A new grant is aiming to close the educational achievement gaps that can spell the difference between a successful life and one that runs off track.

People often think that middle school is the time where children are most at risk for falling in with the wrong crowd, and eventually dropping out of school. But the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation believes the problems in school can be avoided long before a child even enters kindergarten.

Ethan Snow, a second grade student at Skinner Magnet Center, reads with no problem and kindergartner Tylisha Evans can do the same.

It is a skill that all children should be able to master early on but a 2007 study called "Cradle to Prison" found that isn't the case. Ninety percent of African Americans, 88 percent of Latinos and 60 percent of white fourth graders are behind.

It also shows that those students likely stay locked out of the education system and are likely to end up locked up.

Marvin Short is an inmate at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility and he says, "I had some problems reading and just understanding what was being read and not getting the help that was there or me not accepting the help. Just wanted to play around in school."

The 19-year-old Short is one of nearly 85 inmates taking classes at the Nebraska Youth Correctional Center's Community High School.

Mark Jensen is an instructor there and he says, "Some can't write sentences. Some can't write paragraphs."

A $2 million grant from the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation might help.

Douglas Christensen, the Commissioner of Education with the Nebraska Department of Education says, "It costs as much to incarcerate an individual as it does for the tuition to send a child to Penn State University. So, where should we be spending our money?"

The idea is to create a partnership between early childhood centers and public schools in an effort to make sure children know their ABCs before going to school.

The partnership would have school districts and early childhood education centers work together to make assessments of the community's needs.

The funding will likely be available beginning July 1. For more information about the guidelines for the grants, click here.