The Getting School Ready program improves school readiness and supports successful transitions of children into kindergarten.

Getting School Ready (GSR) Neighborhood/School Transition Teams serve three- and four-year-old children who live within the boundaries of participating schools and who are most at risk for not making a smooth transition into school. GSR Transition Teams:

  • Foster communication by building relationships among families, childcare providers, early educators and schools to promote successful transition into kindergarten.
  • Work to align children’s learning and development experiences among home, early education and care provider, and school to boost childrens’ confidence and learning.
  • Plan and implement strategies to enhance early literacy and reduce nonacademic barriers to early learning, such as language and translation, for families most at risk.

Parental support programs include training in literacy and numeracy; community events to introduce ELL families to school personnel and to connect with other families; kindergarten orientation and transition sessions; a Kindergarten Resource Fair; meetings (in Spanish) on the importance of literacy and early learning activities; and Play and Learn Groups to help families, friends, and neighbors support one another.

2011-2012 Participating Schools

  • Bellevue School District: Lake Hills
  • Federal Way School District: Camelot, Olympic View, Silver Lake
  • Kent School District: Cedar Valley, Scenic View
  • Northshore School District: Crystal Springs, Frank Love, Kenmore, Woodin, Woodmoor
  • Seattle School District: Dearborn Park, Northgate, Maple, Rainier View, Van Asselt, Wing Luke
  • Shoreline Public Schools: Briarcrest, Echo Lake, Highland Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Meridian Park, Shoreline Children’s Center
  • Tahoma School District: Glacier Park, Lake Wilderness, Rock Creek, Shadow Lake

Getting School Ready is funded by the United Way of King County.

Download the free GSR Transition Workbook to learn ways elementary schools, school districts, early learning providers, community organizations and businesses can partner to create a seamless prenatal through 3rd grade education system

For more information on the Getting School Ready Program, contact info@wabsalliance.org.