AP Spotlight Kindergarten readiness varies widely by income, new data shows. Cities stepping in to help MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press Feb 14, 2026 Feb 14, 2026 Updated 22 hrs ago 0 A Pre-K 4 SA student walks a beam on the playground Oct. 9 in San Antonio. Eric Gay, Associated Press Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press SAN ANTONIO — Sandra Mosqueda watched with an amused smile as her 2-year-old son, Atreus, began sweeping the floor with a miniature mop.kAmpEC6FD :D A2CE @7 E96 :?2F8FC2= 4=2DD @7 :?72?ED 2?5 E@55=6CD C646:G:?8 7C66 AC6D49@@= :? 2 4:EJH:56 AC@8C2> :? $2? p?E@?:@[ %6I2D]k^AmkAmxEVD D@>6E9:?8 9:D >@E96C 5@6D?VE E2<6 7@C 8C2?E65] pD 2 49:=5[ D96 H2D?VE 23=6 E@ DE2CE AC6D49@@= E9:D J@F?8] x? E96 42D6 @7 96C EH@ @=56C 3@JD — ?@H :? 7:CDE 8C256 2?5 <:?56C82CE6? — E96 7C66 AC6D49@@= D6E E96> FA 7@C DF446DD :? 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=]k^Am kAm%96 7:CDE 7:G6 J62CD @7 2 49:=5VD =:76 2C6 2>@?8 E96 >@DE 4C:E:42= 7@C E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E] %9@D6 J62CD =2J 2 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 AC6A2C6 E96> 7@C <:?56C82CE6?[ @7E6? D6EE:?8 E96> FA 7@C DF446DD E9C@F89@FE D49@@= 2?5 36J@?5]k^Am People are also reading… Reese Kuecker takes on the Masters Tournament with UNL hospitality program Flatwater Forum: Lexington begins to look ahead after Tyson closing Lexington welcomes Women’s Resource Center to the community Rapid Relief Team hosts appreciation meal for Gothenburg Fire Department Lexington girls soccer falls to Columbus Lakeview to take Central Conference runner-up title 33 Lexington High School students receive Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy award Scott Frost lawsuit against Nebraska heads to court over tax dispute Jose Lara steps into role as head coach of the Lexington girls wrestling program Lexington's Greta Rickertsen selected for Cornhusker Girls State 3 Dawson County 4-H'ers earn blue ribbons at Dawson County Presentation Contest Kearney-based Cash-Wa sold to Performance Foods of Virginia Lexington Community Foundation celebrates 25 years of The Key Minutemen soccer finishes in third at Central Conference Area athletes named to Omaha World-Herald 's 2026 Nebraska All-Class basketball teams Lexington girls pick up 2-0 victory at home over Aurora kAmqFE :>>6?D6 5:DA2C:E:6D 6I:DE :? H96E96C A2C6?ED 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ C6A@CE E96:C 49:=5 2D C625J 7@C <:?56C82CE6?[ ?6H 52E2 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= $FCG6J 7@C r9:=5C6?VD w62=E9 D9@HD]k^Am Teacher Deziree Arce, center, plays a game with her students in the Pre-K 4 SA program Oct. 9 in San Antonio. Eric Gay, Associated Press kAm}2E:@?2==J[ 2=>@DE EH@\E9:C5D @7 49:=5C6? H6C6 C6A@CE65 :? E96 DFCG6J 2D @? EC24< 7@C <:?56C82CE6?[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96:C 72>:=:6DV :?4@>6] w@H6G6C[ E96 82A :? <:?56C82CE6? C625:?6DD :D DF3DE2?E:2= H96? 4@>A2C:?8 C6A@CED 7C@> E96 A@@C6DE 72>:=:6D 2?5 E96 H62=E9:6DE — 23@FE 2 a_T 5:776C6?46]k^Am kAmp5>:?:DE6C65 3J E96 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F[ E96 7656C2= DFCG6J @776CD 2 8=:>AD6 :?E@ D49@@= C625:?6DD 3J 4@==64E:?8 C6DA@?D6D 2??F2==J 7C@> E9@FD2?5D @7 A2C6?ED 2?5 8F2C5:2?D @? E96:C 49:=5C6?VD 62C=J =62C?:?8[ D@4:2=\6>@E:@?2= 56G6=@A>6?E[ D6=7\C68F=2E:@?[ >@E@C 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 962=E9] %96 =2E6DE C6DF=ED H6C6 C6=62D65 :? s646>36C]k^Am kAm{@H\:?4@>6 49:=5C6? @7E6? 92G6 =6DD 2446DD E@ 6IA6C:6?46D E92E 3@@DE D49@@= C625:?6DD[ DF49 2D 9:89\BF2=:EJ 62C=J =62C?:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D] %92E :D?VE E@ D2J E9@D6 <:5D 92G6?VE >256 82:?D] ~G6C E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ E96 DFCG6JVD A@CE:@? @7 @?\EC24< 49:=5C6? 7C@> 72>:=:6D 62C?:?8 =6DD E92? E96 7656C2= A@G6CEJ =:?6 — ;FDE F?56C Sba[___ 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC :? a_ac — 92D EC6?565 FAH2C5 ?2E:@?H:56 3J 2 76H A6C46?E286 A@:?ED]k^Am kAm$@>6 4:EJ 2?5 DE2E6 AC@8C2>D 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 3@@DE E92E :>AC@G6>6?E 3J 6IA2?5:?8 AC6D49@@= @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 49:=5C6? 7C@> =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D] %96 >:DD:@? :D 6G6? >@C6 FC86?E 2D A2C6?ED ;F88=6 D@2C:?8 49:=5 42C6 4@DED 2?5 2 H:56?:?8 277@C523:=:EJ 82A]k^AmkAm$2? p?E@?:@VD AC@8C2>[ 42==65 !C6\z c $p[ :D 2 AC:>6 6I2>A=6] xEVD 56D:8?65 E@ D6CG6 =@H\:?4@>6 2?5 H@C<:?8\4=2DD 72>:=:6D E9C@F89@FE E96 4:EJ[ @776C:?8 a[___ AC6D49@@= D62ED 7@C b\ 2?5 c\J62C\@=5D — g_T @7 E96> 7C66 E@ 72>:=:6D H9@ BF2=:7J]k^Am Students in the Pre-K 4 SA program eat a provided lunch Oct. 9 in San Antonio. Eric Gay, Associated Press kAm%96 AC@8C2>[ H9:49 @A6?65 :? a_`b[ :D 7F?565 E9C@F89 E96 4:EJVD D2=6D E2I 2?5 6IA2?565 =2DE J62C E@ :?4=F56 7@FC :?72?E 2?5 E@55=6C 4=2DDC@@>D :? :ED ?6H $@FE9 t5F42E:@? r6?E6C] %96 AC6D49@@=D 2=D@ @776C 2? F?FDF2==J 3C@25 >:I @7 D6CG:46D[ :? C64@8?:E:@? E92E A@G6CEJ C2:D6D 2 4@>A=6I 3=6?5 @7 @3DE24=6D E@ <:?56C82CE6? C625:?6DD]k^Am kAmr:EJH:56 62C=J 49:=59@@5 AC@8C2>D 92G6 2=D@ 6>6C865 :? C646?E J62CD :? s6?G6C[ }6H *@C<[ q@DE@?[ 2?5 r9:428@[ 2>@?8 @E96CD]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAm$EF56?ED H9@ 4@>A=6E65 !C6\z c $p D4@C65 9:896C E92? E96 DE2E6 2G6C286 @? E9:C5 8C256 >2E9 2?5 C625:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &C32? t5F42E:@? x?DE:EFE6 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 %6I2D 2E $2? p?E@?:@] %9@D6 @FE4@>6D 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ H92E $2C29 q2C2J[ rt~ @7 !C6\z c $p[ G:6HD 2D 2 <6J DF446DD @7 E96 AC@8C2>i r9:=5C6? H:E9 E96 8C62E6DE ?665D C646:G6 E96 D2>6 BF2=:EJ 65F42E:@? 2D <:5D 7C@> H62=E9:6C 72>:=:6D]k^Am kAmQ%96 BF2=:EJ :D D@ 9:89 E92E 6G6? 72>:=:6D H9@ 4@F=5 277@C5 E@ 8@ 2?JH96C6 ECJ E@ 86E :?E@ @FC D49@@=D[Q q2C2J D2:5]k^Am k9amw:89\BF2=:EJ 65F42E:@?k^9amkAm|2?J 6IA6CED 28C66 E92E @?6 @7 E96 36DE H2JD E@ 3@@DE D49@@= C625:?6DD :D E@ 6?DFC6 AC@8C2>D >66E 9:89\BF2=:EJ DE2?52C5D[ DF49 2D D>2==6C 4=2DD D:K6D 2?5 49:=5\E@\DE277 C2E:@D]k^AmkAm!C6\z c $p 92D :>A=6>6?E65 2 QH9@=6 49:=5Q 2AAC@249 E92E 56G6=@AD 2 C2?86 @7 D<:==D[ :?4=F5:?8 D@4:@6>@E:@?2= =62C?:?8] q2C2J D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> AC6A2C6D 49:=5C6? Q?@E ;FDE W7@CX 24256>:4 DF446DD[ 3FE =:76 DF446DD]Qk^Am kAmz:5D :? s6K:C66 pC46VD 4=2DD =62C? E@ 4@F?E 2?5 C64@8?:K6 D92A6D ;FDE =:<6 @E96C AC6D49@@=6CD] qFE E96 49:=5C6? 2=D@ C646:G6 8F:52?46 7C@> pC46 @? D@4:2=\6>@E:@?2= D<:==D E@ E6DE @FE 2== 52J[ H96E96C :EVD 4@?D@=:?8 2 4CJ:?8 4=2DD>2E6 @C C6D@=G:?8 2 4@?7=:4E @? H9@ D:ED H96C6 2E E96:C 4=2DDC@@> E23=6]k^Am kAmQ(96? x D66 <:5D E92E 4@>6 7C@>[ =:<6[ H96C6 x 42>6 7C@>[ xV> 8:G:?8 E96> D@>6E9:?8 E92E x ?6G6C 8@E[Q D2:5 pC46[ H9@ 8C6H FA :? 2 =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=J 2?5 92D E2F89E 2E !C6\z c $p 7@C ?:?6 J62CD]k^Am Pre-K students play on a playground Oct. 9 in San Antonio. Eric Gay, Associated Press kAm!C6\z c $p 2=D@ :?E6?E:@?2==J :?4@CA@C2E6D @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 49:=5C6? E@ C67:?6 E96:C >@E@C D<:==D] u@C =F?49[ E96 49:=5C6? :? pC46VD 4=2DD A:?4965 EFC<6J 3FC86CD — AC@G:565 3J 2 =@42= 7@@5 32?< — H:E9 E@?8D @FE @7 2=F>:?F> EC2JD 2?5 @?E@ E96:C A=2E6D] tIA=@5:?8 <6E49FA A24<6ED H6C6 >6E H:E9 46=63C2E:@?[ 2D D@>6 DEF56?ED @A6?65 E96> 3J E96>D6=G6D 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6]k^Am kAm~FE5@@C A=2J :D 2?@E96C 4C:E:42= 4@>A@?6?E E@ :>AC@G:?8 >@E@C D<:==D] $EF56?ED DA6?5 2? 9@FC @FED:56 6G6CJ 52J F?=6DD H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 D6G6C6]k^AmkAmx? 2? 6C2 @7 >F49 D4C66? E:>6 2?5 E:>6 :?5@@CD[ !C6\z c $p DEF56?ED 2C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ 6?8286 :? QC:D<J A=2J]Q %92E 4@F=5 >62? C24:?8 EC:4J4=6D 2C@F?5 E96 A6C:>6E6C @7 E96 A=2J8C@F?5[ 4=:>3:?8 FA E96 D=:56 @C DAC2J:?8 H2E6C 7C@> 2 AF>A] %9@D6 6IA6C:6?46D E6249 DEF56?ED E96:C A9JD:42= =:>:ED 62C=J[ D2:5 !C6\z c $p r9:67 @7 $49@@=D %@?52 qC@H?]k^AmkAm|@C6 E92? `[e__ 72>:=:6D H6C6 @? !C6\z c $pVD H2:E=:DE E9:D D49@@= J62C[ q2C2J D2:5] %@ 96=A H2:E\=:DE65 72>:=:6D[ E96 AC@8C2>VD 6?C@==>6?E E62> 4@??64ED E96> H:E9 @E96C =@42= @AE:@?D[ DF49 2D D49@@= 5:DEC:4E\CF? AC6D49@@=D @C AC:G2E6 46?E6CD A2CE?6C65 H:E9 !C6\z c $p]k^Am kAm~E96C 4:E:6D 5:DEC:3FE6 E96 56>2?5 24C@DD 2 H:56 G2C:6EJ @7 9:89\BF2=:EJ AC6D49@@= AC@8C2>D 3J @776C:?8 7:?2?4:2= 2DD:DE2?46 E@ 72>:=:6D]k^Am Parenting 2-month-olds see the world in a more complex way than scientists thought, study suggests LAURA UNGAR AP Medical Writer Parenting How to talk to kids about immigration, ICE and recent killings Rachel Hutton The Minnesota Star Tribune Education The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story As literacy rates lag, a pediatric hospital is screening for reading ability One Ohio hospital has started checking literacy skills during visits for kids as young as 3 to help spot reading struggles early and coach par… Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI Students say they don't always love the testing format, but many agree that it's effective. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video The state redistricting fight was one that Trump started LPD adds two new EV cruisers to their fleet LPD adds two new EV cruisers to their fleet FBI says SPLC paid informants without donors knowing. Feds pay them too FBI says SPLC paid informants without donors knowing. Feds pay them too How the US naval blockade on Iran chokes Strait of Hormuz oil exports How the US naval blockade on Iran chokes Strait of Hormuz oil exports
Parenting 2-month-olds see the world in a more complex way than scientists thought, study suggests LAURA UNGAR AP Medical Writer
Parenting How to talk to kids about immigration, ICE and recent killings Rachel Hutton The Minnesota Star Tribune
Education The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press
As literacy rates lag, a pediatric hospital is screening for reading ability One Ohio hospital has started checking literacy skills during visits for kids as young as 3 to help spot reading struggles early and coach par…
Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI Students say they don't always love the testing format, but many agree that it's effective.
