United for Schools
Program Mission
Increasing literacy and grade-level reading by nurturing school-community partnerships, developing parent advocates, and linking essential resources that serve both children and their families.
How The Program Works
Mile High United Way fosters partnerships between districts, schools, and families. By supporting family engagement, out-of-school programming, and a whole child approach, we are helping more students improve their literacy and grade-level reading skills.
We promote whole family engagement through coordinating family literacy events, supporting parent/caregiver leadership meetings, and facilitating group discussions about literacy and attendance.
Mile High United Way recognizes the barriers to student attendance and engagement (such as unstable housing, food insecurity, and lack of transportation). We invest in programs that offer holistic, wraparound support to ensure students have everything they need to stay engaged in the classroom.
We invest in out-of-school time (OST) providers to create quality programming and ensure children have holistic care that provides both academic and social-emotional support — which has been proven to strengthen literacy for students.
How The Program Works
Mile High United Way fosters partnerships between districts, schools, and families. By supporting family engagement, out-of-school programming, and a whole child approach, we are helping more students improve their literacy and grade-level reading skills.
PARENT & CHILD ENGAGEMENT
WHOLE CHILD SUPPORT
OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
Why GRADE-LEVEL READING MATTERS
Reading proficiently by the third grade is essential to a child’s long-term academic success. Third grade is when children make the crucial switch from learning to read to reading to learn.
Students who are not keeping up their peers are more likely to fall further behind. By addressing the issue holistically across districts, schools, and families, we can help more students build a strong foundation for future learning and achievement.
IMPACT AT A GLANCE
Last year:
- 7 schools in the Adams 12 and Aurora school districts were supported, including Swansea, Garden Place, McElwain, Coronado Hills, North Mor, Thornton, and Lansing Elementary
- 532 students participated in out-of-school programs
- 44 parents completed technology training
- $70,000 in social-emotional education grants were distributed to our partner schools (2020-2021)
Our Stories
OUR 2025 GOALS
Implement new literacy enhancement opportunities at each of our partner schools, reaching at least 600 students.
Support
United for Schools
Invest in Mile High United Way’s community programs to support education and academic success for students.
