What are modern kindergarten students graded on ?

It depends on the goals that are set. Counting, calender understanding, colors, following direction.
But kindergarten really isn’t structured enough to grade much.

Me? I ACED kindergarten! I was a cute baby skunk and if the cute baby skunk was chosen I got to advance the calander!!! So exciting!!!
It has not changed at all since I was 5 in 1963. The year JFK was assassinated.

They have made kindergarten ‘academic’ at least since the late 1970s—regrettably, demands are that children are given a ‘head start.’

That;s not the purpose of Kindergarten the true purpose of which is pretty much what @Dutchess_lll said, although socialization skills definitely come into play. If you ever hear preschoolers interacting especially when they don’t especially know adults are listening, they interact with each other like older children and youth do. Maybe better. Exposure to a group of their peers is what makes socialization skills come alive

“Headstart” around here is a pre-K government program. It’s cool in that it gives single Moms free childcare during normal 8 to 5 working hours.

The question reminds me of this book. Those who need help in this area can consult it.

@it’s always been “academic” @Yellowdog. They’ve always taught them to count to 10 or more, to learn the ABCs, the vowels and vowel sounds, to learn the days of the week, the months of the year, show and tell. The same things I was taught in the 60s. Nothing’s changed

Fell behind? Hows does anyone actually fall behind in kindergarten?

They just can’t grasp counting to 10 or their ABCs.