Education

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.

Education is the key to getting a good job, one with a good income and health care. And it’s the key to our nation's productivity and global competitiveness.

That’s why United Way has put a stake in the ground on education. Our goal is to cut the number of high school dropouts in half by 2018. We’ve issued a challenge to all 1,300 United Ways and their community partners — and we want you to get involved, too.

High school dropouts are more than 12 years in the making. Children start learning at birth; the foundation for future learning is laid in the first few years. Disadvantaged children come to school at least two years behind their peers in pre-reading skills, and most never catch up. By 3rd grade, a child’s grades and absenteeism rates can predict with 90% accuracy whether he or she will complete high school. The entire education continuum, from birth through 21, must be in our collective crosshairs if we want to move the needle on high school graduation. That means making sure children are:

• Ready for school, starting with the social, emotional and cognitive skills they need to succeed;
• Reading on track by 4th grade;
• Transitioning successfully to middle school;
• Graduating high school on time;
• Working or in school by 21.

What’s the impact of high school dropouts in your community? United Way’s Common Good Forecaster™, found at www.liveunited.org/forecaster, can help you determine exactly how education affects your community’s future. For example, it can predict to what degree might higher levels of education in your county lower the poverty and unemployment rates – and boost incomes. But beyond jobs and incomes, it can show how changes in the educational level of a place affect its incarceration rate. Or the percentage of adults who are obese. Or even voter turnout in the next election.

What does it really take to improve education? Research shows that supportive communities, effective schools and strong families must be in place, supported by early, sustained investment and driven by proven strategies. United Way has a framework to guide our education work, one that’s helping our 1,300 United Ways mobilize people around education.

Education Theory of Change

But what matters most is individual involvement.

Research shows the strategies proven to work are those that connect communities to their schools: parent involvement; literacy volunteers in the classroom; mentors for disadvantaged students; business leaders engaged. These aren’t things government can do – but you can! Visit www.liveunited.org for more information about United Way's 10-year initiative to cut the number of high school dropouts in half by 2018.