Read the latest on early childhood education news and Virginia Promise Partnership efforts!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
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DELIBERATIONS CONTINUE OVER STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGETS
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The General Assembly still has not approved a state budget, and it will likely be at least a few more weeks before a resolution is reached.
Since budget negotiations are ongoing, we still need your help in reaching out to budget conferees to highlight the importance of investing in Virginia's early learning system! This means urging these policymakers to include provisions that will help to increase child care access and affordability as well as stabilize the child care sector.
If you haven't done so already, please consider sending an email to these policymakers voicing your support. Click the "Contact Budget Conferees" button below to take action!
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Congress is still debating the federal budget as well. Child care is one of the key items being discussed and it’s unclear at this point whether it will be included in the final reconciliation package. For that reason, we are continuing to encourage federal lawmakers to include significant funding for early learning and child care.
We Need Your Help! Of particular importance is Senator Warner, so please send an email to his office letting him know the importance of supporting early learning and child care in the reconciliation package.
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When asked by The Hill about a reconciliation bill that just focused on inflation and deficit reduction, Senator Tim Kaine said, "I really want the workforce and child care to be a part of it."
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PROVIDER AND PARENT CORNER
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The Provider Advisory, chaired by Tammy Mann, represents child care providers throughout the Commonwealth, and are a critical part of the Virginia Promise Partnership’s (VPP) mission. They continue to meet monthly, sharing legislative updates and opportunities to engage in advocacy efforts linked to VPP’s 2030 goal.
Select members within the Advisory were recently featured in a national webinar hosted by the Alliance for Early Success which explored ways to strengthen the early care and education workforce. The Advisory has also provided feedback to the Virginia Department of Education on their plans to move into practice year two for the Virginia Quality Birth to Five effort.
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Check out our latest episode of Promise Insider! We speak with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Erik Rison and discuss why an association of businesses is advocating for child care.
Subscribe and listen today through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify to hear from experts and learn how we can give children the future they want, need and deserve!
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CALLING ALL CHILD CARE ADVOCATES!
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Check out these upcoming events and chances to say thank you to our rockstar child care providers and teachers!
- Provider Appreciation Day
- Provider Appreciation Day is on Friday, May 6 and we are excited to recognize our child care providers for all of their hard work! We created a social media toolkit that includes graphics, suggested social media posts and a video to share on social media channels. The toolkit is available HERE and we hope you will join us in highlighting our child care providers!
- 2022 Teacher Appreciation Week
- Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6 with Teacher Appreciation Day on May 5. Join us in celebrating our early educators by showing your support on social media using #TeacherAppreciationWeek.
- Virginia Promise Partnership and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) Advocacy Training Event
- In partnership with SCAN, VPP will be hosting an advocacy training event via zoom on Wednesday, May 11 from 12:00pm until 1:00pm. The training will focus on harnessing the media as a tool for advocacy and is geared to help grow your confidence engaging with media online and in your local community.
- Interested in participating? Register HERE!
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APRIL SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS
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Governor Glenn Youngkin declared April as Arab American Heritage Month and encouraged Virginians to celebrate the contributions Arab Americans continue to make in the Commonwealth. We celebrated Delegate Sam Rasoul, an Arab American legislator who sponsored HB 879. Thank you, Delegate Rasoul!
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April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. This is a time to celebrate military children and recognize their sacrifice and role as a part of a military family. The Virginia Promise Partnership supported HB 994 (Delegate Emily Brewer) and SB 529 (Senator Bryce Reeves) which passed and requires the Board of Education to see if current regulations can be changed to allow all active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, who serve as caregivers to dependents, to apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program. It is important that we provide child care support to the men and women serving our country and their families.
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Richmond, VA 23229
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