UNITED WAY OF YORK COUNTY

Education programs - focus, an early childhood initiative of united way of york county, works to improve the lives of children in york county by supporting quality childhood experiences. Focus was developed in 1994 as a collaborative effort between the united way, york county community foundation, penn state york, and child care consultants, inc. Focus works to ensure all children who enter school are ready to learn. It does this through supporting york county's early learning centers, family providers, school districts, and stakeholders, in providing quality childhood experiences for all children. This collaboration has resulted in the development of county-wide resources, shared curriculum and professional development sessions. Additionally, focus implements five reading programs and a kindergarten transition program. These programs and resources are made possible through grants received from the donley foundation, united way of pennsylvania, donald b. And dorothy l. Stabler foundation, pnc foundation, and york county community foundation. In 2023-2024, focus provided ready freddy, a kindergarten transition program, to 361 children and their families from five york county school districts and martin library. The york reads initiative of focus includes the following programs: early literacy 100 book challenge, early literacy read to me challenge, reading ready corners, little free libraries, and reach out and read. Over 58,000 books were distributed or read in the past year through these programs. Additionally, focus administers prekindergarten scholarships as a scholarship organization with the educational improvement tax credit program, provides professional development, and advocates for early learning.