This past week, something special happened in Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton County Public Schools.
Young scholars stepped forward, picked up oversized pencils, and “signed” their way into pre-K and kindergarten.
It was joyful. It was simple. And it was meaningful.
Kindergarten Signing Day is modeled after the signing ceremonies often seen in sports. Children officially commit to their school, take photos, receive certificates, and celebrate with their families. The goal is clear: to help children feel welcomed, build excitement for the next step, and create an early sense of belonging.
But what we saw across these celebrations points to something deeper.
Across Greater Atlanta, access to early childhood education opportunities and books shapes how prepared children feel on their first day. Today, only 54.3 percent of four-year-olds are enrolled in Georgia Pre-K, and just 26 percent of children are reading proficiently by fourth grade. That’s why school readiness programs like Kindergarten Signing Day are so important.
Those numbers remind us that preparation does not happen by chance. The transition to kindergarten can set up students for the rest of their educational journey. It takes coordination, consistency, and shared investment in school readiness programs.
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Kindergarten Signing Day: A celebration rooted in partnership
United Way of Greater Atlanta partnered with educators, APS and CCPS school staff, families, and community organizations to create Kindergarten Signing Day.
School leaders and community partners standing side by side in front of a shared Kindergarten Signing Day backdrop. Classrooms prepared with care, filled with books, learning tools, and welcoming decorations. Outdoor spaces where families gathered, children played, and resource tables with supports available to them.
Each child walked away with more than a certificate.
Students received their own personal libraries filled with books and goodie bags designed to support learning at home. Families were connected to school readiness program resources that will help them navigate the transition into kindergarten.
Kindergarten Signing Day helps bring that work into focus in a way that families can see and feel.
It shows what collaboration can look like — celebrating one of the earliest and most important milestones in a child’s educational journey, while reinforcing a shared commitment to continue to support every student throughout their early childhood education and beyond.
Building excitement, and building foundations through school readiness programs
Events like Kindergarten Signing Day begin to shape early expectations of what school can be. They send a clear message to children and families: school is a place where they belong and where they can succeed.
As families see their child celebrated—and as children experience a positive transition into school—expectations begin to shift. Those shifts can influence attendance, engagement, and long-term outcomes.
Kindergarten Signing Day is not an endpoint. It is an entry point into a larger effort to align systems around child and family well-being. The responsibility now is to build from these moments, deepen partnerships, and sustain engagement for what comes next.
>> LEARN MORE: Our Strong Learners work
A collective invitation to our early childhood education work
There is a role for many partners in this work.
School systems, early learning providers, nonprofits, funders, and community organizations each contribute to the conditions that help children succeed. Kindergarten Signing Day shows how those contributions can come together in a way that is visible and meaningful for families.
The path forward is not about doing more in isolation, but about continuing to align efforts so that children experience a seamless set of support over time.
That is how short-term participation becomes long-term impact.
Looking ahead
Congratulations to all the pre-K graduates and their families. Thank you to the educators, staff, and partners who made this week possible. And most of all, congratulations to the young learners who are taking their next step.
Kindergarten Signing Day reminds us that when a community comes together around children, even a simple moment can carry lasting meaning. It shows what is possible when we connect early experiences to a bigger vision for the future of Greater Atlanta. Would you like to be a part of this vision? Help us create more of these moments when you donate today.