Our blog

  Today, we continue to hop across Virginia scouting out great places for kids and families.  Today’s city was sent into us from Julie, mother of 4.  Below are some of her family’s favorite spots: Mill Mountain Park–it’s a one-stop shop with hiking, play ground, a small zoo, and a picnic area.  Click here to […]

  We are continuing to move through Virginia and highlight great spots across The Commonwealth for kids and families.  Last week, we popped into Virginia Beach and today we’re heading to Abingdon, VA! Abingdon is a great family spot with SO much to do! Get outside for a family hike or bike ride. Have a […]

  Who says, “Virginia is for Lovers?” Virginia should be for kids and families! Do you know a great community in Virginia that makes kids and families #1? Tell us all about them by sending a quick blurb describing how your city or town put kids first. And, we love photos too!! Check out Virginia […]

Is your child ready for kindergarten? Check out our kindergarten transition checklist to help you both ease into kindergarten this fall! MAKING THE JUMP: Successfully Moving From Preschool to Kindergarten Need some help to get your little one transition to kindergarten?  Look no further!  Here are a few simple tips for making the jump from […]

Last month The Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads (SBDC) was selected as Virginia’s Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center by the U.S. Small Business Administration Richmond District Office for their work with the Early Education Small Business Mentoring Program, an innovative program that has transformed local businesses, providing care and education to […]

Back in February, we filled you in on the latest in regards to Virginia’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (VKRP). Good news!  Phase II is underway! Our research team at UVA CASTL recently released an overview of selection of readiness tools that will complement Virginia’s Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) this fall to help provide a snapshot of […]

It’s no secret: when it comes to early education, unfortunately, the quality of early education settings nationwide varies dramatically, ranging anywhere from unlicensed, unregulated programs to high-quality, state-of-the-art programs. So what exactly constitutes a “high-quality” program?  NPR set out to discover what separates the “best” from the “rest” and were surprised to find their search […]

Last month, in Indiana, United Way of Central Indiana, Light of the World Christian Church, The Expectations Project and several other community organizations brought over 500 educators, faith leaders, business leaders, and elected officials together for an Early Education Summit focused on improving and expanding early education throughout the state. The keynote speaker was none […]

In response to a recent New York Times Op-Ed, yesterday, we talked about how being an “involved parent” isn’t about simply checking a box, but rather, it’s about being engaged and interacting with our children and finding specific, creative ways to spend quality time with them. Today, as promised, we have one mom with quite the […]

We often talk about how as parents, YOU are your child’s first and most important teacher.  As a parent, you can never underestimate the power of quality time spent with your child. Yet, a recent New York Times Op-Ed from researchers Keith Robinson and Angel L. Harris suggests that parental involvement may be overrated.  We’ll be […]

  You may recall, back in October, we gave you the latest update on Virginia’s Kindergarten Readiness Project (VKRP).  (Need a refresher?  Click here.) Last fall, in partnership with The University of Virginia, we launched Phase I of VKRP, a validity study of Teaching Strategies GOLD (TS GOLD) Assessment to: Validate TS GOLD as an accurate […]

  David Letterman has his “Top 10” lists and so does U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan! Last week Secretary Duncan spoke at the National Governors Association winter meeting and shared the “Top 10 Ten Reasons Why Expanding High-Quality Early Learning Is Inevitable In The Next Few Years.”  Check them out below: 10.  Greater public awareness […]

Today, we are pleased to share with you the launch of a new initiative from ReadyNation! Ready2Go is a collection of national, state and local early education initiatives with significant business involvement. While many business leaders are passionate advocates for policy change, some also want to tackle hands-on projects that show immediate results. Ready2Go provides diverse examples […]

  In case you missed it, we wanted to make you aware of a recent Inside Business article on the excitement surrounding early education in Virginia this year, which highlights Virginia’s Kindergarten Readiness Project and The New E3 School.  Below is a small excerpt: “Early childhood education proponents are excited about 2014, citing the confluence […]

It’s no secret, in order to stay competitive in the 21st century, we need a strong, ready workforce to propel the state’s economy and ensure our competitiveness in the global marketplace.  One key is working to ensure that our students are prepared for both college and the workforce. Want to join the conversation?  As part […]