Our blog

  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 […]

Last week in The Daily Press, Aubrey L. Layne, Jr., president of An Achievable Dream, wrote a compelling Op-Ed piece on a best practice model, homegrown in Newport News, Virginia to break the cycle of poverty.  This public-private partnership provides a results-oriented approach to eliminating the achievement gap. Research tells us that the gap begins […]

Last week, Chesapeake’s “R U READY?” hosted an Early Education Business Forum for business, civic and philanthropic leaders.  Stephen Wright, Director of Economic Development, shared with the group why businesses need to get involved in improving early education.  Wright emphasized how in order to stay a city that attracts and retains quality businesses, we need […]

A few weeks ago, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released their annual “The State Of Preschool” report and found that funding per-student for preschool had reached its lowest point in a decade. NPR’s Michel Martin sat down with NIEER’s director, Steve Barnett to talk about this discouraging trend. When asked about the […]

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  released a new regulation for public comment to ensure children’s health and safety in child care and promote school readiness.  The proposed rule would only impact child care providers who accept funding from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). The regulations propose long overdue […]

Last week on PBS, John Legend hosted a show on the importance of teaching and learning.  The show featured leading advocates in the education arena including Geoffrey Canada, Bill Gates, Rita F. Pierson and Sir Ken Robinson. One of our favorite lines? ”America cannot wait another 50 years to get this right. We have run […]

  Happy Mother’s Day!  Moms, as a parent, you truly are your child’s first and most important teacher.  For a little extra support, we have a special treat for you. Today, we want you to be the first to see our new parent guide! In it, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to arm you with […]

We all know that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, but for children in child care centers, preschool, kindergarten and beyond, no one can argue the critical role teachers play in our children’s lives.  It is important to acknowledge and thank the teachers around Virginia that have gone above and beyond in […]

In case you missed it, CBS Evening News recently ran a story on Educare, an early education program dedicated to providing high quality education to low-income children, creating the foundation for successful learning.  And their efforts are paying off—children in Educare schools are entering kindergarten equally as prepared as their middle-income peers. The story spotlights […]

We’ve mentioned Governor McDonnell’s All Students Initiative before, but thought you might like to see their latest video on what Virginia is doing to make sure that ALL students have the best opportunity to learn:   Click here to learn more about All Students.

  What do Michigan CEOs, a Republican senator, and $140M have in common?  That was the question recently posed by Michigan Radio’s State of Opportunity in a recent story. The answer?  Preschool. In Michigan, the business community is starting to take note of the importance of investing in early education as a means to grow […]

When it comes to advocating for early education, few have voiced so much support for the early years as Nobel Laureate and economics professor, Dr. James Heckman. “Investing in early childhood development—in the early formation of skills that produce valuable and productive individuals—is one of the smartest ways to create a better economy and stronger […]

In case you missed it, we wanted to update you on two exciting ways E3 was highlighted last week: Last week, our chairman, Gary McCollum, was inducted into the Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame which recognizes individuals in the community who have shown excellence in business, leadership, courageous thinking, and community involvement.  Proceeds from […]

With new media on the rise, connecting with people and organizations has never been easier.  One of our favorite Facebook friends (and organizations) is the First Five Years Fund. This month, they’ve been featuring governors, both democrats and republicans, voicing their support for the early years in their annual State of the State addresses.  Check […]

Wonderful Distinction Magazine piece on E3’s very own President & CEO Lisa Howard and two other education visionaries, Chuck McPhillips and Walter Segaloff, detailing how these three different people each set goals to strengthen education and improve their communities. “You don’t keep doing business the same way if you want different results, but we keep […]