FAIRFAX FUTURES' SCHOOL READINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM

On September 15, Fairfax Futures held its 2^nd annual School Readiness Leadership Forum in McLean, Virginia. More than 100 business, government and education leaders attended the program, co-hosted and sponsored by Capital One, to hear from state and national experts about the importance of investing in young children's school readiness.

"When things get tough, it's important to push harder," Katherine Busser, executive vice president at Capital One, told colleagues. 

In her keynote presentation, Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now, told forum participants that 32 states have increased spending on preschool education, a trend that reflects growing recognition of the need to invest in human capital. Doggett stressed the critical role of business and political leadership in promoting early education. Her organization collaborates with advocates and policymakers nationwide to lead a movement for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. www.preknow.org

Conversation with Kirp

Charlene Wheeless, vice president for communications at Raytheon IIS and chair of Fairfax Futures, noted that the business community must be equal partners in the readiness effort, investing in the workers, citizens and decision-makers of the future. Wheeless led a conversation with David Kirp, author of The Sandbox Investment, which advocates for universal, publicly funded preschool. "That which wise parents want for their children is what society should want for all children," Kirp said. He likened the current debate to one in the 1950's over free kindergarten and another in the 1880's over free high school. Today, Kirp notes, the goal should be a seamless system for children from birth through age 5, with well-trained early childhood educators, small classes, lots of parental involvement, and a well-designed curriculum.

Charlene Wheeless interviewing David Kirp

VA-MD-DC Panel

Rebecca Cooper of WJLA-TV/ABC-7 moderated a panel of education leaders from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, including Virginia Secretary of Education, Tom Morris. Morris described the ways in which Virginia is building on recommendations made by the Start Strong Council, chaired by Capital One's Katherine Busser. Gov. Tim Kaine created this working group to explore the benefits of, and options for, providing high-quality preschool to 4-year-olds in Virginia. Recently, the state's School Readiness Task Force issued a definition of school readiness for children, families, schools and communities. Morris credited bipartisan support in the state legislature for a $22 million increase in education programs for at-risk 4-year-olds.

Rolf Grafwallner, Maryland's assistant state superintendent of education, noted that a 2002 state law requiring all school systems in Maryland to provide either full- or half-day pre-kindergarten has resulted in a huge increase in the number of children served. He added that child care teachers are part of the state's credentialing program. Assessments of Maryland kindergarteners' school readiness indicate that this year's students are better prepared than any in the past.

Deborah Gist, superintendent of education for the District of Columbia, also stressed the importance of school readiness and cited community support for early childhood education. Recent legislation sets a goal of providing pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year olds by increasing classroom capacity by 15 percent per year until universal access for all District children is achieved.
 

top of page