Abstract Core academic skills acquired in preschool and applied in kindergarten are a strong predictor of future achievement. However, many children transition from preschool to kindergarten with a already-identified achievement gap that is magnified by additional factors such as learning environment and student expectations. Schools that advocate for transitionary readiness should folow systemic pillars to foster student success. These key characteristics provide necessary supports for children...

Abstract Preschool education can have positive impacts on child development (Yoshikawa et al., 2016), student outcomes (Van Huizen & Plantenga, 2018) and later academic success (Clark et al., 2010). Educators need to be familiar with and capable of implementing developmentally appropriate practices for young learners to receive quality and impactful preschool instruction. The use of developmentally appropriate practices, such as inquiry-based learning, is crucial to ensuring that young...