Pennsylvania’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) is a reliable reporting tool available at no cost to school districts. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory offers teachers an instructional strategy for understanding and tracking students’ proficiency across both cognitive and non-cognitive domains at kindergarten entry. The Kindergarten Entry Inventory is aligned to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards and Pennsylvania Core Standards, and therefore it complements and can help improve existing assessments and teaching practices.

More than 200 schools in 22 school districts implemented the Kindergarten Entry Inventory in 2014, the first year it was available statewide. “As the principal I always struggle with getting to know our kindergarten classes at the start of the school year. We have a half-day program and they are all new to our school. Being involved with the KEI process, actively assisting in the observation process, has allowed me to connect with the kindergartens in a way I haven’t been able to in the past.”

Using the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, teachers observe and report a child’s skills in the first 45 calendar days on 30 standards-based indicators that address cognitive and non-cognitive skills. These indicators directly align with the Pre-Kindergarten Early Learning Outcomes Framework.  Having a comprehensive picture of the strengths and needs of students and classroom trends, teachers can adjust their instruction, access resources and professional development, and partner with families to meet the unique needs of their students.

This touchpoint of a child’s skills when they enter kindergarten provides an opportunity for families, teachers, schools and communities to work together to improve student achievement. For example, schools and early childhood programs can evaluate aggregate information to align expectations, curriculum, professional development and family involvement to best prepare students for kindergarten.

Schools interested in implementing the Inventory in the 2015-16 school year must register by August 15, 2015. Email RA-PWOCDELKEI@pa.gov for more information and instructions on how to register staff.

To watch the five-minute introductory video, read the 2014 summary report and other informational materials, and register for the Kindergarten Entry Inventory, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at www.education.pa.gov and click on K-12: Assessment and Accountability or go to http://bit.ly/1PegqAP.

This initiative is part of Pennsylvania’s Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge grant. Schools must register by August 15, 2015 for the 2015-16 school year.