Study finds kids not ready for school

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Central Texas children are behind in their studies before they ever reach their first classroom.  The United Way Capital Area's Success By 6 initiative got very specific in a recent report.  Their researchers looked at kids from two months old to five years old.

They found a noticeable gap in achievement in some children by the time they're just age three.
The skills they lack include communication, problem solving and fine motor skills.
Like nearly every parent, Aurora Ramirez wants her children to achieve even more than she has.

"Good education - it is important for us, and they have (to) learn a lot more things that I don't know," said Ramirez.

Ramirez agrees a lot of kids in her Dove Springs neighborhood are behind when they get to kindergarten.
She's says she's seen hardworking parents unable to spend enough time preparing their children for kindergarten.

"They're tired or maybe the kids are sleeping by the time they come home," said Ramirez.

According to the study only a little more than half of the kids entering kindergarten in Central Texas are ready for it but in certain neighborhoods that number is much less -- as few as 13 percent.

"The percentage is very low," said Rosalina Abrego.

The United Way study found achievement gaps are most prevalent in kids living in Dove Springs, Manor, Quail Creek and St. John.

Abrego is the owner of Happy Faces, a bilingual day care center in the St. John's neighborhood.

She says too many kids only get Spanish at home, then only English when they get to kindergarten.

"I believe it is the language barrier," said Abrego.

Abrego understands not everyone can afford pre-K and daycare, but she believes they help socialize and educate children.


"At my center they already know how to trace their names, spell their names, count up to 50.  They already know their shapes," said Abrego.

That's something Ramirez is doing herself.

"I do the best I can, as well as my husband," said Ramirez.

Ramirez wishes for more early childhood education programs at libraries and community clinics.

In the meantime, she says parents should help each other out, so all kids in the neighborhood start kindergarten off right.

"Every person has to do it because that's a better future for us," said Ramirez.

As a result of the study, United Way and Samsung will provide nearly 200 families with tablet computers and wireless internet access at home.
They'll also partner with local libraries for parent/child reading sessions and parent training in early education.