Strategic Approach to Early Childhood Education: Increasing the number of local children who enter school ready to succeed. Children learn best in loving, nurturing relationships and through everyday experiences. These essential connections hard-wire the brain for future learning, especially in the early years. Whether children are at home, with relatives or friends, or in childcare, the quality of early experiences is key to later school success. Research shows that school readiness programs produce real returns on investment – from increased high school graduation rates to increased college completion. These results are good for the children, but also good for our community. The Public Policy Forum reports a correlation between school readiness programs and increased tax revenue from increased wages and reduced societal costs due to reduced crime and welfare. And research shows a $16 to $1 benefit-cost ratio, which makes a very strong case for investing in early childhood education strategies. The real return for our community: a better educated, financially stable, prepared workforce and future generations of strong community leaders. In 2010-2011, United Way of Greater Milwaukee invests in programs at eight local agencies that work to increase early literacy and school readiness through programs that focus on children and families: • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Spark (Spheres of Proud Achievement in reading for Kids) • Center for Communication, Hearing and Deafness, Kellogg Child and Family Program • Child Development Center of St. Joseph, Early Childhood Program & Preschool and Kindergarten Ready to Read • COA Youth and Family Centers, Early Childhood Education & HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) • La Causa, Inc., Hispanic Early Learning Program (H.E.L.P.) • Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Inc., Early Childhood Services • Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Inc., Literacy First • United Community Center, Inc., Before and After School & Leyendo Juntos