Background
Right now in Santa Barbara:
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37% of students do not graduate on-time.
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68% of low-income families do not have a single age-appropriate book in their home.
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Nearly 65% of third graders read below grade level.
Our Goals
We want our children, seniors, and their families to succeed at their choice of college, vocation, or retirement. In 2010, United Way of Santa Barbara County launched a 10-year initiative, United for Literacy, to achieve the following:
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Increase by 50% on-time graduation rates and the number of students reading at or above grade level in every grade.
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Improve families' reading skills and their involvement with schools and their children's success.
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Increase seniors life-long learning activities.
It's an ambitious goal, but by utilizing our core community strengths, committed partners, and you, we can achieve this goal.
Our Strategy
Our model focuses on developing effective school and community partnerships, supportive community members, and strong families to support children on a birth to 21 continuum.
Our Programs
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Jeopardy Learning Games |
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Parent Empowerment Classes |
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How You Can Help
To reach our goal, the community needs your help. The strategies proven to work are those that connect communities to their schools, including parent involvement, literacy volunteers and mentors, business leaders engaged in education support activities, and advocacy. Volunteer now to help.
Partners Include:
American Indian & Health Services - Art From Scrap - Assistance League of Santa Barbara - Cancer Center of Santa Barbara - Carpinteria Unified School District - City of Santa Barbara - City of Santa Maria - Community Action Commission - Cornelia Moore Dental Foundation - Cottage Hospital - Easy Lift - Family Service Agency - Foodbank of Santa Barbara County - Goleta Union School Districts - Guadalupe Dunes Center Collaborative - Montecito Bank & Trust - Santa Barbara Bank & Trust - Santa Barbara City College - Santa Barbara Museum of Art - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics - Santa Barbara Unified School Districts - UCSB - Wells Fargo Bank - Westmont College - Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara - Plus dozens more!