Success By 6 is our initiative and partnership that helps to ensure Minnesota kids are ready for success in school and in life.

Working with our community partners, we've set a goal of having 80 percent of Minnesota's children fully ready for kindergarten by 2012—one of 10 goals in our Agenda for Lasting Change.

How We're Preparing Kids for Success

Our early childhood initiative is:

• Educating and involving parents as the most important determinants of their child's success
• Increasing access to quality early childcare for the highest risk children now
• Improving the quality of childcare in centers and homes
• Improving the overall system through education, cross-sector leadership and partnerships

Why is This Important?

• Positive, long-term community benefits

  High-quality early childhood care and education help fully prepared kids for kindergarten. This leads to success in school and productivity in life. It also decreases social costs related to risky behavior, crime and public assistance.

• Half of Minnesota kindergarteners are not fully prepared on their first day.

  Almost half of children in childcare are in Family-Friend-Neighbor care—making parent knowledge and education extremely important.

  Childcare program quality in Minnesota varies greatly and providers lack the resources and information needed to sustain and upgrade quality.

  Childcare is too expensive for most families. The average cost is $11,000 per year, per child.

• Our community doesn't get another chance.

  If a child doesn't reach developmental goals by age 5, there is a strong chance that child won't live up to his or her potential.
  
  By 2013, we will have 10 percent less high school graduates. And, as the Baby Boomers retire, the challenge of maintaining a qualified workforce to sustain our current economy will increase.

Our Expertise

Today, at the 56 early childhood care centers funded by United Way, over 90 percent of children show age-appropriate development—an important factor in school success.

We know what works. And with your help we can meet our goal, ensuring the majority of our children are fully prepared for success in school—and life.

Find Out More

• Programs, Community Partners, Resources
• Born Learning
• Parenting Tools