Achieving academic excellence for all students by supporting the conditions to accelerate learning and offering a comprehensive and rigorous education, as well as boldly improving learning conditions are key focus areas under Raise the Bar, with a focus on assisting states and districts in achieving these goals for every student. Supporting early school success is an important part of the Raise the Bar initiative to accelerate learning and provide a rigorous, well-rounded education. Achievement gaps start early and persist. In this webinar, panelists provided a review of evidence from the field, and highlighted that fewer than half of all kindergartners come to school kindergarten ready, with significant disparities in race and income. Unfortunately, these disparities have long-term impacts. Building strong partnerships with parents and families is an essential strategy to align what happens in the classroom with what happens at home, making family engagement a critical driver in ensuring that all children enter kindergarten “ready to learn” and experience early school success. Panelists shared evidence-based strategies for parents, families, educators, and leaders to implement at home and in the classroom. (author abstract)