Kindergarten teachers report that more than half of children enter school with a number of problems and are not optimally ready to learn, putting them at-risk for school failure, retention, or in need of later intervention. We know what difference early childhood programs make in the lives of our kids. The time has come to put children first by focusing investments where research and effective practice tell us we will have the greatest opportunity for long-term success. -President Obama "Invest in Early Childhood Education," The Obama Education Plan: An ...