The Early Kindergarten Transition (EKT) program is a free 3 week summer program for incoming Kindergarten students at Title I schools. Located at the school that the child will attend in the fall, children practice school routines and expectations with a kindergarten teacher from the school while parents meet regularly, begin relationships with each other and school staff, and learn how to support their child’s learning in the home. As a result, families who might otherwise struggle with the start of school become classroom and school leaders. Since the pilot, other Multnomah County school districts have replicated EKT with SUN Community Schools as the coordinating entity. (author abstract)