United Way's Early Learning Initiative helps ensure that Minnesota's highest-risk children are ready for success in school and in life.

Why is This Important?

Only 50 percent of our state’s children enter kindergarten fully prepared to succeed in school—with striking disparities in readiness by race and income. Minnesota Department of Education, 2007 Readiness Levels

Research-based indicators of a child’s school readiness include physical development and health, personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematical thinking and the arts.

Cost: Starting behind impacts a child’s ability to learn to read and overall learning capacity throughout his or her school career. It can also predict high school graduation rates and success in life as adults.

• In Minnesota, the cost of children entering kindergarten unprepared is approximately $113 million annually to school systems through increased student aid, teacher-related costs, special education and grade repetition, and impacts school safety due to delinquent behavior. Wilder Research. The cost burden of Minnesota K-12 when children are unprepared for kindergarten, 2008

Benefit: In addition to the negative impact on families, our economy and future workforce is affected. Providing support for parents and ensuring access to high-quality early learning is a cost-effective strategy which strengthens the community for everyone.

• For every $1 spent on quality early education, taxpayers save up to $17 dollars with improved school performance, reduced crime costs and welfare costs, increased wages and more. Early Childhood Development with High Public Return. Rob Grunewald & Art Rolnick. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis–Analysis of Perry Preschool Program

High-quality Childcare is Key

Preparing children adequately for school success starts before birth. High quality childcare that provides safe, stimulating, age-appropriate learning opportunities is necessary for early learning. This environment may be a child’s home, a friend or family day care provider or a licensed day care center.

Established quality rankings, along with licensing, are helpful for parents choosing the best environment for their child. Those that rank higher are more expensive, and for a family with limited means, quality care may be beyond reach.

• In Minnesota, quality childcare averages 28 percent of monthly income for families with limited resources. Typically, 10 percent is considered affordable. Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network, 2006
• In Minnesota, children with high-quality early education are 40 percent less likely to need special education or be held back a grade. Children from low-income families who participate in these programs show a magnitude of benefits—repeating fewer grades and having higher test scores. Ready 4 K, Guide for Policy Makers, Early Childhood Care & Education: A Wise Investment for Minnesota

Experts agree that a child’s first and best teacher is his or her parents. Parents facing multiple challenges—complications and instability from living in poverty, limited or no English-speaking skills—need guidance to prepare their children for kindergarten. United Way is focused on building pathways out of poverty for those most in need, which includes investing in high-quality early learning strategies to prevent poverty.

Agenda for Lasting Change Goal

United Way is committed to working with key community partners to ensure 80 percent of Minnesota children are ready for kindergarten by 2012.

United Way Response

United Way stabilizes families in crisis to improve home environment through work in hunger, homelessness, financial stability and health access. United Way 2-1-1 provides a way for families to connect with needed community resources.

United Way strengthens people’s ability to improve their long-term quality of life through education, income and health.

• Investing $3.3 million annually to provide access to quality childcare for 3,659 low-income children, enhancing school-readiness and ensuring a solid foundation for school success.
• Investing $3.2 million annually to provide education to parents of 3,568 low-income children. Positive parenting techniques in a culturally appropriate environment support optimal child development, enhance school readiness and strengthen family dynamics.
• Investing in Metro Alliance Healthy Families programming—targeted and continual home visits to support and educate 770 highly challenged, first-time parents and their infants. Consistent support provides a more stable environment for these highly mobile, non-English-speaking families.

United Way streamlines systems to ensure programs and practices work together to create lasting community change.

• Leading the effort to develop and implement a statewide early learning business plan which outlines a broader plan to impact all of Minnesota’s children long-term including state policy improvements, accountabilities and measures for success. A Collective Action Plan for Early Childhood Care and Education in Minnesota, 2009
• Investing in and guiding the expansion of Parent Aware, a childcare quality rating system with the Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) to aid parents in locating quality childcare providers, while supporting providers with training to achieve quality ratings.
• Partnering with Wilder Research to evaluate effective parenting practices through a two-year study involving 14 programs.
  

Find Out More

• Learn more about the cost/benefit analysis from Art Rolnick, co-chair of United Way's Early Learning Committee.
• Programs, Community Partners, Resources
• Corporate and Individual Donors
• Born Learning
• Parenting Tools

Consider a Donation

Donate Preschool Supplies
Help under-prepared kindergarters by donating preschool supplies to help them make the most of school. View/order from the following wish lists:

• LakeShore Learning Materials wish list
• RedLeaf Press wish list
• Target wish list

Online purchases will be sent directly to United Way.  In-store purchases can be dropped off at United Way's Minneapolis office: 404 South 8th Street