The Research
When our children don’t have a strong foundation in reading, math and writing, they will struggle in K-12, higher education and the workforce. The education + workforce pipeline is broken. The first eight years of a child’s life can drastically change the trajectory for a child. Investing in quality early learning through 3rd grade benefits ALL children, families, communities and society.
The first eight years are a critical time for language and literacy development. These skills form the foundation for reading.
90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of five.
Many children lack access to books. The number of books in the home is one of the greatest predictors of a child’s success in school and life.
Third grade is a critical benchmark. Too many 3rd graders in Virginia are not passing the Reading Standard of Learning (SOL).
Children through 3rd grade are learning to read. Then they are reading to learn.
3rd graders not reading by 3rd grade are 4x more likely to drop out of school.
Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the national and state averages. The funding formula is broken.
Neighborhoods and zip codes are the strongest predictors of a person’s health and opportunities than genetics.
The Implications:
A Domino Effect
When our children fail, we all pay the price.
Whether you have young children in Virginia public schools or not, education is critical to Virginia’s economic future. Our children are tomorrow’s workforce, and they need our help today.