The Facts
	» Kids learn to read by grade three and read to learn the rest of the way » Last year approximately 7,000 children in Southeastern Michigan were reading below their grade level in third grade. Most will drop out and only 2 percent will ever earn a four-year college degree » Every $1 invested in early childhood education saves $17 in costs incurred as they falter later in life

Preparing Children to Succeed
We all win when our children stay in school, graduate, find work and build lives. When our children aren’t prepared and supported they drop out, lack the skills to keep a good, steady job, and many turn to substance abuse or crime. Everyone in and around their community pays a hefty price as a result. We will change these disturbing trends by ensuring:

• Children enter school ready to learn
• Students consistently read at grade level
• Youth stay in school

Education Programming

Three Early Learning Communities were launched this year to provide neighborhood-based resources to parents and caregivers of children so they are equipped to enter school ready to learn. Learn more about this program.

United Way created the Greater Detroit Venture Fund to help turn around high schools in Southeast Michigan with graduation rates of less than 60 percent. Learn more about this program.

Every child in our region should have the best available opportunity to succeed in school and in life. United Way is working to make this a reality with the Reading Village. By ensuring children have access to literacy opportunities daily, as well as supporting the entire family as other issues arise, we can provide the best possible environment for a child to learn and grow. Learn more about this program.

United Way provides the resources needed to help area youth with chronic truancy issues through the Virgil H. Carr School Attendance Initiative. During the 2007-2008 school year, United Way reached 430 students with individual support, and 355 of them showed improved attendance. Learn more about this program.

United Way partners with more than 50 organizations focused on early childhood education. We also help children birth through age 5 overcome learning delays through the home-based Women’s Initiative Early Childhood Literacy Program. Learn more about this program.