We found no solid research showing long-term educational gains for children who are taught to read in kindergarten - but significant evidence of likely harm. And we maintain that the pressure of implementing the reading standard is leading many kindergarten teachers to resort to inappropriate drilling on specific skills and excessive testing. Teacher-led instruction in kindergartens has almost entirely replaced the active, play-based experiential learning that children need based on decades of research in cognitive and developmental psychology and neuroscience.

In an effort to shift back to a developmentally appropriate, child-centered curriculum, Defending the Early Years and Alliance for Childhood call for the withdrawal of the kindergarten standards from the Common Core so they can be rethought along developmental lines. You can read our other calls to action and the full report here.

Follow on Twitter and join the movement: @DEY_Project @4Childhood #2Much2Soon.