Preparing Children for School Success, Leadership and Life.
Why It's So Important

The Challenge

In 2014, just 14% of Black, 16%of Latino, 48% of Asian and 52% of White  children were reading at grade level in Dane County’s elementary schools.

Among graduating high school seniors in 2013, only 14% of Black, 28% of Latino, 47% of Asian and 57% of White graduates were ready for college level reading. Reading and learning difficulties begin early and often persist into adulthood.

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Ready to Read. Prepared to Succeed.

Access to clean, drinkable water and healthy food. Climate change. Energy Alternatives. Urban and rural poverty. Economic and population health disparities. Innovations in STEM and Social Enterprise. Global and local leadership and political conflicts. World peace. 

Children who can read, love to learn and can work effectively with others will be best prepared to address these issues, lead happy lives and raise happy and healthy families as adults. 

One City Early Learning Centers is dedicated to cultivating healthy, happy, thoughtful, and resourceful children who have the capacity and commitment to empower others and change the world, their families and communities for the better. With this in mind, our mission is to prepare young children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life, and ensure they enter grade school reading-ready.

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It Takes a City: We Need Your Help

Help us build the bridge to a brighter future.

We believe in the Village concept – that is truly takes a village to raise a successful child. The Greater Madison community has an extraordinary opportunity to be the best village in the country for raising healthy, happy and successful children. We are asking the Greater Madison community and those who support strong children and families to join us and the parents of One City children in our collective effort to turn the tide against low school achievement and generational poverty at its roots – during a child’s first five years of life. Together, we can empower children for a lifetime of happiness and success.

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Words of Support for Our City’s Children