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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 […]

Today, President of Regent University and Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads board member Dr. Carlos Campo spoke to CBN News about President Obama’s early education agenda. According to Dr. Campo, “Students who are engaged early on, teacher focused, good instruction going on, will do better later on.” He also states that, “I would like to see this […]

In case you missed last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama focused a lot on his plans for early education. In his speech, President Obama acknowledged the critical role early education plays in a child’s life and the need to invest in better education early. During his speech, the President reaffirmed the fact […]

  Last week, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick released his 2014 budget recommendations, which included overwhelming support for early education. Governor Patrick cited the importance of early literacy noting, “Third grade literacy is widely regarded as one of the most significant milestones in a child’s academic career, and it is an important predictor of future academic success.”  […]

Virginia Beach’s early education initiative, GrowSmart, has been receiving state and national recognition due to their strong alignment between early education and economic development.  Below are some highlights from their most recent newsletter that we wanted to share with you, including a recent presentation from E3:Elevate Early Education’s founding chair, Gary McCollum: Creating a Competitive Workforce […]

In case you missed it, Virginia House Majority Leader, Kirk Cox, had an op-ed in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch regarding the proposed K-12 reforms. “By most accounts, Virginia’s education system is one of the best in the country. While this was good enough for past generations, our children must now be ready to compete on the […]

  Last week, The Virginian-Pilot published an article highlighting the innovation and vision of Virginia Beach Superintendent, Jim Merrill.  Not only has Merrill been named Virginia’s superintendent of the year and is currently competing for the national title, but around the country, others are noticing his forward thinking and wanting to take note. The Hewlett […]

Yesterday, Student’s First released their first-ever State Policy report cards.  So, how did Virginia do? Let’s put it this way: they left some room for improvement, giving Virginia a D- and landing the Commonwealth in 26th place. Click the report card below for the full report:   But don’t despair, there is a bright side!  […]

  This afternoon, Governor McDonnell rolled out additional elements of his K-12 agenda, including his support of Kindergarten Readiness through the development and piloting of a kindergarten readiness assessment tool.  The development of such an assessment will allow for a better understanding of the range of skills children have as they enter kindergarten and progress […]