A partnership between The University of Akron College of Education, (UA) and Akron Summit Community Action, Inc (ASCA), Akron Ready Steps (ARS) is a program that serves over 300 at risk children in five Head Start sites in high poverty communities in Akron, OH. Program goals address high priority knowledge and skills preschoolers need to learn; high priority knowledge and skills teachers/teacher assistants need to teach; the design of high quality 21st century language and literacy-rich environments; active parent engagement; and mobilizing the community around strong preschool literacy education.