Smart Start

Children are born learning. In fact, research shows that a child’s most critical development takes place in the first five years of life. Created by United Way and other partners, Smart Start is providing resources and programs to help children enter kindergarten ready to learn.

30% of Oklahoma’s kindergartners performed below grade level in 2006. One of Smart Start’s programs, READY! offers training to parents of preschoolers in the Putnam City and Oklahoma City public school districts about activities they can do at home to prepare their children for school. About 1,800 parents have been engaged since the program began. Through READY! and other programs like Parent Resource Rooms at targeted elementary schools, Raising A Reader, Growing Up Reading, and resources for childcare providers, we hope to improve our school-readiness statistics.

To learn more visit www.smartstartok.org.

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