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  I am pleased to share our 2016 Annual Report which highlights how the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) is building on the groundwork laid over the past ten years, targeting our resources and innovative approaches to help ensure optimal outcomes for Virginia’s young children. The Commonwealth’s investment in the […]

VECF Releases 2016 Annual Report

  During a school launch event Wednesday, Virginia Education Secretary Anne Holton crouched on colorful carpet to help a student playing with stacking toys. The preschool boy struggled to pull apart the ridged pieces because he couldn’t figure out how they latched. “You just have to investigate,” Holton said. They […]

Virginia Education Secretary in Norfolk to advocate for early education

  It’s not a hotel or a restaurant, but Randolph College Nursery School is one of the first in the state to be awarded five stars under the Virginia Star Quality Initiative, a state public-private partnership designed to empower families to make more informed decisions about their children’s early education. […]

Randolph College Nursery School earns rare five-star rating with “tell ...

By Sharon Veatch As executive director of Child Care Aware of Virginia, I know firsthand how important it is that children are safe in child care. Every day, child care resource and referral staff members throughout Virginia educate parents to be good consumers of child care and to help them […]

It’s time to protect children in child care

Children use a variety of instructional techniques to teach their siblings, younger and older, about the world. “Give them the time and space to interact together, and have things in the home to promote teaching and learning, both toys and opportunities for kids to be together.” Learn more.

Siblings Teach Each Other About The World Frequently When Left ...

Tara Walker reads to son Demetrius at the Appomattox Regional Library – Hopewell to demonstrate the important role that parents and caregivers play in building a foundation for literacy and school readiness with their young children. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Library of Virginia recently partnered on the […]

Hopewell Mom Reads

Congratulations to the 1st Hopewell High School Student to receive a CDA credential! CDA Course Instructor Yolanda Satchell presents the CDA certificate to Denashia Graves, with High School Child Care Teacher Crystal Barnett. For more information on the CDA (Child Development Associates credential) go to www.cdacouncil.org.

1st Hopewell High School Student receives CDA credential

OVERALL NUMBERS FLAT, THOUGH – New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released this week reveals a stunning 43 percent decline in early childhood obesity (i.e. obesity among children ages 2-5). In 2003-04, 14 percent of children were classified as obese. By 2011-12, that number had dropped […]

EARLY CHILDHOOD OBESITY PLUMMETS

BY ZACHARY REIDRichmond Times-Dispatch Virginia ranks among the least consistent states in the country in offering instruction in elementary school reading, according to a report released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Virginia lags in offering consistent reading instruction

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Everyone likes to hear kids squeal with delight when they are opening presents, but sometimes those toys end up causing pain and misery. Last year alone, more than a quarter of a million children were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. But that doesn’t have […]

5 tips for safe toy giving