During the first five years of life, 90% of a child’s brain develops, forming the foundation for future learning. When it comes to early childhood education programs, quality is critical. High-quality preschool gives children a strong start on the path that leads to college or a career. Research shows that all children benefit from high-quality preschool, with low-income children and English learners benefiting the most.
Following our 3-year partnership with preschool sites as part of our Quality Childcare Initiative, preschool sites transition to United4Literacy (U4L) Preschool Partners. This move ensures that the sites retain ongoing support, including access to educational materials and professional development. Moreover, we continue to refer families to services addressing food security, and financial or legal services. This integrated approach is pivotal in fostering an environment conducive to early childhood literacy and long-term educational success.
Across the state of Florida, 38% of families live in a childcare desert, which is defined as an area with more than 50 children under the age of 5 that contains either no childcare providers or so few that there are more than 3 times as many children as licensed childcare slots. Hispanics/Latinos and rural families are disproportionately represented among those who live in a “childcare desert”. Childcare deserts can lead to lower kindergarten readiness scores.
United4LiteracyCommunity Partners is an effort to enhance early childhood education through community engagement. We distribute U4L Kits, strategically designed to support school readiness for children ages 3-to-5-years-olds, to accessible community spaces, they are not only promoting literacy but also ensuring that learning continues beyond the classroom. The inclusion of educational games in these kits is a strategic move to make learning interactive and enjoyable for young children, fostering essential literacy skills at a crucial developmental stage. Moreover, the support and training provided to volunteers by UWS underscores the collaborative spirit of this program, aiming to create a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
INTERESTED IN A KIT – Do you have a community space where children naturally gather? If you are interested in helping children advance their skills in your community space, please click here.
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A KIT – If you are interested in sponsoring a kit in a space in your community, please click here to find out more.
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