Thursday, December 08, 2011
Editorial: Don't abandon Virginia's investment in early learning
Gov. Bob McDonnell should reject a recommendation to eliminate state support for the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.
From the RoundTable blog
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Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to build his legacy on job creation. But his vision cannot become a reality without a qualified workforce to fill the high-paying, high-tech jobs he hopes to attract to Virginia.
Business leaders understand that connection. That's why so many of the commonwealth's corporate executives and small business owners give time, money and enthusiasm to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and its 29 local and regional coalitions, including Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke and Smart Beginnings New River Valley.
Virginia has been a valuable partner in the initiative, which works to ensure that young children walk into their kindergarten classrooms ready to learn. But as McDonnell puts the final touches on his budget proposal, he is considering a recommendation from the Virginia Department of Social Services to eliminate state support for the program.
The governor should reject that short-sighted advice and renew his commitment to this vital program. He admittedly faces a difficult task as he attempts to extract new savings from a state government that has already been stripped of all but the barest necessities. But the foundation's share of the current state budget is just $1.5 million a year, a tiny mite in a spending plan that tops $16 billion a year.
The foundation has turned that mite into a mighty force by leveraging state aid with corporate and federal support. The money is funneled into grants to new regional coalitions for need assessments, planning and start-up costs. In turn, the local groups match the grants with still more gifts from businesses and community organizations. For every state dollar collected, the foundation and its affiliates raise $4, according to Thomas Chewning, chairman of the foundation board and a retired executive with Dominion Resources.
The foundation also continues to build on the Star Quality Initiative, a quality rating system for private child care providers. Under pilot projects operating in 17 areas, including Roanoke and the New River Valley, providers can volunteer to be evaluated based on state standards that include guidelines for teacher education and training.
The ratings are less a competition than a method for providers to identify and rectify deficiencies in their programs. As the initiative expands, it will grow in value for parents who need tools to make good decisions about their children's care. Ultimately, the project promises to improve the overall quality of child care and early education in the commonwealth.
Eary childhood programs have always enjoyed bipartisan support in Virginia. Former Republican Gov. George Allen instituted the state's preschool program in 1995. Former Democratic Gov. Mark Warner launched the early childhood foundation. Former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine increased funding for pre-kindergarten.
Kaine's push for universal pre-K access was stymied by financial distress that lingers in the commonwealth to this day. McDonnell cannot entertain even a faint hope of realizing that goal this year. But he can make sure that Virginia doesn't abandon the public-private partnership that serves as the chief catalyst for continued progress on childhood development. The investment he makes has a guaranteed pay-off in academic success for Virginia's children and economic prosperity for the commonwealth.
