A Strong Start for Learning
School readiness is an important first step in a child’s education. It helps build the skills they need to learn and succeed over time.
Skills for Success in School
Children who are ready for school can adjust more easily to the classroom, build strong friendships, and develop good habits for thinking and learning. They will keep building these skills as they grow.
Working Together to Support Every Child
Families, child care providers, teachers, school and community leaders all play an important role in helping children get ready for school. By working together, we can support children as they grow into confident, curious learners who are ready to succeed in school and in life.
Learn how you can be part of the team supporting school readiness in your community. This guide focuses on building relationships, early learning experiences and smooth transitions into kindergarten.
Legendary Family Learning Building Literacy Skills is a storybook and guide that helps families talk, read, and learn through everyday activities.
Developmental screenings are a more detailed way to check whether a child is learning skills when expected. Screenings are done by trained health care or education professionals.
- Right Track services offer free screenings and home visits for families. Right Track visits are for all families with children under three years old, not just children with delays.
- North Dakota Early Intervention Services can help identify developmental delays early, when support can make a big difference. Evaluations are free. If a child qualifies, families and service providers will work together to create a plan that meets the child’s and family’s needs. Services may include home visits, consultations and parent coaching.
- Early childhood screening services (3- to 5-year-old children) - School districts in North Dakota provide developmental screenings for 3- to 5-year-old children through early childhood special education services. Each district operates their screening process uniquely.
- Best in Class (year before kindergarten program)
- Child care licensing
- Partnership and engagement
- Head Start State Collaboration Office
- Four-Year-Old Program approval
- Inclusion support
- Professional development
- Quality - Bright & Early, Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
- Information for families on finding, choosing and paying for child care.
- ND Early Childhood Hub - early childhood workforce support (training, information, resources for child care providers).
From nutrition and oral health to information about screening programs and other youth-oriented health resources, we support the health of North Dakota's children including:
- Special health services.
- Immunization program and immunization resources for early child care and schools.
- Youth and child-related resources.
Explore more Children's Health programs and resources.
- Legendary Learners - our early learning initiative focusing on school readiness.
- ND Educational Hub - an online platform that houses professional development and resources.
- Special Education
