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Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam Visits GQES
Virginia first lady Pamela Northam visited local preschool students on Tuesday as part of her statewide "Back to School Tour" highlighting early childhood education. She toured Garland Quarels Elementary School preschool classrooms. Garland Quarles Elementary School Preschool Program is one of Virginias VPI Plus showcase schools. Thirteen school divisions across the state of Virginia have partnered with the Virginia Department of Education and other partner organizations to carry out the mission of VPI+. Each school division works to explore and assess how VPI+ curriculum, professional development, and assessments are best implemented in their early childhood classrooms.
First Lady Northam donated a book to every child in the preschool program at Garland Quarles Elementary on Tuesday. Northam wants to highlight early childhood education programs because 90 percent of children's brain development occurs before kindergarten. Northam is working on securing more state grant money for preschool programs such as VPI plus. Approximately $500 million is currently invested in early childhood education in Virginia. An additional $55 million will be added this year to improve child care, and early childhood programs such as VPI+ and Head Start.