South Kitsap School District is leading the charge in early childhood education through the READY! for Kindergarten program, an initiative designed to bridge learning gaps and ensure students enter school equipped for success.
READY! for Kindergarten, originally developed in the Tri-Cities area, aims to address student success in school and life. By focusing on parent education, the program emphasizes that parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers.
“If children are behind when they start on the first day of kindergarten, research shows they often stay behind,” explained Melissa Pittenger, the program’s facilitator and director’s assistant. “READY! equips parents with the tools and confidence to change that trajectory.”
SK’s program, one of the largest and longest-running in the state, offers free workshops three times a year—fall, winter, and spring—each lasting 90 minutes. Parents are guided through interactive sessions, covering language and literacy, math and reasoning, and social-emotional development. Age-specific workshops are tailored to children from birth to kindergarten age, ensuring that developmental needs are met at every stage.
The workshops include hands-on demonstrations, where parents learn to use tools and activities to support their child’s learning. Parents leave with toys, or “tools,” that promote purposeful play at home. The tools are designed to encourage intentional, engaging interactions, whether reading for 20 minutes a day or counting items during a grocery run.
“Parents are the ones implementing these research-based ideas at home, making a real difference,” Pittenger said.
READY! for Kindergarten has seen remarkable results. In SK, over 90% of children of parents who attended READY! workshops entered kindergarten with the literacy skills needed to succeed—far surpassing the state average of less than 60%.
The program has also adapted to modern challenges, offering virtual modules for parents who cannot attend in person. Additionally, new social-emotional development workshops are being piloted to address gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative is funded through Title I dollars and supported by local organizations, including the Soroptimists and Rotary clubs. High school students also volunteer to provide childcare during workshops, receiving certificates for their contributions.
“This program has changed my family’s life,” feedback comment to Pittenger says.
For details or to enroll, go to www.skschools.org/learn-sk/early-learning/ready-for-kindergarten
