Why High School Graduation Matters High school graduation is a key milestone on the path to economic mobility. During high school, students transition from building foundational skills to applying them in ways that prepare them for postsecondary education, workforce training and careers. When students graduate on time, they’re more likely to access the education and…
How Cradle to Career Muncie aligned schools, community partners and data to drive measurable gains In Muncie, Indiana, educational attainment has long been closely tied to economic opportunity and the strength of the community as a whole. As workforce demands increasingly require education or credentials beyond high school, gaps in attainment have limited access to…
At the start of kindergarten, many students are just beginning to recognize letters. Some are learning to write their names for the first time. By the end of the year, many of those same students are reading sight words, writing complete sentences and participating with confidence. The change is measurable and meaningful. For Sabrina Mayberry,…
Why Early Grade Reading Matters Early grade reading is a gateway to economic opportunity. In the early elementary years, students transition from learning to read to reading to learn, a shift that determines whether they can fully access the knowledge and skills needed to stay on a path toward long-term opportunity. Students who read proficiently…
Kindergarten readiness reflects how children develop across early learning, health and social-emotional domains. These domains are shaped by the experiences and supports they receive in their earliest years. In Boston, preparing children for kindergarten is treated as a shared responsibility, one that depends on how well systems work together to support families long before children…
When Marin County’s youngest learners walk through the doors of kindergarten, they bring with them more than backpacks and first-day jitters. They arrive with early experiences shaped by their families, neighborhoods and the systems working to support opportunity long before they enter a classroom. Across Marin County, 90 partners in early learning, public health, schools…
Life success begins long before a child walks into their first classroom. From birth to age 5, children’s earliest experiences are the foundation for learning, well-being and long-term opportunity. Kindergarten readiness shows whether young children have had the environments, supports and opportunities they need to thrive. When children start school ready to learn, they’re more…
Postsecondary completion is one of the most direct paths to economic mobility. A degree or credential opens doors to higher wages, better health and more stable futures. Research shows completion dramatically boosts lifetime earnings and job security. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that associate degree holders earn about $400,000 more over…
We are living through both challenges and extraordinary possibility. There are millions of open jobs across the country, yet nearly half of full-time workers aren’t earning a living wage. That disconnect shows up in the lived experience of families in every zip code. It is also our invitation to act together. Workforce development is a…
Across the country, communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network are working to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. StriveTogether’s seven cradle-to-career outcome areas are critical milestones that shape a child’s educational journey and future success. Each post in this series takes a closer look at one of these key…
Across the country, communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network are working to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. StriveTogether’s seven cradle-to-career outcome areas are critical milestones that shape a child’s educational journey and future success. Each post in this series will provide an in-depth look at one of these…
Across the country, communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network are working to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. StriveTogether’s seven cradle-to-career outcome areas are critical milestones that shape a child’s educational journey and future success. Each post in this series will provide an in-depth look at one of these…