According to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, 38.6 percent of children ages three to five in San Diego County are not enrolled in preschool. This project addresses the gap by providing the curriculum in communities where there is a lack of free preschools, low preschool enrollment, high poverty and moderate-high ESL rates. The program provides library staff with best practices for facilitating "Kindergarten Gear-Up" sessions.

"Kindergarten Gear-Up" has created another platform for access to education, engaging communities to solidify the role of the library as a partner of public education. The implementation of the project provides children in low income communities with the opportunity to gain school readiness skills and parents with the resources and tools to support their ongoing development. To further support this early literacy initiative, the program partners experienced and new librarians together in a mentoring program.

This project helps children be ready for school by building on learned early literacy skills and independence. Parents/caregivers learn about school readiness from library staff and guest speakers. To measure impact/outcomes, the library has implemented pre and post surveys, focus groups and participation observations; Feedback from these tools is then used to improve the curriculum. On average, 10 parents and children have attended each of the 10 sessions offered.