Validation and Use of a School Readiness Battery in an Israeli Elementary School Integration Program

Abstract

A School Readiness Test Battery comprising the Information and Similarities subtests of Wechsler's preschool scale, selected elements of the Gesell Reading Readiness Test and the Minkowich Test of Arithmetic Readiness was used to screen candidates of low socioeconomic status for entry into a first-grade integration program in an Israeli elementary school. The candidates were retested at the end of first grade on a battery of tests of reading and arithmetic skills and achievement. An analysis of intercorrelations among readiness and achievement measures indicates that, the Gesell and Minkowich readiness tests administered to kindergarten children lead to superior prediction of school readiness at first grade.