Future Ready Five
End of Year Newsletter 2024
OUR MISSION: To transform early learning and achieve educational equity in Central Ohio.
OUR HIGHLIGHT REEL FROM 2024
A family enjoying the RISE Family workshop
Mario Basora, CEO, speaking in a panel for Groundwork Ohio
Children working on an activity during a KRC family workshop
Mario Basora, CEO, and Dr. Vanisa Turney, Chief Operating Officer, speaking at the Early Childhood Advisory Council meeting
A child attending the WOSU event in July
Google Awards FR5 with $250K Grant in November
A child attending the WOSU event in July
Paula Neal, RISE Program Manager, presents her book at the Columbus Book Festival in July
Stephanie Davis and Megan Hamilton at COSI in October
Members of FR5 attending Google's grant presentation ceremony in November
A child attending the Seeds of Caring event in June
Neeta Agrawal, Chief Advancement Officer, attends the Columbus Urban League event with JPMorganChase partners
Mario Basora, CEO, Tanny Crane, Board Co-Chair, and Neeta Agrawal, Chief Advancement Officer, attend an event.
FR5 joins UWCO at one of our preschools, A Blessed Child Learning Academy
An Open Letter
To Our Partners and Neighbors in Central Ohio
As the 2024 calendar year comes to a close, we asked our team to reflect on what they think Future Ready Five means to the community, and where they see us going in the year ahead. One image that came to mind was the famous drawing created by the Interaction Institute for Social Change to demonstrate Equality versus Equity. At Future Ready Five, we understand that by meeting children where they are—and by assessing each individual child’s needs and circumstances—we will be able to pinpoint exactly what kind of help they will need to succeed. What we hope to provide the children in Central Ohio is Equity.
When we set out to solve the Kindergarten Readiness crisis here in Franklin County, we knew that addressing the foundations of reading (that is, oral language and phonemic awareness) would be crucial in determining a child’s ability to enter Kindergarten fully prepared. But what we didn’t realize was that in the process, we were also going to be impacting our community far beyond early literary achievement….
By coaching preschool teachers, and providing incentives for their time and effort, we saw a 100% retention rate of the teachers in our cohort, compared to the national average of only 82.6%.
By providing assessments to children in our community and meeting them where they are—whether that be in a classroom, at a library, or even in their own houses—we’ve been able to identify the children who are on the right track, those who need a little assistance from us, or the ones who may qualify for additional support from our friends at other partner organizations.
By partnering with RISE to oversee the distribution of scholarships to families from low-income households, we were able to reach the children previously unenrolled in childcare programs who need our help the most. As of today, 89% of the children we serve live in zip codes where the median household income is at or below poverty level.
By offering a space where every member of our cohort, no matter their age, race, or background, feels safe and supported, we are hearing their stories, celebrating their victories, and amplifying their voices and cries for help.
What started as a small cohort just 9 months ago, comprised of 8 providers and 168 children, has grown by 325% to 34 providers and 500 children.
Through the distribution of free tablets to every child in our program, we’re able to provide tailored instructional learning through the Khan Academy Kids app, track the children’s progress, and identify which students need further assistance in certain areas. But we’re not stopping there.
Looking forward to 2025, our goal is to impact 1,500 children and over 100 childcare centers, ensuring that every single one of them has the tools to succeed. Because we know that their success today will hold serious implications for the future of Ohio’s workforce.
From the entire team at Future Ready Five, we’d like to thank you for your continued support, for your dedication to the children of Central Ohio, and for your belief in our mission.
With our utmost gratitude,
Other Noteworthy Program Updates from 2024
Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative
YEAR ONE SUCCESS
When we launched our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative (KRC) pilot cohort in March, we began with just 9 providers and 168 children. Fast forward to this fall, and those numbers have grown exponentially, increasing by 325% to include 34 providers and 500 children. This remarkable growth demonstrates the increasing demand for high-quality early literacy interventions and the trust families and providers place in Future Ready Five.
Recognizing that early learning starts at home, we’ve equipped each participating family with their own personal tablet that is preloaded with the Khan Academy Kids app. This empowers caregivers to actively engage in their child’s learning journey, providing guided, interactive tools to reinforce literacy skills. The impact has been extraordinary. As of November, 2024…
• Children enrolled in the program have collectively completed over 17,000 lessons, with over 12,000 lessons assigned to align with individual learning needs.
• Students have achieved an overall lesson success rate of 77%, reflecting steady growth and engagement.
• On average, families have increased their time spent on the app by 2 hours per month from September to November.
By combining data-driven insights with personalized support, we are improving trajectories for hundreds of young learners across Central Ohio.
Franklin County RISE
AN IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIP
Future Ready Five administers the Franklin County RISE program, making childcare and early education experiences more accessible to all. This year, we proudly celebrate 180 childcare programs that received incentives for their dedication to enhancing their Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) ratings.
The Expansion of Future Ready Five
We are so excited about what the future holds for our team with the addition of these incredible individuals!
Maureen L. Thomas
Chief Financial Officer
Stephanie Davis
Kindergarten Readiness Coordinator
Bianca Rylee
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator
Celebrating Our Partners
As we reflect on the milestones of 2024, we are reminded that our work is not just about numbers—it’s about the lives transformed and futures brightened through the power of early education. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our community, partners, and funders who make this life-changing work possible. Together, we are building brighter futures for our children, one step at a time.
Our Goal is to reach 1,500 Children in 2025
Your generous contribution, no matter the size, will allow us to expand our reach, providing more resources to families and preschools, because the children in Central Ohio need our help.