Early Childhood Education
If we accept that education equity is defined by our inability to predict student outcomes based on race, gender, zip code, ability, socio economic status or the languages spoken at home, then we must at the same time advance that access to high quality early learning programs for every Virginia child is foundational to supporting long term student achievement.
The years before a child enters kindergarten directly impact a child’s ability to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. School Readiness means preparing all children for kindergarten by supporting birth-to-age-five programming, including the Virginia Preschool Initiative and Early Childhood Special Education. Virginia’s focus includes key classroom practices such as the use of high-quality curriculum and assessment, teacher-child interactions and individualized professional development. It also includes strengthening family engagement. VDOE works with other state agencies that serve young children to build a more unified birth-to-age-five early childhood care and education system. Learn more about Virginia’s federal preschool development grant birth-to-five (PDG B5) and efforts of local pilots.
- Equity Begins with Early Learning
- Virginia’s Definition of School Readiness (PDF) describes the capabilities of children, families, schools and communities that promote student success in kindergarten and beyond. Each component – children, families, schools and communities – plays an essential role in developing school readiness.
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