Organization Feature: Ready 4 Kindergarten (R4K)

Ready 4 Kindergarten (R4K) is a partnership between United Way, local schools, parents, and community organizations.

R4K Family School Coordinators engage local resources, ensuring children start school ready to learn and continue their education fully engaged, paving the way for career and life success.

Most students who start behind, stay behind. Research shows that children who enter school ready to learn are more likely to achieve early reading proficiency by third grade, and consequently more likely to graduate high school on time.

R4K is a step ladder toward scholastic achievement—improving school readiness and supporting children and parents to make a positive impact during those early years.

United Way’s initiative goes beyond early education programs—by providing a direct connection to children and families, R4K enables United Way to address the needs of a child as a whole: academically, emotionally, physically and socially.

Family School Coordinators support the school with specific responsibilities for providing information on the programs and services available to children, students and families. Family School Coordinators also work with the school to educate families on the district’s activities and procedures. Home visits take place to ensure an ongoing partnership between home and school; Family School Coordinators may also refer families to additional support agencies, if needed.

United Way implemented the R4K pilot program with three Family School Coordinators in schools with high poverty rates that had little to no immediate resources in the surrounding area: Dolgeville Central, Remsen Central and Central Valley Academy. During the 2016-2017 school year, Family School Coordinators made home visits to 265 families with children under 4 years of age, as well as 207 referrals with 83 percent of parents following through with the referrals. All three schools increased the number of children ready for Kindergarten by 5 to 10 percent for the 2017-2018 school year.

Since September 2017, R4K has been approached by six additional school districts: Rome, Oriskany, Holland Patent, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Town of Webb and Herkimer requesting Family School Coordinators. United Way is partnering with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Oneida County Department of Mental Health, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Central New York Health Home Network for possible grants to fund additional positions in these districts.

United Way is seeking $50,000 to fund an additional Family School Coordinator position, which would defray the costs of a 12-month salary, benefits, mileage and supplies.