How your district can lead to Build Strong Foundations Early
Every thriving community begins with its kids. That’s why, in 2025, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared the “Year of the Kid”—a statewide call to nurture children’s growth, well-being, and long-term success.
“If we want to improve our kids’ outcomes, we have to shorten the odds—starting now,”
Evers told us, reminding everyone that children are at the heart of Wisconsin’s future. This isn’t just about academics. It’s about mental health, behavioral health, safe environments, nutrition, and early care. It’s a vision that recognizes strong kids = strong communities.
But bold ideas need more than announcements; they need action. The question is:
How do we truly build strong foundations early?
Laying the Foundation: Why We Must Act Early—Not React Late
Funding and policies set the stage—but real impact happens in the classroom, every single day. The truth? If we wait for problems to show up—whether it’s behavior challenges, social struggles, or emotional setbacks—we’re already behind. By then, kids are harder to engage, and teachers are left managing crises instead of building momentum.
The solution: front-load essential life skills early, while kids are still open, curious, and ready to grow. Skills like:
- Taking responsibility
- Collaborating in teams
- Solving problems creatively
- Adapting confidently to change
These aren’t extras—they’re the foundation for long-term success in school, relationships, and life. And they work best when they’re practiced daily, from day one.
The roadmap: Wisconsin’s Career Readiness Standards
To make this vision actionable, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and her team introduced the new Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards (WCRS), which unlike previous years now begins with elementary grades.
She puts it simply:
“The foundation for lifelong success is built in the early grades. Our Career Readiness Standards are designed to grow these skills from kindergarten onward.”
These standards blend academics with real-world skills, giving kids a clear path to develop strong habits early on. A few examples:
These are practical, age-appropriate skills that give kids a head start—whether they’re in the classroom, at home, or in the community.
The Hidden Crisis: Why This Work Can’t Wait
Governor Evers’ plan is bold:
- Expand mental and behavioral health services
- Strengthen early care & safe schools
- Provide universal free school meals
But as he wisely said:
“Budgets alone can’t change kids’ lives. It’s the day-to-day work in classrooms that makes the difference”. And teachers know this truth well.
The impact is real:
- More kids are struggling to stay focused.
- Emotional resilience is lower.
- Teachers feel stretched thin.
We can’t afford to wait until middle or high school to help kids build the tools they need to thrive. We have to start early. Research backs this up. According to the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE):
“Early exposure to real-world skills nurtures self-confidence, motivation, and the habits of mind that set students on a path toward lifelong success.”
UNYTUS: Turning Vision into Everyday Action
While policy gives us the vision, and standards provide the roadmap, schools still need a practical way to bring it all to life. That’s why we built UNYTUS.
UNYTUS was created in response to what we saw firsthand, teachers and parents working hard to guide kids through rising challenges, from behavioral struggles to emotional setbacks. Technology made things more complex, but one thing was clear:
Kids need consistent opportunities to build character, resilience, and life skills—woven into their daily learning.
UNYTUS does just that. Our superhero-powered K–5 curriculum:
- Builds resilience, responsibility, empathy, and perseverance—starting in kindergarten
- Fully aligns with Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards, Common Core, NCSS themes, and, CASEL mental health and Character Traits Framework
- Blends social emotional learning, academic skills, and global citizenship
- Offers engaging, ready-to-use lessons that save teachers time and make learning joyful
UNYTUS is designed to reduce the burden of fragmented teaching, which studies like Valli & Buese (2007) show can lead to teacher burnout and superficial learning. Instead, we deliver a cohesive, integrated curriculum that helps teachers focus on what matters most: connecting with kids and fostering growth.
Now’s the Time to Lead
The vision is clear. The roadmap is ready. Now it’s up to schools to take the next step—and we’re here to help.
With UNYTUS, you can build strong foundations that set your students up for lifelong success—starting today.
This blog post is inspired by article: Gov. Evers Declares 2025 the Year of the Kid: “If We Want to Improve Our Kids’ Outcomes, Then We Have to Shorten the Odds”