Future Ready by 5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2023
FUTURE READY COLUMBUS ANNOUNCES NEW NAME, STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2023-2024
Community impact organization unveils new name and combats early-childhood education
crisis through key initiatives
COLUMBUS, OH – Future Ready Columbus, a collective community impact organization dedicated to ensuring 100% of children in Franklin County, prenatal to age five, achieve kindergarten readiness by 2030, recently announced its new name and strategic priorities for 2023-2024. Operating under the fresh Future Ready Five (FR5) brand, the organization has refocused its key initiatives to assist in achieving its overall goals.
“Future Ready Columbus was re-established four years ago and, this year, we have refocused our methodology for how we accomplish our goals to better impact the community” said Mario Basora, CEO, Future Ready Five. “Through a collective impact approach working closely with public and private partners, we have revamped our name and strategic priorities to help break the cycle of poverty and racism to ensure that all children in Franklin County are ready for kindergarten by age five.” Basora said the organization’s name change from Future Ready Columbus to Future Ready Five was made to better align with families and the organization’s targeted focus on Franklin County.
To move the needle toward 100% kindergarten readiness, Future Ready Five leaders are focused on two key strategic priorities in 2023-2024:
- Building a Coordinated Support System
- Work with FR5 partners to identify and implement common kindergarten readiness standards for all children prenatal to age 5.
- Establish one unified shared data and referral system to facilitate individualized checkup assessments and resources/supports for families.
- Early Childhood Center Growth
- Ensure all Franklin County families have access to and encourage enrollment in early education programs.
- Fill every early-childhood classroom with highly qualified staff.
The Importance of Kindergarten Readiness
Currently, 65 percent of Franklin County children do not test as kindergarten ready on the state’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Further, 50% of Franklin County children are not enrolled in any formal, out-of-home early learning program.
Research shows when kids are not ready for kindergarten, it has a lifelong impact. The first five years of a child’s life has the biggest impact on their future educational atiainment and positive engagement within the community. Poor academic performance is linked with higher rates of high school dropouts, teen pregnancy, juvenile detention, unemployment, poor health outcomes and adult incarceration. “Future Ready Five’s goal is to collaborate to bring together resources in our community to create one unified approach, so that we can start moving the needle,” said Basora. “We will accomplish this through developing systems, elevating early childhood education and inspiring advocacy until every child realizes their best opportunity for a brighter future.”
Future Ready Five encourages community members and partners who are interested in learning more about the organization’s mission to visit: FutureReadyFive.org.
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About Future Ready Five
Future Ready Five is the leading collective impact organization taking a holistic approach to kindergarten readiness in Franklin County. In pursuit of equity, access and inclusion, Future Ready Five’s focus is developing systems, elevating early childhood education and inspiring advocacy until all young children are fully prepared for kindergarten.
MEDIA CONTACT: Diane Hurd, diane@inspireprgroup.com, 614.532.5279