Of the four million American children who start school each year, as many as one-third enter school behind.  Many never catch up, but clearly the multitude of systems – from family to schools to government – that should be supporting young children are failing to do so.  SPARK, through Smart Start, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta’s Early Learning Division,  seeks to permanently improve systems affecting how children learn.

In May of 2003, Smart Start was awarded a total of $4 million over five years by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to implement SPARK Georgia. SPARK stands for Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids. Smart Start Georgia received the maximum amount of funding provided by Kellogg for this purpose.

SPARK is Kellogg’s initiative for school readiness, which seeks seamless transition to school for children (ages three through six) who are most vulnerable to being unprepared. SPARK Georgia targets communities in Central DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. We aim to work with over 1,000 children and their families in this effort. With full funding from the Kellogg Foundation, SPARK Georgia will initiate several key strategies where activities link children to Learning Advocates who speak out for and monitor the learning and educational needs of the child.