Did you see the test scores? Last week, standardized test scores for Colorado schools were released. CPR reported on these results.

One of the points made in the article linked above that stood out to us is that "Wealthier peers are scoring roughly 30 percentage points higher than students who are poor the majority of their education, with poor being defined as students from families with incomes that qualify for free and reduced price lunch."

We're working to change that.

Through the collective impact approach, United Way of Larimer County addresses three initiatives comprised of a variety of programs and organizations committed to driving collaborative solutions towards meeting our main mission of reducting poverty in Larimer County.

One of these initiatives is Kids on Track. Kids on Track is committed to empowering youth to achieve early grade literacy, stay in school, and graduate on time. This means making sure that all students are given the opportunity to succeed, which by nature of necessity, means addressing the socio-economic education gap seen in the Colorado test scores from last school year.

One program working with this initiative is the Colorado Reading Corps. Through this program, Americorps service members trained in early intervention literacy strategies provide one-on-one tutoring for elementary students in Larimer County to help ensure that all students are reading at grade level.

Upon completion of the first year of the program in Larimer County (the 2014-15 academic year), results indicated that 422 students were served, 93.1% of them showing academic progress. Last year, it served 737 K-3rd grade students, with 96.4% showing academic improvement.

“We are really excited to see the impact that Colorado Reading Corps is having in our community,” said Erin Zimmermann, Community Impact Director. “We know that the achievement gap is a critical barrier in breaking the cycle of poverty. This is why United Way of Larimer County is committed to supporting multiple strategies so that every child has exactly what they need to ensure a bright future.”

As we enter the 2015-16 school year, consider making a gift to United Way of Larimer County so that we can continue doing this important work, and ensure academic success for all of the youth in our county.

MAKE A GIFT TODAY.

			Elizabeth Simons Elizabeth Simons is the Digital Marketing Manager at United Way of Larimer County. An alumni of CSU, she has worked in marketing, technical support, and blogging for the last five years. Elizabeth is also an artist working primarily in fiber arts, watercolor painting, and fashion design.