Parents across Greater Atlanta are about to experience the mix of emotions that accompany their kindergartener’s first day of school. There’s the excitement as their kids shoulder new backpacks, hopes that they’ll make friends and find teachers who help them grow — and probably a few nerves too that come from wondering, “Are they ready?”
At United Way of Greater Atlanta, we know kindergarten readiness isn’t just about having the right school supplies or showing up on the first day of class. It’s about making sure kids have the academic, social, and emotional foundation they need to thrive from the moment they walk through the classroom door.
But right now, almost half of Georgia’s kids don’t have access to the early learning opportunities to set them up for success – and only 26% of students are reading on grade level by 3rd grade.
That’s why, this summer, we hosted nearly 400 students at free Kinder Camps in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, Teach O’ Rea Preparatory Academy in Dekalb County, Clayton County Public Schools, and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. Kindergarten is too important to begin unprepared.
Kindergarten readiness matters
The first years of a child’s education set the stage for a student’s long-term success. Yet only 54% of Georgia’s eligible children participate in the state’s pre-K program, meaning many students enter kindergarten without access to the early learning experiences that build critical skills and confidence.
[Pull Quote] “School readiness is bigger than just dropping a child off at school and saying, ‘Okay, my baby is ready — new shoes, new shirt, new backpack!’ No. We know that academically, preparedness starts long before,” said Patrice, Senior Director of School Readiness at United Way of Greater Atlanta.
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According to research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who can’t read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. With a milestone that important, we’re working to make the transition to kindergarten easier so children can hit the ground running this fall.
Our Kinder Campers are ready to soar
During the two weeks of Kinder Camp, students participated in a full school-day kindergarten prep experience complete with breakfast, lunch, transportation, classroom instruction from certified teachers, and enrichment activities. They practiced foundational kindergarten skills like writing their names, identifying letters, counting, and following classroom routines.
Students also enjoyed hands-on experiences through partnerships with the STEAM Truck, Veggie Ready recipe demonstrations, and Jump Start volunteers who brought learning to life through creative activities and small-group instruction.
Just as importantly, they developed social and emotional skills that help children succeed in a school environment.
Can they transition between activities independently? Sit attentively during a lesson? Make a new friend? Wash their hands on their own? Share with classmates? These kindergarten prep skills that go beyond academics can make a big difference when school begins.
A child’s kindergarten readiness is shaped by more than what happens at school. Through our partnership with local school districts, we can also help connect Kinder Camp families to resources that help meet basic needs like food and housing, while also ensuring students receive the academic supports and services that help them learn and grow.
“We work together to make sure everyone is invited to the Kinder Camp table and the wraparound services at United Way,” said Adrienne Hall, a School Transition Specialist at APS. “If there are some things that [our team] will recognize that United Way will be able to assist families with, then we have an access point to reach out.”
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All of the nearly 400 children who participated in our free Kinder Camps this summer left with tools to continue learning at home. Families received literacy activities to use throughout the summer and books to help build their own home libraries.
For many families, especially those living in communities with limited access to bookstores or transportation challenges, those books may become some of the most important learning resources in the home.
“A lot of our children who live south of I-20 don’t have access to a bookstore, and those that do live near libraries, transportation can sometimes be an issue. Cleveland Avenue is unique because next door is a library, but a lot of schools don’t have that proximity. So the books that they have at home are the books that we give them,” said Patrice.
Building a system of support for school success
While Kinder Camp packs in two weeks of fun and learning to help kids prepare for the first day of school, it’s just part of a larger support system for families.
We work alongside school districts, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations to support learning from birth to kindergarten prep all the way to graduation. Through partnerships like our work with Grady Health System, families around Greater Atlanta receive literacy resources at pediatric appointments beginning in infancy. Our programs we fund like Learning Spaces and BOOST scholarships help connect families with affordable or no-cost preschool opportunities across the region.
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And our school transition programming doesn’t end when school starts — we’re piloting a Kindergarten Champions Program in Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton County Schools to offer monthly family engagement nights. Ideally, these families will become advocates for kindergarten readiness in their community.
A successful start to kindergarten can build momentum for years to come. The skills learned represent so much more than letters and numbers — they set students up to become strong learners through high school and beyond. By investing in kindergarten readiness today, you’re investing in the future of Greater Atlanta. Learn more about how you can help us power a lifetime of learning!