CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Schools are typically organized by preschool and kindergarten, followed by elementary, middle and high school. One year often has little continuity from the previous one. Teachers work in isolation from one grade to the next and prepare differently.

That's a big deal, particularly in the earliest years, where the base for future learning and achievement is laid, says a disturbing report from the national Foundation for Child Development.

"Many people like to believe that American children are generally doing quite well in school," the study says. "But by the fourth grade, more than half of white and Asian-American children cannot read at grade level. For Latino, black and American Indian children, the numbers are even worse. More than 80 percent cannot read at grade level."

The foundation urges America to rethink the first six years of school: pre-kindergarten through third grade.

For example, only 12 states require kindergarten attendance, and only two require full-day attendance. Only 35 percent of all U.S. 4-year-olds are in publicly supported pre-kindergarten programs. West Virginia has been working toward optional preschool for all 4-year-olds by 2012.

Across the country, the percentage of children who read at grade level drops between fourth and eighth grade. It rises slightly at 12th grade - but only because of America's terrible dropout problem, because many struggling students give up and quit by then.

"Our children are not failing to learn. Our schools are failing to teach them effectively," the report says.

In West Virginia, various measures show that students are behind in reading and math scores and education attainment. While the achievement gap between whites and minorities is not as great in West Virginia as it is across the country, achievement overall is not as great either.

Americans currently provide early childhood education through a mix of public preschools plus diverse private, nonprofit, for-profit and religious schools.

Success in early grades requires good teaching and administration throughout all these different organizations. If children are to build on their early success, their kindergarten and elementary schools must complement preschool.

West Virginia should be both sobered and cheered by this report. While the state has far to go to raise student achievement anywhere near children's potential, the state nonetheless is on the right track with all-day kindergarten and expanded public preschool.

The Foundation for Child Development report offers much for West Virginians to think about. Its text is online at fcd-us.org.

That's a big deal, particularly in the earliest years, where the base for future learning and achievement is laid, says a disturbing report from the national Foundation for Child Development.

"Many people like to believe that American children are generally doing quite well in school," the study says. "But by the fourth grade, more than half of white and Asian-American children cannot read at grade level. For Latino, black and American Indian children, the numbers are even worse. More than 80 percent cannot read at grade level."

The foundation urges America to rethink the first six years of school: pre-kindergarten through third grade.

For example, only 12 states require kindergarten attendance, and only two require full-day attendance. Only 35 percent of all U.S. 4-year-olds are in publicly supported pre-kindergarten programs. West Virginia has been working toward optional preschool for all 4-year-olds by 2012.

Across the country, the percentage of children who read at grade level drops between fourth and eighth grade. It rises slightly at 12th grade - but only because of America's terrible dropout problem, because many struggling students give up and quit by then.

"Our children are not failing to learn. Our schools are failing to teach them effectively," the report says.

In West Virginia, various measures show that students are behind in reading and math scores and education attainment. While the achievement gap between whites and minorities is not as great in West Virginia as it is across the country, achievement overall is not as great either.

Americans currently provide early childhood education through a mix of public preschools plus diverse private, nonprofit, for-profit and religious schools.

Success in early grades requires good teaching and administration throughout all these different organizations. If children are to build on their early success, their kindergarten and elementary schools must complement preschool.

West Virginia should be both sobered and cheered by this report. While the state has far to go to raise student achievement anywhere near children's potential, the state nonetheless is on the right track with all-day kindergarten and expanded public preschool.

The Foundation for Child Development report offers much for West Virginians to think about. Its text is online at fcd-us.org.