Our strategic passion
Impacting
Early Childhood
Education
We believe that the love of learning develops early in life and builds the foundation for educational success in the future. This is why investments in early childhood programs have the greatest returns. We are focused on equipping parents and early childhood educators with the tools needed to help all children reach their full educational potential. We provide support to early childhood programs through our strategic partners Metro United Way, the Ready4K Alliance and Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) in Louisville, Ky.
Community Coordinated Child care (4-C) and Greater Louisville HEadstart
Our journey began ten years ago with the establishment of the Excellence Academy at many childcare centers historically supported by Metro United Way. The Excellence Academy was a professional development program for child care workers that equiped them with the skills to implement play-based “Reggio Emilia” approaches to learning in the classroom. Data consistently shows that children who attend Excellence Academy childcare centers were 2X as likely to be ready for kindergarten compared to demographically similar children who did not attend Excellence Academy centers. The program included Communites of Practice and salary enhancements as an innovative approach to professional and educational development for childcare workers.
In 2019 the Excellence Academy program became the basis for 4-C and Family and Children’s Place application for federal Head Start Funding and was awarded a $5 MM annual Head Start grant and Greater Louisville Headstart was born. Early Head Start is designed for income-eligible children from birth through age 3, with families choosing between daily programs at learning centers around Louisville or weekly home visits. Head Start is designed for income-eligible children from ages 3 to 5 and is offered only at learning centers. Both Early Head Start and Head Start are inclusive of children and families with disabilities and/or special needs. The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation supports the program through facility enhancements and support for the communities of practice programing.
The Ready for K Alliance in partnership with Metro United Way is developing collaborative networks of early care and education providers, partners and other key stakeholders to provide a seamless system of support for children ages birth to kindergarten entry via evidence-based best practices in the areas of access, quality, engagement and transitioning into kindergarten. Learn more here.
It encompasses more than 100 partners and organizations, united by their aspiration to have all children enter kindergarten prepared to experience success. Improved educational attainment is a key driver of economic development and a ready 21st-century workforce. Their focus is coordinating and aligning efforts around kindergarten readiness critical to the community as a whole, because children who enter school ready to learn, are more likely to be successful readers by the end of third grade and complete high school ready for college and career, will ultimately lead more productive, stable and healthy lives. Learn more here.