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Did You Know?


- 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of 5.
- 78% of parents of children under 6 in South Hampton Roads work outside the home, and must find care for thier children.
- 1 in 8 children in our region arrives at kindergarten not ready.
- Children who start school behind tend to stay behind.
- Nationally, 49% of children arriving at school unprepared come from middle and upper income families.
- 18% of kindergartners held back in Virginia live in South Hampton Roads.
- Holding back a child in kindergarten adds almost $8,000 to the public cost of that child’s education.
- 3rd grade reading level is a powerful predictor: for those who fail the 3rd grade reading test, half will also fail the 5th grade.
- In fact, 62% of Virginia’s students cannot read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.
- A working, middle class family, with two young children, will spend on average 29% of their income on child care.

