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Literacy is a Public Health Crisis in Communities Across Virginia. Only 57% of third graders demonstrate proficiency in reading. That means nearly half of our Virginian children are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade. This is more than an education crisis. It is a public health crisis. Research shows that […]

Virginia has made a bold commitment to literacy––and the data shows why that commitment must continue. Today, 43% of our third graders cannot read. Most of us learned to love reading because someone put books into our hands early––often before we remember it. There were adults and teachers that taught us how to read. There […]

This is what we call Banking Time for Families, Teachers and Children. A 10-15 minute strategy to build interactions and bonds between children and the adults around them. Interactions between adults, teachers and children matter. When you look at these images, it speaks to the importance of the “serve and return” happening as the teacher […]

Dear Literacy Champions: We are officially kicking off the Read, VA campaign to make literacy a top priority for EVERY child in Virginia. And, we need your help! During the General Assembly session, we will have several Virtual Advocacy Days to get you engaged and involved in the process. This is a great opportunity for […]

On Wednesday, E3 hosted a screening of The Library That Dolly Built. The film highlights Dolly Patron’s Imagination Library’s growth and impact – a book gifting program built on the idea that access to high-quality books at home improves literacy and kindergarten readiness. The books are thoughtfully selected by experts to build vocabulary and foundational […]

We are going through a letter and sound maze!  The entire class made a maze of alphabet letters. As they walked through the maze, they recognized letters and sounds.  The next step (literally) was to listen to each sound and connect each letter to the sound to make a word.  Then they made words to […]

Virginia is a place of opportunity, innovation, and growth. But the future strength of our Commonwealth depends on one critical factor: whether today’s children are prepared with the basic skills they need to succeed. Tomorrow’s workforce needs to read. Across Virginia, and across the nation, employers are raising a red flag. It is becoming harder […]

Did you know that reading for enjoyment is one of the biggest predictors of a child’s future happiness and success? More than family circumstance, parents’ educational background, or income, reading impacts a child’s future academic performance, emotional well-being, communication skills, economic security, ambition, and happiness. Sadly, only 41% of children birth to five are being […]

The E3 Board of Directors believes every child needs books in their home. Here they are showing their support for statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The E3 Board and special guests listened to author, speaker, educator, literacy and juvenile justice advocate Hilder brand Pelzer about the school-to-prison pipeline that runs through reading classrooms […]

There is something magical that happens when an adult sits down with a child to read a book. It is a time to bond, interact, talk about the story, predict what will happen next and ask questions. Take time to curl up and read a story with a child during the holidays. It’s a gift […]

Do you remember having books to read in your house and all around you? Too many children and families don’t have access to any books. Their shelves are empty. Partner with us to get more books in the hands of every child no matter what neighborhood or school they live in. We can eliminate book […]

Our latest obsession is the Libby app. Did you know if you have a library card from a local library, you can access books through your devices to read or listen to through the Libby app? It’s free and so easy. 🫶📚 Check out the link below: LEARN MORE What Are a Few Fall Fun […]

One of E3: Elevate Early Education’s innovative initiatives was the creation of The E3 School. We wanted to share a few highlights from our 10-year celebration. Thank you for being part of our story!! Many of you have been with us every step of the way since we first opened our doors. Together, we have […]

There is a Reading Crisis. It Cannot Be Denied. The National and State Data Tell Us We Have a Problem That Must Be Solved in Reading and Math. Virginia Students Are Falling Behind. The recently released National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data cannot be ignored. The data shows that the reading scores of 12th […]

The 2024–2025 Reading SOL data shows 56.64% of Virginia’s third graders passed with proficiency. That is progress, but still leaves 43% unable to read on grade level. This is a challenge that will define the future of our students, our schools, and our Commonwealth. We must do more. Virginia is in the first year of […]