In their annual external evaluation report to Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on Early Learning Centers (a.k.a. Judy centers) at a school district in Maryland, MNA found that children who joined the center a year or so prior to the new students show a marked difference in their social, emotional, and learning skills. Based on data collected during summer 2015 and across the academic year (2015-2016) from assessment scores (e.g., Kindergarten Ready Assessments or KRAs that measure children’s social foundations, physical development, language and literature, and math skills), annual surveys from parents, center’s program staff and classroom teachers, it was found that by the end of the school year, 45% percent of Judy Center students at this school district were classified as Kindergarten ready, above the 38% of students statewide.
