School Readiness
Children entering kindergarten with skills they need to succeed are more likely to graduate from high school and become productive workers. But almost half of America’s kindergarteners are behind – those from low-wage households by two years. Most will not catch up.
More than 660 United Ways and their partners are carrying out the Born Learning public engagement campaign. It helps parents, caregivers and communities support early learning. Public service advertising, a resource-rich Web site (www.bornlearning.org) and educational material (all in English and Spanish) offer fun, concrete ideas to help young children learn.
Some 80 percent of United Ways, including United Way of Noble County, are making children a focus – in funding, community change work and policy advocacy. Many are doing it by galvanizing communities to raise awareness of early learning, supporting families, and pushing for programs, budgets and laws improving young children's lives.