๐ŸŒŸ Our Mission

A Step Forward exists to ensure every child enters kindergarten confident, capable, and ready to thrive.

48% of children entering kindergarten in the US are not academically, emotionally, and socially ready. Children who lack sufficient readiness by third grade are 4 times less likely to graduate high school. We're changing this story, one child at a time.

๐Ÿ“– Our Story

"In our schools, I noticed some students have difficulty keeping up with academic content on grade level. This problem begins as early as elementary school and continues through high school. After researching further, I discovered that a lack of preparedness in academic, social, and emotional areas in early education affects students throughout their entire school career and beyond."

This observation by our founder, Annika Chadha, sparked the creation of A Step Forward. As a student in Jefferson County Public Schoolsโ€”a district of nearly 100,000 studentsโ€”she saw firsthand how the kindergarten readiness gap impacts children's futures.

"Even though there's a wider gap in preparedness based on socio-economic levels, my research found that people from all backgrounds have access to smartphones. So I built Countdown2K as a mobile app that works on phones and tablets, serving as a resource for parents and caregivers to actively engage with their children."

Annika Chadha - Founder

Annika Chadha

Founder

Congressional App Challenge Winner 2023,
Student Advocate for Early Education

๐Ÿ’ซ Our Values

These core principles guide everything we do, from curriculum design to customer support.

Child-Centered

Every decision we make puts the child's learning experience and well-being first.

Evidence-Based

Our curriculum is built on proven educational research and best practices.

Inclusive

We believe every child deserves access to quality early childhood education.

Innovative

We continuously evolve our platform using the latest in educational technology.

๐Ÿ† Recognition & Awards

Congressional App Challenge Winner

2023 - Kentucky's Third District

Rep. McGarvey named Annika Chadha, a ninth grader at DuPont Manual High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for creating Countdown2K, an innovative solution to address kindergarten readiness.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Countdown2K: Making Readiness Accessible

Countdown2K is designed to work on smartphones and tablets, ensuring that all familiesโ€”regardless of socio-economic backgroundโ€”can access quality kindergarten preparation resources. The app covers:

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Language & Literacy

Letter recognition, vocabulary, and early reading skills

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Mathematics

Counting, shapes, patterns, and basic math concepts

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General Knowledge

Colors, seasons, body parts, and everyday concepts

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Social-Emotional Skills

Self-regulation, empathy, and classroom behavior