Ready for School. Ready for Life.
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Did you know...
Children who enter kindergarten unprepared are more likely to perform below grade level in third grade, and are unlikely to ever catch up.
Low third grade reading scores indicate future crime rates and are used when estimating future jail and prison populations.
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Did you know...
The skills we look for in workers - critical thinking, problem solving, working well with others - are all built on the foundation of those early years?
That’s why every dollar invested in early childhood education yields a return on investment between $7 and $17.
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Did you know...
Almost 90% of the brain’s development occurs before the age of 5, making these years the most critical for education and the foundation for all future learning?
Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke is a collaborative of community leaders from businesses, school systems, nonprofits and private individuals who are working together to ensure that every child in Greater Roanoke enters kindergarten with the skills needed to succeed in school and in life.
Listen to the 30 second Smart Beginnings Workforce Radio PSA
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READY FOR SCHOOL....READY FOR LIFE!
Ready children are ...
- Children who have had a variety of quality learning experiences.
- Comfortable with their peers and have positive interactions with them.
- Able to communicate and interact effectively with adults.
- Children who have their basic life needs met prior to coming to school so they can put all their energy into learning.
Is my child ready? Free Online Developmental Screening for children ages birth-5.
Star Rated Sites in Roanoke
Click on the MAP to view locations & a list of current star rated programs in the Roanoke Valley. To access specific star rating information for all rated programs, visit the state's VSQI website at www.smartbeginnings.org
What does high quality early education look like? (Click to download checklist)
If you would like more information about the Virginia Star Quality Initiative in Roanoke, please call 540.777.4211, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Early childhood education is critical to our community's future economic well being. It's a question of pay-now or pay-later. Research indicates that if children are prepared when they start school and reading on grade level in their early years, they're far more likely to stay on track and finish school rather than become a costly drain on the community's social service system. Those who finish school are much more likely to become contributing members of our workforce.
Joyce Waugh, CEcD
President, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
The United Way of Roanoke Valley serves as the fiscal agent for Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke.
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