Ready by Five

Ready by Five works in the five poorest census tracts known as East Yakima in a collaborative public-private partnership to help children, ages birth to five years, and their families get kindergarten-ready for success in school and life. Ready by Five develops new opportunities and strengthens existing early learning efforts within families, child care settings and the community, working to surround children with high quality early learning environments, wherever they spend their days. In support of the school readiness goal, Ready by Five is creating a sustainable, integrated and accessible system for early learning, child development and family support services for the children and families of East Yakima. Initially funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Thrive by Five Washington, Ready by Five is now funded principally by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education through a Migrant Education Even Start (MEES) grant, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Yakima Valley Community Foundation, private and corporate donors and AVANCE, a family literacy partner.