Pre-Kindergarten Education a Key to Solving the Education Crisis

Kris-PateA recent editorial in the Indianapolis Star, “Mentor a child and make a lasting difference,” highlighted some startling facts about the state of education in Indiana. It’s clear that we have an education crisis that has real economic implications. As high-skilled, high-tech jobs become the backbone of our nation’s future, we need a workforce ready and able to succeed in a knowledge economy.

Particularly disturbing is the fact that 60 percent of our 3- and 4-year olds in Indiana don’t attend pre-school. Education experts recognize that giving kids a solid foundation of social, emotional, physical and literacy skills before they reach kindergarten is a key to success in school and beyond.

United Ways in communities across the country are coordinating a week-long campaign August 19-23 to support congressional and public support for education. The goal is to build a movement for education that will give our children the tools to:

1. Enter school ready to succeed
2. Read proficiently by 4th grade
3. Make a successful transition into and out of middle school
4. Graduate from high school on time
5. Be ready for success in college, work and life.

Here in LaPorte County, generous United Way contributors are helping to support three

Kindergarten Readiness Initiatives that are preparing kids to successfully transition into kindergarten:

  • Kindergarten Countdown Camps are four-week, half-day programs that give socialization and literacy skills to pre-school kids in Michigan City Area Schools and New Prairie United Schools Corp. This is a joint effort of United Way of LaPorte County and IU Health LaPorte Hospital.
  • The Westville Little School pilot program in Westville Community Schools is focused on preparing entire families to successfully transition their children into kindergarten. This is a collaborative effort with United Way, Dunebrook Parent/Child Support Center and Purdue University North Central.
  • United Way SUCCESS BY 6 is a regional initiative aimed at meeting the developmental needs of children under age 6 and their families. This is a collaborative effort with United Ways of LaPorte, Lake and Porter Counties and early childhood education and development providers.

 

All of us have a stake in making sure our youth are well-educated. What can you do? Give a designated donation to United Way of LaPorte County for Kindergarten Readiness Initiatives. Volunteer to read, tutor or mentor a K-12 student. Advocate with elected officials to invest in quality education for all of our children. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED – We are Better Together! For more information, call 219-210-3534 or visit www.unitedwaylpc.org.