What is the best purpose for VECF?
What outcomes do we an9cipate and want? How can these best be achieved, measured and communicated?
What is our rela9onship with Smart Beginnings coali9ons? What value does VECF bring for coali9ons at various stages? How do we want coali9ons to view VECF? What is our formula for grantmaking and technical assistance?
What should the next phase of VECF’s evolu9on look like? What do we want to be when we grow up?
Every Virginia child is prepared for school, laying the founda9on for workforce and life success.
Virginia Early Childhood Founda9on is the non-‐par9san steward and capacity-‐builder for
in the Commonwealth.
advancing school readiness
STRATEGIES
Focus Partnerships Results
VECF will spearhead Virginia’s roadmap to school readiness to § inform policy and budget decisions,
§ provide research-‐based exper9se, and § nurture innova9on
VECF will develop & promote a business plan for school readiness. VECF will regularly assert and rank priori9es for investment.
VECF will engage state advocates to be informed by their experiences yet preserve objec9ve perspec9ve for the vision.
VECF will drive research and resources to help local coali9ons implement evidence-‐based prac9ces, uniform data collec9on, and evalua9on. VECF will convene a research/academic advisory team. VECF will conduct/sponsor research as needed and report findings.
VECF will serve as venture capitalist for EC, using local coali9ons as incubators of innova9on.
VECF will forge public and private partnerships that: § build capacity for increasing school readiness at the state and local levels § harness best prac9ces § maximize resources and gain efficiencies § secure outcomes-‐driven investments.
VECF will invest in, support and cul9vate statewide partnership of coali9ons focused on innova9on, efficiencies, and results.
VECF will provide financial resources, technical assistance, and peer learning to build community capacity for promo9ng school readiness.
VECF will cul9vate new private investors and leverage public investments.
VECF will build support for early childhood investment by using poli9cal assets strategically to accomplish specific goals.
Grassroots Strategy Coordinate SB network’s cul9va9on of legislators: -‐ show beacons of hope -‐ expand base of business champions -‐ unify consistent message -‐ translate messages for different audiences
Grasstops Strategy Cul9vate rela9onships with elected officials: -‐ Governor and administra9on officials -‐ Key Legisla9ve CommiTee members and staff -‐ Gubernatorial candidates
VECF will § set clear and consistent performance measures for school readiness, § document gains and efficiencies, § regularly report results and priori9ze recommenda9ons based on rigorous evalua9on.
VECF will iden9fy and track school readiness indicators at the child, family, school and community levels.
VECF will create consistent measure of kindergarten readiness statewide.
VECF will conduct cost benefit studies as relevant.
VECF will document outcomes, improvements and efficiencies created through SB work.
VECF will produce community “snapshots” to highlight school readiness indicators, community context, and Smart Beginnings efforts.
VECF will submit annual outcomes report to Governor, General Assembly.
VECF will convene annual mee9ngs of Smart Beginnings network.
§ Vibrant alliance/partnership § Coali9on centered model § Sustainable regional clusters § Innova9on driver § Results focused § Uniform outcome and data collec9on § Collabora9ve resource development for public and private investment § Robust, targeted technical assistance and peer-‐learning § Consistent, uniform messaging for SB network
Improving outcomes for children by advancing and measuring school readiness in Virginia.