DOCUMENT RESUME ED 463 897 PS 030 342 AUTHOR Pianta, Robert; Cox, Martha TITLE Transition to Kindergarten. Early Childhood Research & Policy Briefs, Volume 2, Number 2. INSTITUTION National Center for Early Development & Learning, Chapel Hill, NC. SPONS AGENCY Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2002-00-00 NOTE 8p.; For Volume 2, Number 1, see PS 030 341. CONTRACT R307A60004 AVAILABLE FROM Publications Office, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, CB# 8185, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8185. Tel: 919-966-0867; e-mail:
[email protected]. For full text: http://www.ncedl.org. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MFO~/PCO~Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Change Strategies; Early Experience; *Educational Policy; Family School Relationship; *Preschool Children; Primary Education; School Readiness; *Student Adjustment; Student Needs; *Transitional Programs IDENTIFIERS *Transitional Activities ABSTRACT The transition to formal schooling is a landmark event for millions of children, but transition practices commonly used may not be well-suited to the needs of children and families. This research and policy brief, a quarterly synthesis of issues addressed by investigators and affiliates of the National Center for Early Development and Learning, focuses on transition activities and policies. The brief examines issues surrounding transition to kindergarten and how U.S. schools support this transition. The brief encourages policy makers to broaden the focus on children's readiness skills to one encompassing the settings that influence those skills--family, peer group, preschool, and school and suggests needed policy changes and factors in need of further research.