The influence of early childhood programs on the entire education community cannot be overstated. These programs have highlighted the important role that successful learning experiences at home and experiences in high-quality early childhood programs play in future academic success (Wesley & Buysse, 2003). The purpose of this article is to challenge the framework that bases school reform on a deficit model, which mandates that students be made ready for school. Instead, the authors propose ways in which schools can be made ready for students and suggest ideas for creating student-ready schools.