Mayor and United Way announce $1 million school readiness initiative

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay yesterday announced an ambitious $1 million citywide initiative to promote school readiness among Boston's youngest citizens. The goal of the effort is to prevent the achievement gap among families of different races and income levels by ensuring that the youngest children get the academic, social and health services they need to succeed in school and life. More than 31,000 households in Boston have at least one child between the ages of birth and 5.

The initiative is funded by a $633,000 grant from an anonymous donor, which is matched by more than $360,000 in additional support and in-kind contributions from 12 partner organizations. The effort is closely aligned with the Boston Public Schools' expanded work in early childhood education, including the creation of new K1 classrooms for four-year-old students. Pictured here, (left to right) Mayor Menino is joined at the announcement by Milton J. Little, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and Michael Contompasis, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools.