Ready for School Ready for Life

1. Ready for School Ready for Life Speakers’ Bureau 2010

2. FACTS In South Hampton Roads, 12% of children enter kindergarten NOT ready A child that enters kindergarten behind all too often: remains behind throughout school and into life becomes a financial burden on our society will not be part of the highly-skilled workforce we need to compete in the 21st century

3. FACTS Nationally, 49% of children who do not know their alphabet when they enter kindergarten are from middle class or higher (Pre-K Now) Lack of school readiness is not a class issue High-quality early care and education rivals the cost of college tuition

4. “Middle-Class Pinch” Average Monthly Expenses for a Middle-Class Family of 4 with 2 Young Children (infant/preschooler)

5. FACTS 90% of brain growth happens by the age of 5 High-quality early care and education is linked to future success- 16% annual return on investment 25% of all Kindergarteners retained in VA live here in South Hampton Roads Virginia’s investment to date in early childhood has been minimal

6. Brain Growth Versus Investment

7. SOLUTION High quality care and education for all of Virginia’s youngest citizens, ages birth to 5 Early care and education is an essential part of our overall educational system Should not be thought of as an add-on program for “those children” but as necessary for ALL children

8. Early Childhood Development System Early care and education opportunities in nurturing environments where children can learn what they need to succeed in school and life. Comprehensive health services that meet children’s vision, hearing, nutrition, behavioral, and oral health as well as medical health needs. Early Learning Health, Mental Health and Nutrition Family Support Early identification, assessment and appropriate services for children with special health care needs, disabilities, or developmental delays Special Needs/ Early Intervention Economic and parenting supports to ensure children have nurturing and stable relationships with caring adults.

9. HOW IT ALL STARTED… • A non-profit created by business and community leaders to address the issue of school readiness in South Hampton Roads • Awarded $500k state grant that required $250k cash match to jumpstart our work • Vision: All children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life

10. OUR ROLE: Maximize the potential of every child in our region and ensure access to high-quality early education by: • Raising awareness about the importance of the early years • Advocating for greater public-private investment in our youngest citizens • Working with the five communities of SHR to improve the current system

11. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Suzanne Puryear Lisa Robertson Dr. Robert Rubin Dr. Alvin Schexnider Bert Schmidt Marcy Sims Lisa Smith Dr. David Stuckwisch Dr. Nancy Welch Carole Whitener Harry Young Paul O. Hirschbiel Jr. (Chairman) Jane Batten (Vice Chair) Lisa Howard (Secretary) Jim Metzger (Treasurer) David Bernd Barry Bishop Bruce Bradley Dr. Fran Butterfoss Jim Dahling Dr. Deborah DiCroce Chuck Harris Mike Hughes Tommy Johnson Rusty Jordan Jr. Dr. Katharine Kersey Mary Louis LeHew Angelica Light Gary McCollum Dr. Juan Montero Dr. Lydia Patton

12. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS: • Led development of action plans to improve early childhood systems in the five communities • Launched a two-year regional multi-media public awareness campaign : - Raise awareness on the current state of early childhood and the importance of 0-5 - Build groundswell and army of advocates - Position SBSHR as resource for parents - Gifted campaign to statewide coalitions

13. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS: • Piloted quality rating improvement system (QRIS): - Market-driven approach to increase quality and improve consumer awareness - Consumer Reports of child care for parents - Creates consistent early learning standards in the state - Measures five areas: teacher qualifications, interactions, structural components, learning environment and family partnerships

14. WHAT’S NEXT? • SBSHR received $4.6m in grants to fund four new initiatives to help children arrive at school prepared for success • The Batten Educational Achievement Fund of The Norfolk Foundation provided $4.1m in grants • The Norfolk Foundation’s unrestricted funds provided another $585k to support the QRIS

15. WHAT’S NEXT? Early Learning Challenge Grants • $2.5m invested through The Batten Educational Achievement Fund of The Norfolk Foundation • Each of the five communities have the opportunity to apply for $500k over 5 years in matching grants to implement action plans • Early Learning Council formed in each community

16. WHAT’S NEXT? Quality Improvement Initiative • Over $1m invested over two years • Implement Virginia’s QRIS in 28 centers • Implement quality improvement initiative in 10 family child care homes • Participants can receive scholarships, mentorship for quality improvement, early learning materials and facility upgrades • Child outcome assessment conducted to link quality with readiness of children

17. WHAT’S NEXT? Launch multi-media public awareness campaign in September 2009 • Introduce QRIS • Link quality childcare and school readiness • Drive parent demand for QRIS-rated facilities • Spread message through print, television, internet and billboards

18. WHAT’S NEXT? Universal Newborn Screening Tool and Referral Service • Reach all parents at time of their child’s birth • Develop screening/referral service for families • Support the health and development of all young children from the start • Partner with EVMS /CINCH as the “action arm” to look at the current system

19. WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Adopt-A-Center to sponsor quality improvements • Join forces with Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads to advocate for public support of a strong early education system • Influence public policy and action to increase public investment to ensure a smart beginning for all children • Work with your community to implement action plan • Examine family-friendly business practices