United Way in the News
The missing graduates
Article published June 3, 2006
The Gainesville Sun
Congratulations to all of the young men and women in Alachua County who have been donning caps and gowns this weekend to accept their diplomas. We wish every one a bright future.
Alachua County schools claim a graduation rate of nearly 70 percent. But we worry about the ones who did not graduate.
Florida lawmakers spent a lot of time this year on high school and middle school reform. But most of the young people who drop out are already beyond help long before they reach middle school.
On today's op-ed page, School Superintendent Dan Boyd talks about the formidable challenges that face schools when children show up in kindergarten not ready to learn. Indeed, teachers are able to identify future high school dropouts by the time those children reach the second or third grade.
Ensuring that all children are ready to learn by the time they get to kindergarten isn't the school system's responsibility. It falls to the community to see that children at risk receive the health care, nutrition, nurturing and early development skills they need to avoid the lifelong stigmatism of failure.
That's why we're so excited about the potential of Success By 6 at the end of its first year. Launched by the United Way of North Central Florida, the initiative marks a major departure in the way that organization functions.
Traditionally, the United Way has served a middle-man function, raising funds from area businesses and individuals and then passing them on to a variety of worthy agencies. But the United Way has sharpened its focus. While it still funds many agencies, Success By 6 concentrates more resources on the tough challenge of making sure that all the community's children are able to enter school ready to learn.
Altering the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable among us promises enormous benefits. Every dollar spent to provide early intervention for children at risk will save multiple dollars later on in criminal justice, remedial education and other costs.
This week, United Way made $400,000 worth of grants to several agencies that will use the money to provide early childhood health care, family intervention, parent education, mentoring, child abuse prevention and other services targeted to the needs of young children at risk of failure.
Reducing the dropout rate and increasing the high school graduation rate in Alachua County will be the work of years. But over time, Success By 6 can truly transform this county, and change the lives of untold thousands of children.