Positive childhood development is central to our community’s ability to succeed in the future. We want to help ensure that every child in West Tennessee is given the opportunities to grow holistically. Our organization has identified four benchmarks for childhood success: Kindergarten Readiness, Third-Grade Math and Reading Proficiency, Middle School Leadership Development, and High School Graduation. Therefore, we have officially merged our current education initiatives to establish the Office of Childhood Success.
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Bright Start TNBright Start West TN aims to make a continuum of quality early care and education the norm for all West Tennessee children at birth through third grade. In partnership with Tennesseans for Quality Educations (TQEE), we strive to accelerate early learning outcomes and close achievement and opportunity gaps for this demographic.
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Handle With CareHandle With Care, a partnership with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement, is a trauma-informed approach that provides heads-up notifications to school administrators of students who experience trauma outside of class.
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Mentor U is a partnership between the five higher ed institutions in Jackson who provide mentorship and college exposure to local middle school students.
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The READ TeamThe READ Team recruits volunteers through local churches and the community-at-large to provide literacy assistance to 2nd graders with the aim of helping them attain grade-level reading skills by third grade.
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Tutor U will build upon United Way’s education work in Madison and Haywood Counties through high-dosage, low-ratio tutoring for first through third grade students. If you are interested in serving in a paid role as a tutor this summer, click on the "Tutor U" linked heading directly above.
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West TN Afterschool NetworkThe West TN Afterschool Network helps ensure children and families have safe and nurturing afterschool experiences through advocacy and community resources.
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WOW WagonAs part of The READ Team, the WOW Wagon is a mobile library that provides free books for children in local neighborhoods and schools. The books are donated by the community and are available to those in Pre-K through high school.
Become a tutor for Tutor U this summer! We are looking to hire over 150 individuals who can provide literacy tutoring to first through third grade students in Madison and Haywood Counties. This is a great opportunity for college students, teachers, or community members who want to make a difference in a child's life. Apply here.
