Our blog

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 […]

This is a tough thing to do for all of us at any age. When my children were younger, we didn’t allow them to have a cell phone until middle school sports started. As you can imagine, our children were the “only ones” without a phone (and that was repeated to us daily). Our rationale […]

Gil’s Report Card Gilmer Minor, IV Charlotte Minor Dear Friends, We wanted to share pictures from the launch of The Gil Minor Innovation & Impact Fund at The Commonwealth Club. It truly was a special day to honor a man who served on the E3:Elevate Early Education Board of Directors for many years and cared […]

Gil’s Son Gil’s Report Card Lisa What a special time! Last week we launched the Gil Minor Innovation & Impact Fund at The Commonwealth Club with an intimate gathering of friends and colleagues in partnership with The Minor Family. Together, we honored Gil’s commitment and passion for E3’s initiatives that were vital to our success. […]

Dear Imagination Library Friends, We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for your dedication and efforts to grow Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) in communities across the state. Your passion, partnership, and perseverance are helping to bring the love of reading to more children and families every day. We wanted to […]

The first eight years of life lay the groundwork for later learning. Research shows that a strong foundation in reading, math and writing prepares children for K-12 , higher education and, ultimately, the workforce.   The early years  are a crucial time for cognitive, language, literacy and social-emotional development. Before a child gets on that […]