Data project will track preschoolers into elementary school

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) – A northern Indiana pilot program will track children through third grade to help improve preschool programs.

The Journal Gazette reports the project will track students entering kindergarten this fall and send scores from a variety of screening tests back to their preschools to help them improve educational programs.

Jeanne Zehr of the United Way of Allen County says such data sharing is “the brass ring” for education professionals looking to improve their practices.

Assessments for incoming kindergartners would typically cover recognition of letters and their sounds, numbers, shapes and colors. It also could include reading some simple words like “cat.”

Experts say quality preschool education has been linked to higher standardized test scores throughout elementary school and a reduced chance of incarceration.