Education2024-05-13T15:47:29-05:00

Education

Education is the foundation to success in work and life, and the cornerstone to a strong community.

WHY IT MATTERS

Putting children on the path to success starts before they even enter school. Because a child’s brain develops the fastest in early childhood, children need a strong family ecosystem, early learning opportunities and access to developmental services.

When children start school ready to learn, achieve on-grade reading and math levels, maintain strong attendance and graduate on time, they are prepared for secondary education or to enter the workforce. A well educated workforce ensures individual financial stability and a robust, thriving economy.

0%
of children, ages 3 – 4, in Sedgwick County were not enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2022.
0%
of third graders in USD 259 – Wichita Public Schools were not reading at a proficient level in 2023.
0%
of students in USD 259 did not graduate in 2023.

OUR WORK

Our goal is to help children flourish in their education.

We’re fighting to help every child have the best possible future. With an approach to education that spans from cradle to career, we’re making sure children start school ready to learn, achieve on-grade reading levels, maintain strong attendance and graduate on time.

Click below to learn more about each of our programs, initiatives and collaborations focused on education:

Toddler girl reading a picture book.
Woman helping a third grade girl reading a book.
Toddler girl playing with blocks.
An elementary school age boy works on an assignment at his desk in school.
A high school boy poses in his graduation cap and gown.
Middle school classroom full of students at their desks.
Adult man helping a third grade boy read from a book in the library.

GET INVOLVED: BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Help children on the path to success by becoming a Read to Succeed volunteer reading coach. United Way’s Read to Succeed initiative focuses on helping children read at grade level by the end of third grade. Volunteer reading coaches meet weekly with a student for 30 minutes to listen to them read and provide intervention tactics to help them improve their reading skills.

Learn more about the program and how you can change a child’s life by serving as a reading coach.

Read to Succeed

LIVE UNITED BLOG: EDUCATION

Read our latest blog posts about our education based initiatives and their impact.

FUND A CHILD’S FUTURE

When you donate to United Way, your gift follows children at all points of their education, ensuring their success. Give today.

DONATE NOW

QUESTIONS?

For more information, contact Heather Deters, United Way Community Impact Manager for Education, at hdeters@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267‑1321 ext. 4234.

OUR FOCUS

Our focus is on health, education, financial stability and basic needs—the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Click below to learn more about what we’re doing, the programs we invest in and our lasting impact in each area.

Icon of a heart and heartbeat for health and wellbeing.
Health
Icon of an apple sitting on top of a school textbook.
Education
Financial
Stability
Basic needs addresses access to food, shelter, safety and utility assistance.
Basic Needs
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