WAY TO GROW
Programs
Way to Grow Early Learning Programs
WAY TO GROW HAS BEEN A LEADING MODEL FOR EARLY LEARNING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN THE TWIN CITIES SINCE 1989. WE BELIEVE THAT PARENTS ARE THEIR CHILDREN'S PRIMARY EDUCATORS, AND STRUCTURE OUR PROGRAMS TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE PARENTS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. WAY TO GROW'S SECOND-GENERATION APPROACH HAS REACHED APPROXIMATELY 60,000 PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 35 YEARS. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1989, WE HAVE SOUGHT TO REVERSE NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL TRENDS BY BUILDING TRUSTED, COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT FOR THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE AMONG THE MOST ISOLATED FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2005, WE FORMALIZED OUR HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND IN 2006, LAUNCHED A FORMAL TEEN PARENT PROGRAM. IN 2007, WE OPENED OUR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED, 4-STAR PARENT AWARE RATED PRESCHOOL PALS PROGRAM, AND IN 2009, LAUNCHED GREAT BY EIGHT, WHICH IS NOW THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR WORK. GREAT BY EIGHT EXPANDED OUR EFFECTIVE AND STATISTICALLY PROVEN HOME VISITING MODEL TO INCLUDE CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 35 MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MPS) AND 20 CHARTER SCHOOLS. IN 2016, WE LAUNCHED AN ONSITE HUB FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING AT THE LUCY C. LANEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. IN 2018, WE EXPANDED OUR HOME VISITING PROGRAM TO BROOKLYN PARK AND BROOKLYN CENTER AND HAVE SERVED 200 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OSSEO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.IN 2020 DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE PIVOTED OUR SERVICES TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL HOME VISITING AND EXPANDED OUR REACH TO SERVING FAMILIES FROM 11 DIFFERENT COUNTIES. WAY TO GROW WAS THE FIRST HOME VISITING MODEL TO OFFER TUTORING SERVICES FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS, WITH THE GOAL TO HELP ALL CHILDREN REACH GRADE LEVEL LITERACY BY THE END OF THE THIRD GRADE. IN 2023, WAY TO GROW RECEIVED A ONE-TIME GRANT IN RECOGNITION OF HIGH-QUALITY, EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING MODEL.OUR FOUNDERS CREATED WAY TO GROW WITH THE VISION THAT EVERY CHILD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. OUR INNOVATIVE GREAT BY EIGHT HOME VISITING MODEL PAIRS FAMILIES WITH HIGHLY TRAINED FAMILY EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE IN-DEPTH, EVIDENCE-BASED, IN-HOME EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. FAMILY EDUCATORS HELP PARENTS TO PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SUPPORT FAMILIES BY PROVIDING WRAP-AROUND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THROUGH YEAR-ROUND HOME VISITS AND IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUPPORTING SCHOOL READINESS, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, CENTER-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES, PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY, AND WRAPAROUND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS FOR TEEN PARENTS, AND FAMILY STABILIZATION SERVICES. 2024 IMPACT: SINCE THE PANDEMIC, LEARNING RECOVERY HAS STALLED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TIME IS NOW TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE HIGH INTENSITY, HIGH DOSAGE TUTORING WITH HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE LEARNING RECOVERY FOR OUR CHILDREN.IN 2024, WAY TO GROW PROVIDED 13,128 IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL HOME VISITS TO 2,178 CLIENTS (1,287 CHILDREN AND 891 PARENTS) AND HELPED TO STABILIZE 764 FAMILIES THROUGH 1,600 REFERRALS TO SERVICES TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, MEDICAL NEEDS, AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT SUCH AS HOUSING AND FOOD. OUR FAMILIES ARE DEMONSTRATING STRONG RESILIENCE DURING A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY.DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, 88% OF EARLY LEARNERS WERE DEEMED READY FOR KINDERGARTEN; 80% OF K-3 STUDENTS COMBINED DEMONSTRATED GROWTH IN READING LEVEL ASSESSMENTS, AND 91% OF PARENTS ATTENDED AT LEAST ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. LEARNING DISRUPTIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE AFFECTED CHILDREN'S LITERACY GAINS, WITH WAY TO GROW CREATING NEW INTERVENTIONS AND CURRICULUM UPDATES TO TARGET LITERACY FOUNDATIONS MOST IMPACTED. DURING THIS TIME, WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH PARENTS TO ENSURE HEALTHY BIRTHS, WITH 100% OF NEWBORNS BORN AT OR ABOVE A HEALTHY BIRTH WEIGHT. WAY TO GROW FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING MULTI-GENERATIONAL IMPACT.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$3M
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