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Where is the “R” in STEM?

Reading is foundational to many jobs in today’s economy, and it will be increasingly critical for the jobs that sustain our economic growth. According to an analysis by economists at Georgetown University, reading comprehension ranks third in “high intensity” use of broad skills across all occupations. A 2016 study found that workers had to be […]

Child Care Deserts

A report recently released by The Center for American Progress, “Child Care Deserts: An Analysis of Child Care Centers by ZIP Code in 8 States,” examines the location of child care centers and reveals that 42% of children under age 5 live in child care deserts. Eight states responded to the request to share administrative […]

PISA study finds U.S. students falling behind internationally in math, science and reading.

The 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) study finds American students underperforming their peers in several Asian nations. The U.S. was below the international average in math and about average in science and reading. “We’re losing ground — a troubling prospect when, in today’s knowledge-based economy, the best jobs can go anywhere in the world,” said […]

Governor McAuliffe Announces Third Round of Federal Preschool Expansion Grants

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced this week that Virginia will receive $17.5 million through the federal Preschool Expansion Grant. These funds will allow the Commonwealth to continue to serve at-risk four-year-olds in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs across the state. “Providing our children with high-quality preschool education is essential to giving every Virginia student the start he or she […]

How do U.S. students rank in Math and Science?

The Trends in Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) released yesterday provides data on mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries. The most recent TIMSS data collection was in 2015 and included students in grades 4 and 8. In TIMSS 2015, more than 60 countries and other education systems, […]

Advocacy in Education: Four Key Efforts by UVA’s Curry School of Education

The University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education is focusing on four major efforts to improve early education: 1.    Creating a First-of-Its-Kind Preschool 2.    Assessing Kindergarten Readiness Statewide 3.    Building Strategies for Early Childhood Reform Statewide in Louisiana 4.    Assessing Interactions in Kyrgyzstan’s Early Education Classrooms The US Secretary of Education, John B. King Jr., […]

Virginia’s Plan for Well-Being: Preparing Virginia’s Children to Succeed in Kindergarten.

Virginia’s Plan for Well-Being is a call to action for Virginians to create and sustain conditions that support health and well-being. The plan lays out 13 priority goals that address issues significantly impacting the health and well-being of the people of Virginia. Read more about the plan and how early education plays a role here.

How well does pre-Kindergarten prepare children for elementary school and beyond?

The results of a recent evaluation of Tennessee’s statewide pre-k program by Vanderbilt University’s Peabody Research Institute provides an opportunity to understand why some early education programs are effective and others are not. What can we learn from this study that will help to inform the practice in early education programs? The Starting Early Policy Brief is a […]

Advancing Schools’ Focus on Social and Emotional Development.

A commission convened by the Aspen Institute will kick off a multi-year endeavor next month to explore how educators, policymakers, and researchers can more thoroughly incorporate students’ social and emotional development into the work of schools. The aim of the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development is to “advance a new vision for […]

Pre-K prerequisite: Ensure that every poor child in America gets two years of preschool

In an open letter to the future President-elect, Robert Pianta,  dean of the Curry School of Education at The University of Virginia, is clear: early education should be a first-year priority. Pianta shares that the time has come to ensure that every poor preschooler in the United States is enrolled for two years of the best […]

Superintendent’s Memo: Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program Pilot

The 2016-2018 biennial state budget included funding for the continued implementation of the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP).  In 2015, over 21 school divisions participated, and, this fall, the statewide rollout of VKRP will increase to 40 school divisions. The VKRP will focus on assessing kindergartners to determine their mathematics, social, and self-regulation skills, in […]

Only a few spots left for the 2016-2017 Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program!

School Division Leaders: Space is limited for the 2016-2017 Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program! The 2014 VKRP pilot project discovered that 34 percent of children in the Commonwealth arrive at kindergarten unprepared in one or more critical learning domains (literacy, math, self-regulation, and social skills). In 2015, Virginia initiated a statewide implementation of the VKRP in […]

Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program to double participation in 2016-17!

Calling all school divisions!  UVA CASTL is recruiting school districts to participate in Virginia’s Kindergarten Readiness Project (VKRP) this fall!  See below for an announcement from UVA CASTL with all the details: In the fall 2014, sixteen school divisions partnered with UVA & E3 in piloting an expanded assessment of children’s kindergarten readiness skills, to […]

The Issue’s Been Elevated….

  ….take a look at what’s been happening in early education! BUDGET Legislative Department: Continuation of the “Money” Committees’ VPI Study The Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees shall each appoint up to five members from their respective committees to a Joint Subcommittee to provide recommendations on reforming the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI).  The Join […]

Are Virginia’s Kids On Your List This Year?

Now is the time to put Virginia’s children at the top of your list!  Last fall, 34% of Virginia’s children entered our kindergarten classrooms ready to fail.[1] Children who enter kindergarten behind their peers rarely catch up; instead the achievement and readiness gaps widen over time.  These children are more likely to fall behind grade-level […]
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