State education officials have released new data showing an achievement gap exists for students in Minnesota, even before they begin elementary school

The Minnesota Readiness Study finds children of color and children who live in poverty are less likely to be considered ready for kindergarten than white students and those living above the poverty line. According to the study, 60% of all students were considered proficient, meaning that they had enough skills to enter kindergarten. But only 44% of Hispanic children were considered ready for kindergarten, compared to 63% of white children. The study measured 5,600 Minnesota students during their first eight weeks of kindergarten in several areas, including physical development, language and mathematical thinking. Among the results, 63% of white students were considered ready for kindergarten, compared to 44% of Hispanic students, 44% of American Indian students, and 57% of black students. In addition, 52% of students who live below the federal poverty line were proficient, compared to 69% of students who live above the poverty line.