The Washington-based National League of Cities' (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education and Families and the United Way of America (UWA) will help six cities promote school readiness among young children. Atlanta; Denver; Des Moines, Iowa; Nashville, Tenn.; Providence, R.I.; and San Antonio, Texas, will receive technical assistance on individual plans each city has aimed at preparing children for school through early education.

Each city's school readiness programs help parents and informal caregivers and may be used as templates by other cities. "United Way and city leaders can work together to create a local infrastructure designed to prepare young children with the basic skills needed for academic success," said Nina Sazer O'Donnell, director of national strategies for UWA's Success By 6 campaign. "This type of collaborative model will go far toward assuring that all children are truly prepared and ready to succeed when they get to school."

More information on the Promoting School Readiness Initiative is available at www.nlc.org/iyef.