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 Virginia to provide legislators comprehensive information about early education in Virginia and through their research, plans to guide and inform policy and funding decisions.
This statewide policy center will be the policy and research arm for E3. This fall, ODU will be unveiling the first State of Early Education report for the Commonwealth.
Second, Gary announced that E3 will design, build and operate a state-of–the art school that will be a beacon of the highest quality, for ALL children (lower, middle, and upper income families), and serve 104 children ages 1-5 in Norfolk’s Park Place neighborhood.
E3 is fortunate to have up to $10m in philanthropic support to make this vision come to life. The school will be a show-room of quality to serve as the catalyst to drive policy, systems change and greater public investment at the state by showing a direct link between an infusion of quality and child outcomes.
A longitudinal study, in partnership with Norfolk Public Schools and the University of Virginia, will make the case with policy makers that high quality early education can narrow the school readiness and achievement gap from kindergarten through third grade.
Norfolk City Manager, Marcus Jones looks at model of new school
We told you it was BIG!
Many thanks to ODU President John Broderick for his leadership in making the Early Childhood Policy Center a priority. And thanks to the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, the YMCA, and the Park Place Civic League for stepping up and making the school possible.
Exciting things are happening in Virginia around early education! Be sure to check back at www.e3va.org/blog for the latest updates, or you can follow us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/E3ElevateEarlyEd