Success By 6®

United Way of Snohomish County: Tulalip BabiesWhat would happen if all children started their first day of kindergarten ready to succeed—socially, developmentally and academically?

Kids would stay in school. Crime rates would drop. So would teenage pregnancy. Graduation rates would improve. Our workforce would be better prepared and job productivity would increase.

All because kids are ready by
age 6 for school?

Yes. Research shows that investing in quality early childhood education pays off. Snohomish County officials estimate that every $1 invested in young children gives an $11 return.

That’s the goal of Success By 6®, a national initiative to prepare children to succeed in school—and beyond. We do this by supporting parents and caregivers, improving access to services and educating lawmakers about the importance of early childhood education.

In Snohomish County, United Way’s Success By 6 focuses on social and emotional development because teachers said that only 44% of children enter kindergarten ready to make a strong start. If children aren’t ready socially, they can’t learn.

Now, we’re providing the tools and training for parents, teachers and childcare providers at 54 sites to improve school readiness. Last year 1300 children were part of Success By 6:

Of those assessed:

  • 32% showed significant improvement in self-control
  • 39% showed significant improvement in initiative
  • 27% showed significant improvement in attachment

Thanks to Success By 6, kids are getting the start they need to succeed.

United Way’s Success By 6 is working through:

  • The Parent Place, a searchable database with more than 1,000 local resources for parents and kids. Whether you’re looking for preschools, children’s activities or parenting help, this matching system will help you locate the resources nearest to you.
  • Born Learning, a public awareness campaign complete with tips on turning everyday moments into learning moments for infants and young children (0-5 years).
  • The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Program, a nationally recognized tool United Way is using in school districts, preschools and childcare centers to identify children ages 2-5 most need of help and to provide concrete ways to encourage social and emotional skills.