Literacy lays the foundation for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and overall academic success. Being able to read proficiently early on is linked to better grades, higher chances of graduation, advancing in careers, and achieving long-term financial security.
Experts say the chance of succeeding in life increases with a quality education. 3rd grade reading levels predict nearly every societal problem you can imagine. Research suggests that a child is 90% likely to remain a poor reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of the first grade. Furthermore, one in six children who are not reading proficiently in the third grade does not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than that for proficient readers.
Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. It is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits, and it is fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs.
United Way of Pickens County seeks to help children and youth achieve their potential through education and has established a bold goal that 70% of 3rd graders will be reading on grade level by 2028.
Your gift to support United Way's educational initiatives ensures that: