New numbers were released by the Illinois State Board of Election on Monday, which suggest that only 24-perecnt of kindergartners in Illinois are actually ready for school. Advocates say that it is well below average for the start of the year. The numbers give the 1st-ever statewide picture on how prepared Illinois 5-year-olds are for a regular routine for school. State officials and early childhood education advocates say that the low numbers underscore the importance of early childhood education. Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Jackie Matthews stated, “The date shows that we have a lot of work to do. The state is really talking about how we can increase investments in early learning, because this is such a critical time for children.” The data also shows gives a well-documented achievement gap between rich and poor children, before they enter kindergarten. On average, kids who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches were 14-percentage points behind their higher-income peers on school readiness.