Preparing for the 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot

Schools should review the 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot Fact Sheet (updated March 2025) for key dates, action items and resources for schools to successfully prepare for the Snapshot. 

Visit agesandstages.com/ks for quick reference guides, online training modules and “how-to” videos describing how to implement the ASQ.

Upcoming ASQ Training

Teachers and administrators have several upcoming opportunities to strengthen their ability to successfully partner with families to complete the ASQ:

• KSDE will offer a half-hour “Preparing for the Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot” webinar at four different times to review the timely resources and action items listed in the Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot fact sheet. Seasoned ASQ users and those new to the ASQ can join these sessions to get ready for the 2025-2026 school year and ask questions. KSDE will offer the same content at four different times to reach a wide range of teachers and administrators: on Tuesday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on Monday August 4 at 3:30 p.m., and on Tuesday August 5 at 10:00 a.m. Register at ksdetasn.org/events. 

• KSDE staff will join the Greenbush Early Childhood Forum on Monday, March 31 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to share these resources and answer questions. Click here to register for the March 31 Greenbush Early Childhood Forum. 

Why Kindergarten Readiness?

The first five years of a child’s life are an incredible opportunity to set a positive direction. Engaging with families to better understand children’s development prepares children, families and schools for a successful start to the kindergarten year. To advance kindergarten readiness, all Kansas elementary schools are partnering with families of incoming kindergarten students to collect kindergarten-entry data.

What is the Kansas Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot? 

The Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) provide a snapshot of children’s developmental milestones. As caregivers know their children best, they complete both versions of the questionnaires.

The ASQ-3 addresses five developmental areas: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving and personal-social. The ASQ: SE-2 addresses seven social-emotional areas: self-regulation, compliance, communication, adaptive behaviors, autonomy, affect and interaction with people.

How Can ASQ Data Be Used? 

All children are ready to enter kindergarten when they meet the age requirement – 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 of their kindergarten year. The snapshot data helps teachers ensure their kindergarten classrooms are ready to support the social, emotional and academic success of each student. Data can be used to help schools:

• Design environment and instruction to meet the needs of incoming kindergartners.

• Support aligned teaching practice and program planning.

• Support personalized instruction.

• Promote positive teacher-parent relationships.

At the state level, this data provides a snapshot of Kansas kindergartners’ development and helps inform opportunities to improve kindergarten readiness statewide.

When is the 2025 Snapshot? 

Schools may begin the 2025-2026 Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot March 1, 2025. Consider the following expectations regarding springtime administration:

• ASQ data will not prevent 5-year-old children from entering kindergarten. Per Kansas law, the only requirement for entry into kindergarten is that a child be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 of the current school year (unless a child has previously attended kindergarten in another state).

• The district will follow up with families within 2 weeks of receiving completed screenings. Timely follow-up ensures information shared by families is relevant and demonstrates to families that their time is valuable.

• The district will attempt to contact families who complete the ASQ during the springtime but who do not enroll/attend the district at the start of the school year so that KSDE can assist in transferring screenings to the correct new school.

•  A child’s kindergarten teacher will receive ASQ data prior to the first day of school.

All schools must administer the ASQ to incoming kindergarten students by Sept. 22, 2025. All data (including paper screenings and pending Family Access screenings) must be entered into ASQ Online by Sept. 26, 2025.

Who do you contact for questions?

For simple questions related to the Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot (for example, looking up a username or resetting a password to ASQ Online), contact Brookes Publishing Technical Support, or call 1-866-404-9853.

For more specific questions (for example, setting up ASQ Online Family Access links), contact the Brookes Implementation Team: implementation@brookespublishing.com.

Contact KSDE early childhood director Amanda Petersen (amanda.petersen@ksde.gov) and KSDE State Interagency Coordinating Council Coordinator Stacy Clarke (stacy.clarke@ksde.gov) with ASQ questions.