Education

CHILDHOOD SUCCESS

United Way’s “cradle to career” impact strategy can help every child in every community succeed in school, work and life. We start in the early years, boost reading skills (connected to graduation) and help kids understand links between school and work. We’re helping youth graduate high school prepared for secondary education, vocational training or work. United Way’s education impact strategies span the childhood success and youth success issue areas.
I. Overall Goal

United Way’s education goal is to ensure that youth gain the knowledge, skills and credentials so that they are prepared for workforce and able to obtain familysustaining employment. The evidence clearly demonstrates this can only occur if a solid foundation has been laid; school readiness is predictive of early grade proficiency which is in turn predictive of graduation. Thus, the ultimate goal of Childhood Success is to ensure that children are developmentally and academically prepared for secondary education. Without question, it takes entire communities working together more collaboratively than ever before to co-create community-based, comprehensive solutions that support children and students along the education continuum from birth through elementary school, high school and career readiness. Families, schools, early care providers, government, service providers, business leaders and the community all have roles to play. The strategies here provide guidance to optimize the role of families, learning environments and the extended community in guaranteeing that children are on track for success.

II. Core Childhood Success Strategies

While the basic strategies for school readiness and early grade proficiency can be grouped into family engagement, learning environments, and community supports, the needs of the two age groups and the systems that are engaged are different. Thus Childhood Success is divided into two goals:

  • Children enter school ready to succeed.
  • Students are successful in elementary/primary school and prepared for middle school/secondary school.United Way Works to End America’s Education Crisis

Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. But with more than 1.2 million children dropping out each year, America faces an education crisis. The cost? More than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes.1These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together.

Ask United Way

Please submit questions about the 2028 U.S. Impact Goals through Ask United Way.