More Children Have Skills Necessary to Start Kindergarten

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Education officials say the number of children ready to start kindergarten in Louisville has increased by nearly 4 percent.

A statement from Jefferson County Public Schools says data released Thursday by the state Education Department shows 51.6 percent of students were ready for kindergarten, according to fall assessments. In 2015, 47.9 were ready to start kindergarten.

JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens says the data shows the district is moving in the right direction and that early childhood programs are helping.

Data shows that 73.8 percent of children who attended at least one day of kindergarten readiness camp were ready to start school compared to a district average of 56.1 percent.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.