School Readiness Among United States Children: Results From the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Provide the latest national and state estimates and correlates of the proportion of young children who are healthy and ready to learn (HRTL) using a revised measure from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). METHODS: Data were analyzed for 11,121 children ages 3 to 5 years from the 2022 NSCH, an address-based, parent-completed survey on the health and well-being of children in the United States. A total of 27 items across 5 domains (early learning skills, social emotional development, self-regulation, motor development, and health) were used to calculate domain-specific assessments scored as "on track," "emerging," or "needs support" according to age-appropriate developmental expectations. Children "on track" in 4 to 5 domains with no domain that "needs support" were considered HRTL. RESULTS: In 2022, 63.6% of 3- to 5-year-old children were HRTL. The proportion of children "on track" ranged from just over two thirds for early learning skills and motor development to 88.9% for health. One million children, or 9.0%, needed support in multiple domains. Being HRTL was associated with child, family, community factors including participation in early childhood education, special health care needs status/type, male sex, reading/singing/storytelling by family members, adverse childhood experiences, parental mental health and education, food insufficiency, outdoor play, household language, neighborhood amenities, rural residence, medical home access. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two thirds of young children are reported to be HRTL, meeting the Title V National Outcome Measure for School Readiness. Using a revised measure, modifiable factors are identified which offer a range of intervention opportunities at the child, family, and community levels.