Improve Early Grade-Level Reading

Indicators: How Can You Measure Progress?

Policymakers can measure progress toward the desired result of healthy children prepared to succeed in school by tracking a number of key indicators:

• Percentage of children scoring proficient in grade level reading and math.   Percentage of children with reading proficiency at the beginning of fourth grade as measured by state tests. This indicator measures the cumulative conditions that contribute to school success throughout children’s early years. It indicates whether children are reading well today, and whether they were ready for school three years ago. For more on grade-level reading.

• Percentage of low-birth weight babies.  Percentage of babies weighing under 2,500 grams or 5.5 pounds at birth.

• Percentage of two-year-olds who were immunized.  Percentage of two-year-old children who have completed the basic series of age appropriate immunizations.

• Percentage of children under age three with elevated blood lead levels.  Percentage of children with blood lead levels at or above 10 micrograms per deciliter.

• Rates of births to teens.  Birth rates for teenagers 15-19 years.

• Number and rate of child abuse and neglect for young children.  Number and rate per 1,000 children of children under age six who are the subjects of substantiated or indicated maltreatment reports.