The United Way of Cass-Clay provided funding for an expanded research project on the Gearing Up for Kindergarten program to NDSU Extension Service and a research team at North Dakota State University in 2014. The scope of work for the project outlined a series of research projects associated with the program. This document provides an executive summary of the research findings associated with Research Project #1 in the scope of work. Research Project #1 Extend assessment of a sample of students participating in the Gearing Up for Kindergarten program in the 2012-13 year (prior to beginning kindergarten) to a third wave of data collection during the initial year of kindergarten. If possible, compare these students to other incoming kindergarten students. (author abstract)