RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is asking his administration to come up with a plan to improve early education efforts for low-income kids.
The governor announced a new "Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness" Wednesday made up of education, social services and budget officials he's tasked with expanding access to early education in Virginia.
Northam said he wants the team to develop a plan to make sure all kids aged 3 to 4 have access to publicly subsidized child care and education programs by 2025.
Northam said less than half of the state's low-income children are starting kindergarten each year with the appropriate literacy, math, and socio-emotional skills. Many young children from low-income families do not receive any federal, state or local aide for child care and education in Virginia.
