State Senator Steve Sodders

This week, the Iowa Senate Education Committee heard about an intensive community approach in Marshalltown on strong schools that help kids learn, grow and succeed.

Marshalltown is one of only 17 “Promise Neighborhood” projects nationwide. These neighborhoods received help from the U.S. Department of Education to bring together organizations, agencies and caring adults to coordinate education, health, employment and community efforts to ensure kids get off to a great start.

Representatives of Mid-Iowa Community Action, a Marshalltown-based human services agency, described how they are helping children and families at Rogers Elementary School in Marshalltown take advantage of early learning opportunities and services for families living in poverty.

The number of American children, including Iowa children, living in poverty is too high. That’s why U.S. Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Promise Neighborhood Act in 2011.

For more on how communities can take advantage of the Promise Neighborhood approach, go to www.promiseneighborhoodsinstitute.org.