MUNCIE, INDIANA — Six hundred new kindergarteners in Delaware County are off to a “strong start” thanks to Muncie & Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood Initiative, Inc. and the Early Learning Indiana Strong Start Program. The young students received kindergarten readiness backpacks filled with reading, math and language arts materials to use throughout the remainder of the summer.
The backpacks—made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Strong Start Program—were distributed by BY5 at kindergarten registration events at several schools across Delaware County. Each backpack contained a book, a counting puzzle activity and a rhyming game. They also included a kindergarten transition guide for parents.
“Kindergarten readiness is one of the main indicators for later-in-life success, so we are grateful to offer this opportunity for families to work on important concepts that prepare a child for kindergarten,” said Missy Modesitt, executive director of BY5.
According to BY5’s website, children who are ready for kindergarten by the age of 5 are 17 percent more likely to graduate from high school and four times more likely to graduate from college. Being ready for kindergarten also makes someone 46 percent more likely to have a full-time job and 20 percent more likely to earn a strong salary by the age of 40.
These numbers aren’t just beneficial to the individual—they are also indicators of greater economic vitality for an entire community. BY5 aims to transform the community by connecting kindergarten readiness to economic success.
To learn more about BY5 and the importance of kindergarten readiness, visit muncieby5.org.