Education

United Way works to end America’s education crisis

Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. But with more than 1.2 million children dropping out each year, America faces an education crisis. The cost? More than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes. These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together.
 

Our Goal

In 2008, United Way Worldwide launched a 10-year initiative to cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school by 2018. It’s an ambitious goal, but by utilizing our core strengths — a national network, committed partners and public engagement capacity — we can achieve it.
 

Our Strategy

We can’t focus on high school alone. High school dropouts are 12 years in the making, usually starting early childhood education behind schedule. United Way's model focuses on supportive communities, effective schools and strong families — strategies and approaches rooted in research. Tackling the education challenge requires reframing education on a birth to 21 continuum.
 

Our Focus Areas:

• Enter school ready to succeed

• Read proficiently by 3rd grade

• Graduate from high school on time

• Be ready for success in college, work, and life

 

Our Action Plan

United Way of Adams County has assembled an Education Leadership Delegation of experts in the field. These professionals research and develop new programs and partnerships aimed at helping children succeed and keeping youth on track. Launched in 2013, Ready Set Grow is a community-wide initiaitive focused on early learning. The initiative was endorsed by the Education Leadership Delegation and received seed funding awarded by the United Way Community Building Council.

 


Congratulations to our 2019 Live United Award recipient: Quincy Public Schools

Staff and faculty from Quincy Public Schools accept the 2019 United Way Live United Award at the 2020 Annual Meeting