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A smiling pre-school student clutches a book to her chest at the Early Steps for School Success program (ESSS) in Barnwell, South Carolina: Photo credit: Susan Warner/Save the Children, October 2014.

A smiling pre-school student clutches a book to her chest at the Early Steps for School Success program (ESSS) in Barnwell, South Carolina.

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U.S. Education Programs

Importance of Early Learning

Did you know that nearly 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the time they turn 6? Yet children from low-income families hear roughly 30 million fewer words by age 3 and can enter school more than 18 months behind their more affluent peers. In fact, millions of kids living in rural America don’t own a single book. That’s why early learning opportunities are so critical for children, regardless of their family’s income.

Our education experts work across rural America, providing early learning opportunities through Early Steps, Early Head Start and Head Start programs. Our school-age programs provide supplemental support to struggling readers during school, and in afterschool and summer settings. These programs are proven to accelerate achievement for at-risk children and have been replicated in more than 100 communities across the country. 

The education component of these programs helps children develop socially and emotionally while addressing the large gaps in school preparedness and readiness that can be linked to family income. Comprehensive social service offerings help entire families improve their situation and better support their youngest members. 

 

Explore Our Child Education Work in the U.S.
A kindergarten student of 5 years-old plays with interlocking cubes during her KinderBoost class. KinderBoost is a two-week kindergarten summer readiness camp designed to ease the transition to a structured school setting. Photo Credit: Susan Warner/Save the Children 2016.
Kindergarten Readiness
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Save the Children Head Start and Early Head Start programs in rural communities give kids an opportunity to start learning before they get to kindergarten. KinderBoost® connects future kindergarteners and their families with teachers and staff, helping them get ready for and positively transition to school.
Louisiana, a little boy plays with blocks at a Save the Children Early Head Start center.
Head Start
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Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs that provide no cost early education and comprehensive care for some of the country’s most vulnerable children ages 0 to 5—as well as support for families and expecting moms.
7-year-old Maggie plays outside during recess during Save the Children's SummerBoost Camp in Tennessee. Photo credit: Save the Children, June 2017.
Summer Learning
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During summer months, children are at risk of the “summer slide,” where they lose achievements made in the previous school year. We offer SummerBoost Camp® to curb learning loss.
U.S. Education Programs - School-Age Programs
School-Age Programs
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Designed for early learners in kindergarten through 6th grade, our school-age programs help children facing academic challenges achieve their educational milestones.