Learning Starts at Birth!

Ninety percent of brain development happens by age 5. Early experiences influence this rapid brain development and set a foundation for lifelong success.

According to the United States Department of Education, disparities in developmental outcomes emerge in infancy and widen in toddlerhood. A child from a low-income household is typically already 12-14 months below national norms in language and pre-reading skills by the time they enter kindergarten. Quality early learning and parental involvement during a child's first five years is a key factor affecting their literacy success and puts them on the path to reading on level in third grade. 

United Way works to ensure that:

• Families receive support and resources to give their children learning experiences.
• Chldren receive a quality pre-K education.
• Students transition successfully into kindergarten.
• Early learning educators are trained in evidence-based social skills practices.

Challenges:

 

• By the time they enter kindergarten, children of low-income households have heard 30 million fewer words than those in high-income households.
• 65% of chidren in the Lehigh Valley are nto ready for kindergarten.

Change the First FIve Years and You Change Everything

"If we invest in programs that promote learning beginning at birth, the statistics will change, our stories will change, our future will change... Change the first five years and you change everything." - theounce.org

Collective Impact

The Early Childhood Coalition is comprised of educators, community members, parents, and others who work collaboratively to impact the language and literacy development of children, birth to 5 years-old, in the Lehigh Valley.

The mission of the Early Childhood Coalition is that all children, birth to 5 years-old, will achieve the widely held expectations in the developmental domains of language and literacy. 

The vision of the Early Childhood Coalition is that each child in the Lehigh Valley is reading on grade level by the end of the third grade. If you are interested in being a part of this work, please contact Jill Pereira at 610.807.5739.