Our blog

In The News: Teaching children when it matters most

E3’s Chairman, Gary McCollum, had an Op-Ed featured in today’s Virginian-Pilot on the importance of early education and Old Dominion University’s new Virginia Early Childhood Policy Center.  Read an excerpt below:   …While our traditional views and approaches might have been successful in the past, a startling truth has emerged: Our students and our future […]

I’m The Guy You Pay Later

A new report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids features Sheriffs, Chiefs and Prosecutors urging America to Cut Crime by investing in high-quality early education.  As Sheriff Leroy Baca states, “Pay for quality early education and care now, or pay far more for the costs of crime in the decades to come.” Did you know […]

E3 to launch multimillion-dollar early ed center

  In case you missed it, check out the latest Inside Business article regarding Monday night’s big announcement about The E3 School.  Here’s a short excerpt: The center, to be called The E3 School LLC, will sit near the YMCA on Granby Street and will use up to $10 million in philanthropic support. By demonstrating […]

Two Big Announcements–Be The First To Know!

As we alluded to yesterday, E3 Board Chair, Gary McCollum, was on-hand last night at Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads’ “Mix & Mingle” event with not one, but TWO exciting announcements! First, he announced the the creation of the first-in-the-state Early Childhood Policy Center at Old Dominion University.  The Center will be the hub in […]

E3: Elevate Early Education on Virginia Conversations

Last Friday, Gary McCollum and Lisa Howard were featured on Virginia Conversations talking with May-Lily Lee about early education, dropout rates, and our future workforce. Want to listen?  Click here to check it out!

In The News: Big Announcements Are Coming…

In case you missed it, Inside Business published an article on E3: Elevate Early Education regarding two big announcements that we plan to unveil tonight. While we can’t tell you quite yet, here are two clues: One involves a multimillion dollar project. The other, involves a partnership with Old Dominion University Check back tomorrow to […]

Strong Bipartisan Support For Early Education

Last week, a new poll was released, which suggests broad, bipartisan support for early education.  The poll was commissioned by The First Five Years Fund and surveyed 800 registered voters.  Among the results, the survey reveals: Voters place children getting a strong start in life as one of the highest priorities–above things like reducing taxes, […]

VA Chamber Legislative Report Card: How Did Your Legislator Do?

Another Virginia General Assembly Session has come to a close and with it, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce has put together their 2013 Legislative Report Card, an annual report which grades legislators based on their support of pro-business issues. Of particular interest to us was the “Excellence In Education and Workforce Training Award,” awarded to […]

E3 Featured on Cox Connections

This week, our President & CEO, Lisa Howard, was featured on Cox Connections talking about E3, early education and the achievement gap.  The show also featured a clip from Chesapeake’s recent Early Education Business Forum.  You can watch the full interview below:   Want to learn more about E3?  Click here.

In The News: Man On A Mission

  Last week, our founding chair, Gary McCollum, was featured in Virginia Business talking about E3:Elevate Early Education. Recalling his own childhood, growing up in a housing project in Richmond, Gary says, “I was a high-return kid, you invest in me, and I become a net contributor.  I create a net fiscal surplus.  But if […]

Connect2Compete: Bridging the Digital Divide

There’s a new nonprofit sweeping the nation with one clear goal: help Americans access technology through Digital Literacy training, discounted high-speed Internet, and low-cost computers.  Connect2Compete, which launched this past March, is aimed at reaching an estimated 100 million Americans without home broadband Internet access, including tens of millions of students.  Did you know that […]

New 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released

Earlier this week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book, detailing the status of children in America regarding a variety of factors including economic-well being, education, health, and family and community. Nationally, Virginia ranked 11th overall and showed decreases in the number of children not attending preschool; the number of […]

E3 Visits The Boys & Girls Club

  This afternoon, E3 went to visit The Boys & Girls Club in Richmond.  E3’s founding Board chair, Gary McCollum, encouraged the youth in attendance saying, “It isn’t where you start, but where you finish.” Gary’s first paid job was handing out towels and basketballs at the Club. It influenced the choices he made and […]

New Video From Too Small To Fail

  Last week, Too Small To Fail unveiled a new video on the importance of giving ALL of our children the tools they need to be successful.  The video shows strong bipartisan report and features Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as President George W. Bush’s former Undersecretary of Education, Sara Martinez Tucker weighing in on […]

Need A Good Book?

  Are you looking for a good book to read this summer? Check out “Improbable Scholars” by David Kirp, a nationally recognized education expert who is a Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. Kirp reveals a sensible way to rebuild public education and close the achievement gap for all students […]