Only about 41 percent of Central Texas students were kindergarten-ready in the 2015-16 school year, breaking a trend of 50 percent readiness, according to the E3 Alliance’s 2016 Central Texas Education Profile.

The data was presented to area education community members June 14.

Kindergarten readiness, according to the E3 Alliance, entails social and emotional learning skills, language and communication skills, and emerging literacy and math skills.

“These are the skills that help children really make the most out of learning in a group setting,” said Laura Koenig, E3 Alliance director of school readiness.

Possible solutions to reverse the trend include an increase in resources for families vulnerable to having unprepared students and increasing half-day pre-K classes to full-day instruction with less students per teacher, Koenig said.

“If we don’t do anything, then the students won’t be succeeding in school,” Koenig said. “We need to start making those changes right now.”