EDUCATION: Goals

Kids who start school ready to learn and stay on track, particularly in reading and math, experience personal success and strengthen our community.

United Way is lighting the way in creating lasting change.

Over the next 10 years, we will:

• Increase by 50 percent the number of children ready to read; Click Here to Learn More
• Reduce by 50 percent the achievement gap in 3rd grade reading and 6th grade math for our most vulnerable children.

When kids are in the zone for reading and math...

they are less likely to turn substance abuse into a confidence builder; they are more likely to be aware of their physical condition; they graduate from high school on time and with the right skills, earn a better income and maintain a more stable employment history.

Facts in our community

In our community, it’s a fact*:

In Shawnee County, 30% of children entering kindergarten don’t have the basic skills needed to start the learning process;  

The transition to middle school can dramatically affect achievement.  For example, math proficiency percentages drop 20% when kids move from 5th to 6th grade in Topeka Public Schools.  In Oskaloosa, the drop from 6th to 7th grade is 47%;

Nearly 14% of our community’s kids drop out of school.

Get involved in Education Goal Work

Call Cindy Rosebrook at (785) 581.0231 today or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information and research driving the goals, contact United Way.

*”Early Reading Proficiency.” Lindsay Musen. Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Brown University. (2010) http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/LeadingIndicator_Reading.pdf;
*DIBELS Kindergarten Assessment data for 2009-10 school year.
*State Assessment Data