Colorado has room to improve according to a recent report that ranks states based on policies that promote early childhood literacy.
The report looks at seven policy areas tied to early childhood education. Then it ranks states in three categories: crawling, toddling and walking.
Abbie Lieberman with New America, a nonpartisan think tank, co-authored the paper.
"Overall, we found that most states are moving slowly," says Lieberman.
Only five states landed in the walking category.
"Those states have many of the right polices in place, but no state is running," she says. "So even highest scoring state, which was New York, would have only earned the equivalent of a C."
The report places Colorado in the toddling group where it sits as 33rd in the nation. Most states are in this class.
However, Lieberman says Colorado stands out with its third grade reading law.
"The Colorado law requires annual reading assessments for students in kindergarten through third grade, meaning the state is ensuring schools are aware of which students are behind early on. Then the state also requires intervention before third grade for students that are behind and requires that schools notify parents when children are behind. They are addressing this issue early on."
She says the state came in last place for full-day kindergarten access and improving that area could increase its standing.
