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.(1) 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 the number of high school dropouts in half 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.
How You Can Help
To reach our goal, we need your help.
Volunteer with an agency or organization in Lowndes County who works with early childhood reading initiatives. Contribute to the overall success of OUR community by investing through the UNITED WAY to support community wide initiatives in Health, EDUCATION, and Income.
(1)Figure according to Communities in Schools, one of America’s leading drop-out prevention partnerships.