| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A |
FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN POVERTY AND ARE AT RISK OF HEALTH DISPARITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES. IN 2013, WE PROVIDED 12,442 HOME VISITS TO 2,346 PARTICIPANTS (1,331 CHILDREN AND 1,015 ADULTS). WAY TO GROW INITIALLY SERVED EXPECTANT PARENTS AND MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 5. IN 2006, WAY TO GROW FORMALIZED ITS TEEN PARENT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS (AGES 15 - 21) AND THEIR CHILDREN TO HELP EDUCATE AND PREPARE THEM FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE; AND IN 2009, WE LAUNCHED GREAT BY 8, EXPANDING OUR SUCCESSFUL AND STATISTICALLY PROVEN HOME-VISITING MODEL TO INCLUDE CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN (AGE 6) THROUGH 3RD GRADE (AGE 8). IN 2014, WE OPENED A PARENT-CHILD PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, CALLED P.A.L.S. (PARENT CHILD ACTIVITIES LEAD TO SCHOOL READINESS), OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP AND ON THE CAMPUS OF URBAN VENTURES; MODELED AFTER OUR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED, 4-STAR PARENT AWARE RATED PRESCHOOL PALS PROGRAM. WAY TO GROW PARTNERS WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MPS) AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO TEACH PARENTS THE CORE STANDARDS THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY. WAY TO GROW CONTINUES TO DEVELOP OUTCOME-BASED, YEAR-ROUND, MULTI-YEAR, CULTURE-TO-CULTURE, LANGUAGE-TO-LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING TO BEST SERVE OUR CLIENTS. WAY TO GROW'S HOME VISITING STAFF IS COLLECTIVELY FLUENT IN 7 LANGUAGES AND CULTURALLY REFLECTS THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. PROGRAMMING IS IMPLEMENTED PRIMARILY THROUGH HOME VISITS; WE EDUCATE FAMILIES ON LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, MATH, HEALTH AND NUTRITION. OUR HOLISTIC, INNOVATIVE APPROACH BEGINS WITH THE PARENTS TO STABILIZE THEIR FAMILY AND CONNECT THEM TO BASIC NEEDS SERVICES (HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL SERVICES) SO FAMILIES CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN OUR OTHER PROGRAM AREAS. THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IS BUILDING SOLID RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FAMILIES THROUGH HOME VISITS, CENTER AND COMMUNITY-BASED CLASSES, WHILE WORKING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SKILLS TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING. WAY TO GROW HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARD OUR GOAL OF ACHIEVING SCHOOL-READINESS AND A HEALTHY START FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS. WE WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR LONG-TIME PARTNER MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MPS) TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, TO INCREASE OUR IMPACT BY SERVING FAMILIES WITH THE GREATEST NEED. WAY TO GROW STAFF IS COLLECTIVELY FLUENT IN 7 LANGUAGES AND CULTURALLY REFLECTS THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. SINCE IMPLEMENTING OUR PROGRAMMING, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN DEEMED "KINDERGARTEN-READY" HAS BEEN SUSTAINED AT 80% SINCE 2010 - UP FROM 38% IN 2006. THIS OUTCOME CONTINUES TO IMPROVE, WITH 2013 RESULTS SHOWING THAT 88% OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN WAY TO GROW PROGRAMMING ARE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN - AN 8% IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST YEAR'S RESULTS. FURTHER, 100% OF OUR CENTER-BASED PRESCHOOL PALS STUDENTS ARE DEEMED READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. WAY TO GROW CHILDREN HAVE ALSO MADE GREAT STRIDES IN REACHING GRADE LEVEL LITERACY BENCHMARKS. DURING THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR, 73% OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED STANDARDS ON MCA-PREPAREDNESS EXAMS; AND 71% OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WERE READING AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. IN COMPARISON, IN 2012, ONLY 72% OF CHILDREN ENTERING MPS WERE DEEMED READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND 58% OF MPS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT IN READING (ONEMINNEAPOLIS, 2012). |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B |
A COPY OF THIS RETURN IS REVIEWED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THEN IT IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION. AFTER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS REVIEWED THE DOCUMENT, IT IS FILED. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C |
WAY TO GROW MONITORS AND ENFORCES THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AS NEEDED. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A |
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE WAY TO GROW BOARD OF DIRECTORS USES A PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COMPENSATION FOR THE CEO THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE MEMBERS OF WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT AND WITHOUT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS DEFINED IN REGULATION SECTION 53.4958-6(C)(1)(III), USE OF DATA AS TO COMPARABLE COMPENSATION FOR SIMILARLY QUALIFIED PERSONS IN FUNCTIONALLY COMPARABLE POSITIONS AT SIMILARLY SITUATED ORGANIZATIONS, CONTEMPORANEOUS DOCUMENTATION, SUBSTANTIATION AND RECORDKEEPING WITH RESPECT TO DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS REGARDING THE COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENT THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROCESS AND AN ASSESSMENT IS PERFORMED AT LEAST ANNUALLY FOR THE CEO. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND APPROVES ALL COMPENSATION CHANGES OF THE CEO IN ADVANCE OF THE CHANGE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B |
ALL EMPLOYEES, KEY OR OTHERWISE ARE GIVEN A PERFORMANCE REVIEW ANNUALLY AND ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENTS ARE BASED ON A FORMULA WITHIN THE REVIEW FORMAT. THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW IS GIVEN BY THEIR SUPERVISOR & APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE DIRECTOR'S RECEIVE REVIEWS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS RECEIVES HER REVIEW BY THE BOARD. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 |
ALL GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING FEDERAL FORM 990, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CAN BE REVIEWED BY CONTACTING: WAY TO GROW AT 125 WEST BROADWAY, 110, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55411. |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.