History

2010

QRIS: A market-driven approach to improving the level of quality in childcare

• 78 centers participating in the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS).
• Over 8,000 children impacted, to date.
• Centers rated prior to mentorship earned an average Star Rating of 2.2 and centers rated after mentorship earned an average Star Rating of 3.8.

Early Childhood Teacher Scholarships

• Total number of Smart Beginnings Scholarship program participants (Fall 2009/Spring 2010): 156
• Total Child Care Centers Represented: 40
• Total Family Child Care Centers: 5

Family Child Care Quality Improvement

• $27,500 awarded to The Planning Council to sponsor quality improvement in 10 family child care homes.
• Family child care homes have been assessed, are implementing Quality Improvement Plans and have received resources.

Child Outcome Evaluation

• The University of Virginia’s Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) is conducting the research that examines the link between child care quality and school readiness outcomes.
• Data anaysis and reporting complete by October 2010.

Early Learning Challenge Grants

• Each of the five cities offered $500,000 challenge grants to address each community’s needs and to incubate innovative solutions for children birth to age five.
• Four out of the five communities are implementing their Collaborative Action Plans.
• Cities will begin working on Year 2 proposals in September 2010.

Universal Newborn Screening and Referral

• Comissioned a study to be conducted by EVMS and CINCH to develop a single universal screening and referral service to ensure that families are connected with support and services at the time of birth.

Public Engagement

• Faithful Beginnings Interfaith Alliance has partnered with nearly 70 faith-based congregations and schools to increase awareness empower parents and advocate for greater public investment in children birth to five.
• 21,000 Kindergarten Readiness Checklists distributed as a resource for parents to help their children be ready for school created by a SBSHR taskforce made up of early care and education professionals, administrators, college and university personnel for each of the five SHR cities.
• Kindergarten Readiness Checklist Video created and distributed in Sentara hospitals, pediatricians’ offices, social services offices and libraries.
• 99 articles and opinion pieces published to date promoting the issue of early childhood education.
• Linked parents with community resources by distributing over 40,000 Community Connections Resource Guides.

2009

• Early Learning Challenge Grants made available to each of the five cities to implement Collaborative Action Plans for early childhood.
• Implemented Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) in 28 centers and 10 family childcare homes.
• Multi-media public awareness campaign launched to explain the vital link between quality and school readiness.
• School Readiness Checklist created by a regional task force to inform parents of important developmental milestones.

2008

• Career advancement lattice is adopted and implemented statewide
• Public awareness campaign materials are replicated for statewide use
• Governor Kaine announced $4.6 million in grants to fund four early learning initiatives. The Batten Educational Achievement Fund of The Norfolk Foundation provided SBSHR $4.1 million in grants and The Norfolk Foundation’s unrestricted funds will provide another $585,000 to support the initiatives.

2007

• Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads is created.
• Over 100 regional community partners launch a planning process to improve the early childhood system.
• Early childhood public awareness campaign begins.
• Launched Smart Beginnings SHR informational website.
• Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads is selected to participate in state-wide pilot of a five-star quality rating system for child care providers.
• Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Infant/Toddler Mentorship grant is awarded to improve quality of child care centers and family child care homes.
• Present a Snapshot of Early Childhood in South Hampton Roads using state and local data on children, families and child care at a regional community summit.

2006

• Implement a mentorship program which improved the quality of 28 child care centers and family child care homes impacting 361 children.
• Create and pilot a career advancement lattice for early childhood professionals.
• Create “3+ 1” Articulation Agreement between Tidewater Community College, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.
• Create a series of trainings for Professional Family Child Care and Early Education Association.

2005

• Regional early childhood coalition receives a two-year $500,000 Investing in Virginia’s Children grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services with a $250,000 cash match from The Batten Education Achievement Fund of The Norfolk Foundation.
• Complete two studies with grant funds: The Economic Impact of the Child Care and Early Education Industry in South Hampton Roads, Virginia and Who’s Caring for Our Children? A Profile of the 2005 Workforce in Licensed and Voluntarily Registered Centers and Homes in South Hampton Roads, Virginia.
• Create first edition of the Community Connections Resource Guide to direct parents and child care providers to services.

2004

• The Norfolk Foundation convenes business and community leaders to discuss ways to effectively address school readiness issues.