Are Kindergarten Entrance Assessments Required? If Yes, What Are States Required to Do with the Results? 50-State Comparison: State K-3 Policies

Following a high-quality early care and pre-K experience, the kindergarten-through-third-grade years set the foundation upon which future learning builds; and strengthening this continuum creates opportunities for later success. Key components of a quality experience in K-3 include school readiness and transitions, kindergarten requirements, educator quality, prevention, intervention and assessments, and social and emotional learning and mental health. Education Commission of the States researched the policies and regulations that guide these key components in all 50 states to provide this comprehensive resource and many others. The data in this document show that at least 30 states and the District of Columbia require kindergarten entrance assessments. Of those, all but four also create requirements for what must be done with the assessment results, including prohibitions on what may not be done with that information.