Take action to improve access to early childhood education NOW!
Breaking news… ANOTHER ADVOCACY SUCCESS! Since we published this story, the Michigan legislature increased funding for the Great Start Collaboratives by $5 Million in the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget! The increase, through the Early Childhood Block Grant, will help expand enrollment efforts in state early education programs.
United Way has a goal to decrease the number of students not reading proficiently by the end of third grade and reduce racial and economic disparities. We asked our community about this issue…Watch to see what happened.
“I can’t imagine that many students not being able to enjoy reading.”
- Kathy Wagaman, Director South Haven Chamber of Commerce
60% of third graders are not meeting reading proficiency in Southwest Michigan. Black children are disproportionately represented in this group, with 87.3% not reading proficiently.
Experts tell us a child’s ability to read at grade level by third grade is the single greatest predictor of future success. When a child falls behind in reading, they risk falling further behind in every subject.
Children must be ready to succeed when they get to school in order to achieve reading proficiency. Readiness includes being in good health, having family support, and feeling safe.
Great Start Collaboratives (GSCs) and Great Start Parent Coalitions work together to build and reform the local early childhood system to ensure that more children are ready to succeed in school and beyond. These GSCs have achieved significant outcomes for children, especially working to improve pre-literacy skills that directly support learning to read in school.
The Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren County Great Start Collaboratives’ strength is in the strong connections and networks that they make within communities, to make sure families and children can get the resources and services that will allow them to succeed. No other organization does the work that the Great Start Collaboratives do. They are critical organizations and partners in the early childhood education system.
Take action by clicking HERE to tell your legislators that you support the work of the Great Start Collaboratives and Parent Coalitions and support more resources going to these organizations.
Learn about the Great Start Collaboratives: