Early Childhood Education Dashboard

For in-depth information on Early Childhood Education and its impact, please visit the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program website. 

Problem:

Planning District 10, including Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Louisa County, and Nelson County, faces challenges in kindergarten readiness across various domains (literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, social skills) and in staffing early childhood education classrooms. These issues are compounded by insufficient pay, a shortage of available childcare slots, and a gap between the number of highly qualified early childhood educators needed and those currently working in the field.

Inputs:

1. Kindergarten Readiness Data: Collection and analysis of readiness rates in overall literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills across Planning District 10.
2. Professional Development: Implementation of focused training programs to enhance teacher competencies in literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills, and move them up and/or across the career lattice.
3. Family and Community Support: Programs aimed at increasing family engagement in early childhood education to bolster readiness in key areas.
4. Resource Allocation: Provision of educational materials and resources to improve classroom instruction and student engagement.
5. Salary and Compensation: Advocacy for and implementation of higher pay rates to attract and retain early childhood educators.
6. Workforce Development: Initiatives to close the gap between the number of qualified educators needed and those currently in the field through recruitment, training, and certification programs.
7. Childcare Capacity Expansion: Efforts to increase the number of available and affordable childcare slots through partnerships with local institutions and community organizations.

Outputs:

1. Kindergarten Readiness Assessments Conducted: Regular evaluations of children's readiness in literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills, guiding targeted interventions.
2. Professional Development Delivered: Ongoing workshops and training sessions have been held, equipping educators with better tools and strategies to address readiness in the key domains, and move up and across the career lattice.
3. Family Engagement Programs Launched: Initiatives have been implemented to involve parents and caregivers more deeply in their children's early education, supporting readiness in critical areas.
4. Educational Resources Distributed: Schools and childcare centers have received additional materials and resources to enhance teaching and learning.
5. Increased Educator Pay: Adjustments to pay scales have been made, making early childhood education roles more attractive and sustainable.
6. Recruitment and Training Initiatives Launched: Recruitment campaigns and certification programs have been initiated to bring more qualified educators into the field.
7. Expanded Childcare Slots: The number of available and affordable childcare slots has increased through collaboration with local organizations and educational institutions.

Eventual Outcomes:

1. Improved Kindergarten Readiness Rates: Higher overall rates of kindergarten readiness in Planning District 10, particularly in literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills, leading to better long-term academic performance.
2. Stabilized and Qualified Workforce: A fully staffed early childhood education sector with highly qualified educators who are adequately compensated, reducing turnover and improving educational quality.
3. Increased Access to Quality Early Education: Sufficient availability of childcare slots ensures that all children in Planning District 10 have access to quality early childhood education, promoting positive outcomes across the region.

Early Childhood Education Key Metrics to Measure

1. Kindergarten Readiness amongst children in Charlottesville City and Albemarle County.

What are the rates of Kindergarten Readiness in Planning District 10; which includes Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, Fluvanna County, Green County, Louisa County, and Nelson County?

• Overall
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Self-Regulation
• Social Skills

 

Spring 2024 Kindergarten Readiness Data for Blue Ridge Health District

Note 1. Assessment is considered complete if a student has a standard, submitted in-person or remote PALS (Literacy), English in-person or remote EMAS (Math), and CBRS (Self-Regulation and Social Skills) assessment. Students who are exempted or assessed in a non-standard or Spanish format are not included in these estimates.
⁺Division piloted the Virginia Language & Literacy Screener (VALLS) in Kindergarten in spring of 2024 and therefore does not have overall or literacy readiness estimates in this table.

2. What progress is being made to improve the conditions necessary for staffing early childhood education classrooms in Virginia Planning District 10?

• Analysis of Current Rates of Pay
  • Data forth coming...
• Analysis of the Gap Between Slots Needed and Slots Available
  • According to Early Childhood Education Implementation Group Projecting Childcare Needs for Virginia Planning District 10 Jones-Lewis and Borgman (2024), Planning District 10 is experiencing steady population growth, with significant increases expected by 2030. Albemarle County and Charlottesville City are projected to see the largest increases. The total number of children aged 0–63 months in Planning District 10 is estimated at 14,105 by 2030, necessitating a substantial increase in qualified educators.
  • The Virginia Infant and Toddler Gap Analysis Report by Franko and Murphy (2023) provides a comprehensive examination of the gaps in early childhood services for infants and toddlers in Virginia. 
• Analysis of the Gap Between Highly Qualified Early Childhood Educators Needed and those Currently Working in the Field
  • Projections in the Early Childhood Education Implementation Group Projecting Childcare Needs for Virginia Planning District 10 suggest a need for approximately 835 – 1,004 early childhood education teachers by 2030. (Jones-Lewis, and Borgman, 2024).

 

Legend

Early Childhood Education Implementation Progress

Recommendation Winter 2024 Stage Time Period Expand placement and retention of early childhood educators E Long Appropriate compensation of early childhood educators E Long Improve early educational experiences for students with special needs E Long Improve early educational experiences for dual language learners E Long Improve early educational experiences for children E Long Improve early educational experiences for children E Long

Resources:

The Virginia Infant and Toddler Gap Analysis Report by Franko and Murphy (2023) provides a comprehensive examination of the gaps in early childhood services for infants and toddlers in Virginia. The report, commissioned by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, offers detailed insights into the disparities in access to and quality of early childhood care and education. It identifies critical areas where there is a lack of sufficient resources and services, particularly for low-income communities. This analysis is essential for policymakers, educators, and advocates as it provides data-driven recommendations for addressing these gaps and improving outcomes for young children

The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Annual Report, prepared by the University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education, provides a comprehensive overview of the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) for the 2022-2023 school year. It is directed towards the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and discusses key findings, policy implications, and recommendations to improve kindergarten readiness in Virginia. The report highlights the importance of early childhood education and presents data-driven insights that can guide legislative and educational stakeholders in making informed decisions. The report is essential for understanding current challenges and strategies in enhancing early childhood education in the state. 

The VKRP Snapshot: Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program Fall 2023 is a concise infographic prepared by the University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) and the Virginia Department of Education. This document provides an overview of the fall 2023 assessments of kindergarten readiness across Virginia. It highlights key metrics such as literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills, offering valuable insights into the preparedness of children entering kindergarten. The snapshot is essential for families, educators, policymakers, and researchers aiming to understand and improve early childhood education outcomes. 

Early Childhood Education Implementation Group Quarterly Update - December 2024

Accomplishments: 

• Created a map of local organizations and efforts in the Early Childhood space 

• Compiled by Dr. Sherica Jones-Lewis, Naomi Shumpert, Jessica Harris, and Dr. Corey Borgman, this report catalogs existing ECE initiatives (including funders, programs, higher ed, and supporting community organizations), identifying alignments, overlaps, and gaps amongst current ECE efforts.  
   

Ongoing Initiatives:  

• Monthly Meeting 

• The ECE Implementation Group continues to meet monthly to discuss upcoming plans and work around ECE initiatives 

• Collaboration with Piedmont Housing Alliance 

• Ongoing meetings with PHA to understand community need, available physical space, and to support planning for embedded ECE programming 

• Facilitated meeting between PHA and Bezos Academy to explore potential partnership 

• Providing resources and support to childcare planning at Hickory Hope  

• United Way of Greater Charlottesville is leading a group of partners and is applying December 2024 for the Head Start grant with subgrants anticipated to the partners including Albemarle County Public School System, Charlottesville City Public School System and ReadyKids. 

• Group is working to reinstate lost Head Start grant, beginning with needs assessments 
   

Upcoming Milestones:  

• UVA Family Support Collab reviews RFP submissions. 

• Selection announcement expected before January 1st. 

• Ongoing meetings  

• The group will continue to meet regularly to move forward recommendations.