Governor calls for big investment in early childhood education
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| Gov. Northam speaks at the Child Development Center. [Office of Governor Ralph Northam] |
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam chose the ACCA Child Development Center
in Annandale for an announcement proposing a big investment in early childhood
education Dec. 10.
Northam said his proposed budget will include $94.8 million to
transform Virginia’s
transform Virginia’s
early education system and increase access for at-risk 3 and 4-year-olds,
establish uniform accountability standards, and ensure educators have the
training and support they need.
establish uniform accountability standards, and ensure educators have the
training and support they need.
“Where we end up in life has a lot to do with where we start,” Northam.
“Every child should have an equal opportunity to build a strong foundation, and
early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make in our
children’s health, well-being, and future success.”
Virginia currently ranks in the bottom third of states when it
comes to investment in early childhood education.
comes to investment in early childhood education.
According to the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program, almost
half of Virginia children enter kindergarten without the basic skills they need
to succeed in school. This is in large part due to lack of access. Nearly
three-quarters, 72 percent of 3-year-olds and 24 percent of 4-year-olds from
economically disadvantaged families currently lack access to high-quality early
learning experiences.
half of Virginia children enter kindergarten without the basic skills they need
to succeed in school. This is in large part due to lack of access. Nearly
three-quarters, 72 percent of 3-year-olds and 24 percent of 4-year-olds from
economically disadvantaged families currently lack access to high-quality early
learning experiences.
“Early childhood educators don’t often get the support, training, and recognition they deserve,” said Isabel Ballivian, executive director of the ACCA Child Development Center. “This funding will empower us to better serve Virginia’s children, and will help us to make an even bigger difference in the lives of the families we serve.
“Early childhood educators don’t often get the support, training,
and recognition they deserve,” said Isabel Ballivian, executive director of the
ACCA Child Development Center. “This funding will empower us to better serve
Virginia’s children, and will help us to make an even bigger difference in the
lives of the families we serve.”
and recognition they deserve,” said Isabel Ballivian, executive director of the
ACCA Child Development Center. “This funding will empower us to better serve
Virginia’s children, and will help us to make an even bigger difference in the
lives of the families we serve.”
Northam’s proposed budget would allocate $59.5 million for the
Virginia Preschool Initiative to increase early childhood education access for
at-risk 4-year-olds. This funding would go toward increasing the amount of
per-pupil dollars, boosting incentives for private providers, ensuring class
size flexibility, and helping to eliminate waiting lists.
Virginia Preschool Initiative to increase early childhood education access for
at-risk 4-year-olds. This funding would go toward increasing the amount of
per-pupil dollars, boosting incentives for private providers, ensuring class
size flexibility, and helping to eliminate waiting lists.
Another $26 million would go toward an expansion of the Virginia
Preschool Initiative and state Mixed Delivery Grants for at-risk 3-year-olds in
both school and private childcare settings.
Preschool Initiative and state Mixed Delivery Grants for at-risk 3-year-olds in
both school and private childcare settings.
The governor’s budget also includes $8 million to expand an
innovative incentive program to attract, train, and retain early childhood
educators, with a particular focus on supporting childcare teachers who work in
center or family day home settings. An additional $1.3 million would support
the establishment of uniform quality measurement and improvement for early
childhood classrooms receiving public dollars.
innovative incentive program to attract, train, and retain early childhood
educators, with a particular focus on supporting childcare teachers who work in
center or family day home settings. An additional $1.3 million would support
the establishment of uniform quality measurement and improvement for early
childhood classrooms receiving public dollars.
The governor is also proposing legislation to streamline state
oversight and accountability for early care and learning programs. This
includes transitioning childcare licensing and the child care subsidy program
from the Virginia Department of Social Services to the Virginia Department of
Education.
oversight and accountability for early care and learning programs. This
includes transitioning childcare licensing and the child care subsidy program
from the Virginia Department of Social Services to the Virginia Department of
Education.
