K-Readiness Participation

Licensed child care centers and certified family child care homes across Kentucky may be invited to participate in the pilot evaluation.

Participating programs will be randomly selected beginning in January 2027. Programs selected for participation will be contacted directly by the evaluation team and provided with detailed information regarding study expectations, timelines, and participation requirements. Programs that are contacted may decide whether they would like to participate. For centers/homes that commit to participating, the evaluation team will work with them to communicate with the families whose children attend the center/home, regarding the center/home’s involvement. 

Participation helps generate evidence that may inform future decisions regarding kindergarten readiness initiatives in Kentucky.

Families whose children do not attend a licensed child care center or certified family child care home, may be eligible to participate if the family qualifies for funding through the state’s Child Care Assistance Program, but does not use this funding and instead cares for their child in the family’s home. The evaluation team will distribute information about study participation to potentially eligible families through community organizations, public announcements, local outreach activities, and other communication channels across Kentucky.

Interested families will complete a brief eligibility screening before enrollment. This process is designed to ensure families meet study requirements before investing significant time in participation.

All participating centers, family care homes, and families whose children do not attend center-based care, will be financially compensated for their time and efforts in relation to the evaluation study. Exact amounts of compensation will be detailed in official evaluation documents, which will be reviewed with all potential participants prior to deciding whether to take part in the evaluation study. 

After consenting to participate in the study, participants will be asked to complete an online survey that takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The survey will gather information about the child participating in the study, as well as family or program characteristics that help the evaluation team better understand the children’s experiences prior to kindergarten. Because children may move between early care and education settings over time, the evaluation team will contact participants at four points during the study, approximately 6 months apart over a span of 2 years, to gather updated information about where the child is currently receiving care and educational services. These brief follow-up contacts will occur through phone calls or email, depending on communication preferences. The purpose of these check-ins is to ensure researchers have accurate information about children's experiences leading up to kindergarten entry. At the conclusion of the study, participants will be asked to complete an online survey, similar to the one completed at the start. 

Participants will not be required to submit kindergarten readiness assessment results. To reduce burden on families and providers, the evaluation team will coordinate directly with the Kentucky Department of Education to obtain kindergarten readiness assessment scores for participating children after they enter kindergarten. These data will be collected in accordance with applicable state regulations, including 704 KAR 5:070, and all applicable privacy and research protections.