Education is the cornerstone of individual success and strong communities. But with high-school graduation rates still lower than they should be, and with more than half of our young learners unable to read at grade level by the end of third grade, Alabama and our River Region are facing an education crisis. These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together.

We can’t do it alone, but by utilizing our core strengths — a strong network, committed partners and public engagement capacity — we can work together and turn the tide!

We can’t focus on high school alone. High school dropouts are 12 years in the making, usually starting early-childhood education behind schedule. United Way's model focuses on supportive communities, effective schools and strong families — strategies and approaches rooted in research. Tackling the education challenge requires reframing education on a “birth-to-21 continuum.”