And the gains reported in The Kindergarten Year are about the same regardless of the child's background.
Significant gaps remain, however, in more advanced skills between at-risk children and their peers.
But it also reminds us that a half-day of kindergarten and regular school cannot do everything. The challenge for at-risk students raises compelling questions. The good news is that during kindergarten, all types of students improve their readiness for school. On the other hand, the pattern of group differences entering kindergarten is still there at the end of kindergarten. Furthermore, the gap between at-risk and more advantaged students is reduced for more basic skills, but widened for more complex skills.