Virginia to take on publicly-subsidized preschool education by 2025

Some children go to preschool. Some do not. Often it is a question of affordability. Gov. Ralph Northam and Atif Qarni, a former Prince William County teacher whom Northam appointed as Secretary of Education, predict Virginia’s early childhood education system will look very different in five years.

Northam established the Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness with an executive order today. The team has 65 days to report back to the governor. The idea is that by 2025 all at-risk three-year-olds and four-year-olds in Virginia will have access to a publicly-subsidized care and education option.

“Inequity in early education begins in the first critical years before a child reaches kindergarten, when about 90 percent of the brain is developed,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. “This is a major step toward ensuring all children have the support they need to succeed in school and life, no matter who they are or where they live.”

The idea is that all at-risk three-year-olds and four-year-olds in Virginia will have access to a publicly-subsidized care and education option by 2025. The Team will be responsible for making recommendations to develop such a plan.

“In recent years, bipartisan work has produced positive results, yet 40 percent of Virginia children are arriving in kindergarten unprepared for success in school,” according to the governor. “Providing a quality publicly-subsidized care and education option for all underserved three- and four-year-olds is the best investment we can make in our workforce of the future.”

“Currently, over 70 percent of economically disadvantaged families with three-year-olds lack access to affordable, quality early care and education,” said First Lady Pamela Northam. “We envision a Virginia where working families are able to pursue their dreams because they have safe, dependable, and quality care for their children.”

The Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness will be co-chaired by the Chief School Readiness Officer and the Commissioner of Virginia Department of Social Services. The Team will be comprised of staff from executive branch agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Planning and Budget.

“Eliminating child care deserts and adding more options for quality early childhood care and education are critical components to supporting the health of the whole family,” added Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey, MD. “We look forward to making a major impact on the future health and well-being of tomorrow’s leaders.”