COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kindergarten readiness has improved across most Columbus City Schools, with recent state assessment data showing more students are prepared for school than in previous years, including pre-pandemic levels. This positive trend comes after years of concern about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education.

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According to an analysis by NBC4 Investigates, which examined kindergarten readiness data for every elementary school in the Columbus City Schools district that reported it, 63 of 68 schools showed a higher percentage of kindergarteners testing “Ready” this past school year compared to the year prior. Furthermore, 43 of these schools now have more kindergarteners ready than they did in the 2018-2019 school year, before the pandemic.

Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman emphasized the importance of early preparation. “When our students don’t come to us ready for kindergarten, we spend so many years trying to play catch-up and close that gap,” Dr. Chapman stated. She added, “Everyone wins when we invest in early childhood programming,” highlighting that the age between 0 to 5 is critical for brain growth and development.

The city of Columbus has invested over $1 million in taxpayer money into Future Ready Five, a local nonprofit. For the past two and a half years, Future Ready Five has developed a program aimed at improving kindergarten readiness in the lowest-income ZIP codes within Franklin County. Future Ready Five CEO Mario Basora noted that their program currently includes 77 schools and serves approximately 1,035 children. Basora also pointed out that the current group of kindergarteners is the first not to have spent their early years during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, marking a significant shift.

Alpine Elementary School, for example, has seen substantial improvement. In the 2018-2019 school year, 57% of its kindergarteners tested ready. This figure rose to 67% in the 2024-2025 school year and reached 80% this past year. Principal Sarah Foster attributed this success to a supportive community and dedicated teachers, though she expressed a desire for more pre-kindergarten classrooms to provide all students with early exposure.

Despite the overall positive trend, five schools saw a drop in their readiness numbers from last year. However, three of these five schools are still performing above their pre-COVID levels. Dr. Chapman reiterated that research consistently shows students with early intervention and access to high-quality programming before kindergarten are more successful.

Source: NBC4 Columbus Local — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Diyaar garowga Xanaanada oo Soo Hagaagay Dugsiyada Columbus, Ka Sarreeya Heerarkii COVID-ka Ka Hor

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Diyaar garowga carruurta xanaanada ee inta badan dugsiyada hoose ee magaalada Columbus ayaa soo hagaagay, iyada oo xogta qiimeynta gobolka ee dhowaan la soo saaray ay muujinayso in arday badan ay hadda diyaar u yihiin dugsiga marka loo eego sannadihii hore, oo ay ku jiraan heerarkii ka hor inta aanu faafin COVID-19.

Warbixin ay soo saartay NBC4 Investigates, oo falanqaysay xogta diyaar garowga xanaanada ee dhammaan dugsiyada hoose ee Columbus City Schools ee soo gudbiyay xogtan, ayaa lagu ogaaday in 63 ka mid ah 68 dugsi ay muujiyeen boqolkiiba sare oo ah carruurta xanaanada ee lagu qiimeeyay “Diyaar” sannad dugsiyeedkii la soo dhaafay marka la barbar dhigo sannadkii ka horreeyay. Intaa waxaa dheer, 43 ka mid ah dugsiyadan ayaa hadda leh carruur xanaanada oo ka diyaar garow badan sidii ay ahaayeen sannad dugsiyeedkii 2018-2019, ka hor inta aanu faafin COVID-19.

Dr. Angela Chapman, oo ah kormeeraha Columbus City Schools, ayaa hoosta ka xariiqday muhiimadda diyaar garowga hore. Dr. Chapman ayaa tiri, “Marka ardaydeennu aanay noogu imaan iyagoo diyaar u ah xanaanada, waxaan sannado badan ku bixinnaa sidii aan u gaari lahayn oo aan u xiri lahayn farqigaas.” Waxay intaa ku dartay, “Qof kastaa wuu guuleystaa marka aan maalgashanno barnaamijyada carruurnimada hore,” iyada oo tilmaantay in da’da u dhaxaysa 0 ilaa 5 sano ay tahay mid muhiim u ah koritaanka iyo horumarka maskaxda.

Magaalada Columbus ayaa maalgashatay in ka badan $1 milyan oo doolar oo ka yimid canshuur bixiyeyaasha Future Ready Five, oo ah hay’ad aan faa’iido doon ahayn. Labadii sano iyo badh ee la soo dhaafay, Future Ready Five waxay soo saartay barnaamij loogu talagalay in lagu hagaajiyo diyaar garowga xanaanada ee aagagga ZIP-ka ee ugu dakhliga yar ee Franklin County. Mario Basora, oo ah maamulaha Future Ready Five, ayaa xusay in barnaamijkooda uu hadda ka kooban yahay 77 dugsi oo uu u adeego qiyaastii 1,035 carruur ah. Basora ayaa sidoo kale tilmaamay in kooxda hadda ee carruurta xanaanada ay tahay tii ugu horreysay ee aan ku qaadan sannadahoodii hore intii lagu jiray faafitaanka COVID-19 ee 2020, taasoo calaamad u ah isbeddel weyn.

Dugsiga hoose ee Alpine Elementary, tusaale ahaan, wuxuu arkay horumar la taaban karo. Sannad dugsiyeedkii 2018-2019, 57% carruurta xanaanada ee dugsigaas ayaa lagu qiimeeyay inay diyaar yihiin. Tiradan ayaa kor u kacday ilaa 67% sannad dugsiyeedkii 2024-2025 waxaana ay gaartay 80% sannadkii la soo dhaafay. Maamulaha dugsiga Alpine Elementary, Sarah Foster, ayaa guushan u sababaysay bulsho taageerta iyo macallimiin dadaal badan, in kasta oo ay muujisay rabitaan ah inay hesho fasallo pre-K ah oo badan si ay dhammaan ardayda ugu diyaariyaan waxbarashada hore.

Inkasta oo ay jirto isbeddel guud oo wanaagsan, shan dugsi ayaa arkay hoos u dhac ku yimid tiradooda diyaar garowga sannadkii hore. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, saddex ka mid ah shanta dugsi ayaa weli ka sarreeya heerarkoodii ka hor COVID-19. Dr. Chapman ayaa ku celcelisay in cilmi-baaristu ay si joogto ah u muujiso in ardayda leh faragelin hore iyo helitaanka barnaamijyo tayo sare leh ka hor intaysan gelin xanaanada ay noqdaan kuwo aad u guuleysta.

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus Local