United for schools
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United For Schools

United for schools
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Keep a student in school, prepare them for life

What does it take to ensure every child in the Quad Cities has the resources to thrive?

Forward-thinking initiatives like United for Schools.

By tackling opportunity gaps head-on, we’re transforming the futures of local students and strengthening the entire community.

Launched in 2021 as pilot programs at Madison Elementary in Davenport and Washington Elementary in Moline, United for Schools has already demonstrated success in improving attendance, academic performance, and social-emotional development for hundreds of students.

Filling the gaps where funding stops.

For most public schools, nearly 90% of public funding goes toward operational costs like staff and teachers, leaving little room to address the broader nonacademic needs of students. In low-income communities, these limitations are magnified by barriers such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, food insecurity, and unstable housing. The ripple effects—chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, and missed learning opportunities—often prevent students from reaching their full potential.

United for Schools bridges public resource gaps in Title 1 elementary schools*, mobilizing community partnerships to meet students’ needs with critical resources and tailored support.

At the core of the initiative are integrated student supports, targeted interventions designed to address both academic and nonacademic challenges. United for Schools provides these supports in three ways:

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School-based support

Widely available services designed to foster a positive school climate and address school-level risk factors.

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Targeted services

Typically provided in a group setting to students with a common need.

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Individualized services

Typically provided in a one-on-one setting to students with highly specific needs.

United for Schools is guided by our Education Council, a team of superintendents, businesses, labor, nonprofit, workforce leaders and funders, who for more than ten years have harnessed data from the Quad Cities Educational Data Exchange (a unique, bi-state data sharing warehouse) to pioneer innovative interventions to make a lasting difference for our youngest Quad Citizens.

* Title 1 is a designation is given to schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families. There are 106 public schools in Scott & Rock Island counties; 83 of those schools (78%) qualify as Title 1. United for Schools is focusing efforts on five Title 1 schools with high demonstrated need (free & reduced lunch, BIPOC communities).

For most public schools, nearly 90% of public funding goes toward operational costs like staff and teachers, leaving little room to address the broader nonacademic needs of students. In low-income communities, these limitations are magnified by barriers such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, food insecurity, and unstable housing. The ripple effects—chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, and missed learning opportunities—often prevent students from reaching their full potential.

United for Schools bridges public resource gaps in Title 1 elementary schools*, mobilizing community partnerships to meet students’ needs with critical resources and tailored support.

At the core of the initiative are integrated student supports, targeted interventions designed to address both academic and nonacademic challenges. United for Schools provides these supports in three ways:

How does it work?

United Way places site coordinators at each United for Schools campus, and along with collaborative partners including our national partner, Communities in Schools, we will:

  • Analyzes the needs of the school and individual students

  • Develops a plan prioritizing academic and non-academic needs

  • Delivers support to the school, students and their families

  • Continuously monitors and adjusts student and school progress

  • Assesses partners and student support

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The result? Proven success in student academic achievement, graduation rates and overall well-being.

Impact by the numbers.

When our community works together, the results can been seen in reduced chronic absenteeism, and improvements in student behavior, academic performance and overall engagement. Hear what our superintendents have to say.

Beyond the numbers, the initiative sends a powerful message to students: they’re valued, supported, and capable of achieving their dreams.

Programs and initiatives include:

Vision To Learn

When a student can’t see the white board, how can they realize their full potential? This in-school program helps put students’ futures in focus, one school and one student at a time.

During the 2023-24 school year, we provided 1,906 vision screenings, 547 exams and 515 students with two pairs of glasses across five Title 1 elementary schools.

The smiles on these students’ faces as they see clearly for the first time are unforgettable. But don’t take our word for it, see it for yourself.

Vision To Learn funders
  • Drew & Ellen Allen
  • Phil Allen
  • John Anderson
  • Scott & Debbie Anselm
  • Ernest Arku & Janet Masamoto
  • Jim & Sue Bellig
  • Stephen Bellig
  • Adam Berneking
  • Steve & Susan Bird
  • Caitlin Russell & Nic Brandt
  • Theodore Breidenbach
  • Ed & Molly Carroll
  • Aaron & Chloe Castle
  • Connie & Chris Connolly
  • Mike & Myra Daniel
  • Douglas & Lynne Dvorak
  • Chad & Caroline Everitt
  • Alejandro & Diana Fernandez
  • Dan & Julie Fitzpatrick
  • Dr. Blair Foreman
  • Lee & Jennifer Garlach
  • David & Rene Gellerman
  • Mike & Kristin Gonzales
  • Michael & Monique Gorsline
  • Marie-Catherine & Pierre Guyot
  • Harry & Jane Haedt
  • Stephen & Kelly Hamborg
  • John & Kim Hoffman
  • Brittney Hughes
  • Brian & Ann Kardell
  • Kevin & Krista Kehoe
  • Ben Keith
  • Tom & Kris Kellenberger
  • Drs. Reginald & Pandora Lawrence
  • Karl Lewis
  • Ty Lewis
  • Grace McKenna
  • Robert & Beverly Mitchum
  • Corie Montgomery
  • Kate Moran
  • Kelsey Moran
  • Jim & Angela Nelson
  • David & Joyce Nuernberger
  • Randy & Courtney Olsen
  • Matthew Parise & Erin Soedt
  • Pranav & Sima Patel
  • Kent & Judi Pilcher
  • Decker & Jayne Ploehn
  • Dr. Rachel Savage
  • Greg Schermer & Mary Haney
  • T.J. & Ann Schneckloth
  • Debbie & Mark Schwiebert
  • John & Diane Singer
  • Drs. Param & Armeet Singh
  • Matt & Amanda Slavens
  • Mark Slifka
  • Mark & Angela Snyder
  • David & Jana Steil
  • Dylan Steil
  • Nate & Tawny Stoffregen
  • Peter & Audrey Strothkamp
  • Annette Sherbeyn & Sunder Subbaroyan
  • Christopher & Claire Tinsman
  • John & Kelsi Tinsman
  • Honorable Maggie Tinsman
  • Elizabeth & Scott Tinsman
  • Paul & Donna VanDuyne
  • Jordan & Jessica Voigt
  • Dr. & Mrs. Mark Wilkinson
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Books & Barbers

When you look good, you feel good. This program delivers more than a fresh haircut and free book to students, it encourages self-care, social and emotional wellness and inspires a love of reading.

During the 2023-34 school year, four barbers provided 372 hours of mentoring to 60 students, along with haircuts and books at two Title 1 elementary schools.

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Girls On Fire

It’s not easy being a girl today. Love Girls Magazine partners with Madison and Washington Elementary schools to create a safe and supportive space where girls can connect, share their stories, and build community. By fostering opportunities in storytelling and leadership, we help them build confidence, develop new skills, and discover their potential to make a difference.

Sources: Quad Cities Educational Data Exchange; Madison Elementary School; George Washington Elementary School

Looking ahead: scaling for success.

United for Schools is in five Title 1 elementary schools in the Quad Cities, serving 2,000 students. This expansion is made possible with a new national partnership with Communities in Schools and a $1 million Ballmer Group challenge grant.

These schools are at the heart of the United for Schools program: Jefferson and Madison Elementary schools, Davenport, Wells Elementary in East Moline, Washington Elementary in Moline, and Rock Island Academy.

A cornerstone of the expansion is rigorous data collection, ensuring the initiative strengthens its evidence base and maintains transparency and accountability to stakeholders.

Our partners and investors.

Thank you for investing in the success of our youngest Quad Citizens.

Individual investors
  • Phil & Sarah Alexander*
  • Samuel & Marsha Allen*
  • Steve & Jane Bahls*
  • Nancy Ballenger*
  • Chris & Stefanie Beason*
  • Nate & Alizabeth Berg*
  • Steve & Susan Bird
  • Jennifer Blakeney*
  • Phyllis & Mike Bleymeyer
  • Linda Bower*
  • Tom & Kristy Bowman*
  • Mark & Debbie Burton*
  • Ben & Jenna Bush
  • Aaron & Chloe Castle*
  • Karen & Jim Collins*
  • Mike & Myra Daniel*
  • Alex & Victoria Edwards
  • Tyler & Amber Edwards*
  • Patrick & Trish Eikenberry*
  • Dan & Muffy Ellard*
  • Ken & Cathy Enstrom*
  • Chad & Caroline Everitt*
  • John & Marie Feehan*
  • Jim & Jayne Field*
  • Paul & Molly Foley*
  • Lee & Jennifer Garlach*
  • David & Rene Gellerman*
  • Jeffrey Goldstein & Regina Feldman-Goldstein*
  • Steve & Kelli Grubbs
  • Stephen & Kelly Hamborg
  • Jen & Pat Hartmann
  • Dana Nelson-Holstein & Justin Holstein
  • Todd & Kiki Hopkins*
  • Doug & Nancy Hultquist*
  • Mo & Marcy Hyder*
  • Joseph & Patricia Judge*
  • Phillip & Connie Kassewitz
  • Kevin & Krista Kehoe
  • Chuck & Jeane Keibler*
  • Kelley Kilcoin*
  • Mark & Kathy Kilmer*
  • Steven & Mary Korrect*
  • Doug Kratz*
  • Stephen & Mindy Kruse*
  • Deborah K. Lamphier*
  • John & Bonnie Leinart*
  • A.J. & Kris Loss
  • Larry & Debbie Marshall*
  • Sherri Martin*
  • Richard & Diane McAnally*
  • William & Renee Moon*
  • Troy & Barb Muilenburg*
  • Marcus Needham*
  • Collin & Lindsay Nelson*
  • Dustin & Katie Nelson
  • Linda Newborn*
  • Ron & Amy Nimmer – Nimmer Family Foundation Fund
  • Michael & Lisa O’Brien*
  • Michael P. & Linda M. Orr*
  • Adam Pelzer*
  • Kent & Judi Pilcher*
  • Decker & Jayne Ploehn*
  • Jeff & Vicki Preston
  • Bill & Susan Rector
  • Peter & Merriam Rink*
  • Ian & Sara Russell*
  • Mark & Debbie Schwiebert
  • Paul & Emily Scranton*
  • Ben & Katie Selden*
  • Deb & Randy Sergesketter*
  • Abbey Furlong & Sam Skorepa
  • Joe & Ann Slavens*
  • David & Jana Steil
  • Nate & Tawny Stoffregen
  • Justin & Kristine Teitle*
  • Julie Thompson*
  • Paul & Donna VanDuyne*
  • Giles & Julie Verheecke
  • Sheila & Jay Volrath
  • C. Dana & Faye A. Waterman*
  • Rian & Lindsay Waterman*
  • Bob & Kim Waterman*
  • The Honorable Thomas & Maria Waterman*
  • Gwen Tombergs & David Wayne
  • B.J. & Kathy Weigle*
  • Randy & Barbara Westerdale
  • Allison Wilkerson
  • Dale & Marie Ziegler
  • 13 Anonymous Donors
  • * Call to Rise United investor
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How you can help.

The United for Schools initiative is reshaping education in the Quad Cities, but its success depends on continued community support. Whether through donations, volunteering, or forming partnerships, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference.

Connect with Ragan Baker, United Way’s Student Success Director, at rbaker@unitedwayqc.org.

The United for Schools initiative is reshaping education in the Quad Cities, but its success depends on continued community support. Whether through donations, volunteering, or forming partnerships, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference.

Connect with Ragan Baker, United Way’s Student Success Director, at rbaker@unitedwayqc.org.

YOU can be part of a movement transforming the future of education in the Quad Cities. We’re currently in need of Read United volunteers. You can build a student’s reading confidence with just 30-minutes a week.

$25 a month can help erase obstacles for kids year-round.

When you invest $25 a month through United Way Quad Cities, you’re providing opportunity and access to students in Rock Island and Scott County schools.