LEXINGTON, Ky. — Early childhood education and kindergarten readiness begin well before children enter the classroom.

What You Need To Know

  • "A New Way Forward" initiative will help children become kindergarten ready in Lexington

  •  Fayette County Public School Board allocated $10 million towards the initiative

  •  FCPS had lowest scores for kindergarten readiness last school year

“An educated community means an educated workforce, and having an educated workforce means more people are able to have good-paying jobs,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said.

Last school year, Fayette County Public Schools had their lowest scores ever on kindergarten readiness.

“This past year it was the lowest. For the first time since it was implemented in 2013, only 42% of our students were classified as kindergarten readiness,” explained Demetrus Liggins, superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools.

That’s why the school is renewing its focus by implementing a five-year strategic plan called “A New Way Forward.” The goal is to get children kindergarten ready. 

“Our goal is a bold one. By the 2027-28 school year, our goal is to ensure that 100% of students who are entering kindergarten have the prerequisite skills to be ready from day one to begin their learning experience and move forward,” Liggins said.

FCPS is encouraging more families to read, talk and play with their children at home to help them become “kindergarten ready.” There will also be a First 5 Lex app that will list resources that will have learning at home aids, growth and development guidelines, as well as a program called Classrooms on Wheels. These are all new resources FCPS hopes to roll out this spring.

After being one of only five counties in Kentucky with no coverage, registration is now open for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Fayette County.

“These buses will take preschool fun and curriculum into Lexington neighborhoods, complete with fully licensed staff members who will read, talk and play with our students as well teach our families of caregivers how to do it as well,” Liggins said.

With the hope of removing the barriers to learning and allow the public to help the school district in creative ways.

“We want them to be able to read, and to participate in our community in a positive way so this is, to me, this is going to be a critical effort for our community,” Gorton said.

FCPS says the school board has committed $10 million for the initiative.

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