Virginia has expanded preschool access to thousands of children in the past year. However, the state still falls behind many others that are growing their early learning programs.
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) State of Preschool Yearbook, Virginia dropped three places to 26th in the nation for preschool access for 3-year-olds. The state held steady at 30th place for preschool access for 4-year-olds.
Last year, nearly 10,000 parents in Virginia sought early childhood care and education, mostly in the southern and central parts of the state. Virginia did increase enrollment by 824 students in its Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) and Mixed Delivery programs.
The VPI program offers free preschool to 4-year-old children. The Mixed Delivery program provides funding to private and community preschools to serve children at risk of starting school without the needed skills.
Angela Mancipe, a Chesterfield County parent, said finding a preschool spot for her eldest child during the pandemic was difficult. Long waitlists and health concerns made the process stressful. Although her son found a spot after six months, her family’s situation changed when she lost her job and became pregnant with her daughter, who also got enrolled in preschool.
To help with income, Mancipe now works part-time as an assistant teacher at her daughter’s preschool, which operates within a church daycare. She worries about losing her daughter’s spot because during their initial search, many of their calls to preschools went unanswered. Like many families, the cost of early childhood care is a constant challenge.
“It’s insane how much it costs to have your child in daycare,” Mancipe said. “We are lucky to live on one income, but paying twice our mortgage for safe, quality care and education should not be normal.”
Early Childhood Education in Virginia: A Mixed Picture
NIEER reported that state efforts helped early childhood education in the U.S. reach historic highs in the 2023-2024 school year, as programs recovered from the pandemic.
But progress varied widely. While some states increased enrollment in quality preschools, others offered little or no preschool funding. Federal COVID-19 recovery funds played a key role in supporting preschool programs and reducing inequality among states.
The report found Virginia’s VPI met five out of 10 quality standards. The Mixed Delivery programs met four out of 10. Virginia met standards such as observing student and teacher interactions, maintaining a staff-to-child ratio of 1:10 for 3- and 4-year-olds, and using development standards that are comprehensive, aligned, supported, and culturally sensitive.
However, Virginia’s programs fell short in other areas. Lead teachers are not required to have a bachelor’s degree or specialized Pre-K training. Assistant teachers do not need a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Teachers also lack required annual professional development hours, individual growth plans, and coaching.
Allison Gilbreath, senior director of policy and programs at Voices for Virginia’s Children, said the decline in preschool access is troubling. Nearly 25,000 children were enrolled in Virginia’s two preschool programs last year.
“Investing in four-year-old classrooms is important but only part of the solution,” Gilbreath said. “We need a coordinated early childhood system that supports all children from birth to age five and strengthens access and sustainability.”
Funding and Future Challenges
Lawmakers and advocates are concerned that federal funding cuts could harm early childhood programs.
Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, said, “Early childhood care lays the foundation for lifelong learning and productivity. It is an investment worth protecting and expanding.”
Bulova helped pass a budget amendment earlier this year to reduce waitlists for early childhood programs. While the amendment did not end waitlists, it cut the Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP) waitlist by 5,437 since January. The waitlist now stands at 3,278.
Mancipe appreciates legislative efforts but urges lawmakers to do more. She recommends creating stable, adequate funding to support families and providers, especially given high costs and staffing shortages.
“We are thankful for their work, but there is still a long way to go,” she said.
Legislative Session Outcomes and Unfinished Business
During this year’s short legislative session, Virginia lawmakers and Governor Glenn Youngkin approved several measures. These include plans for mental health screenings and services for children under five, clarifications on oversight for publicly funded early childhood programs, and adding a new member to the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission. This commission oversees Virginia’s birth-to-five early childhood system, known as VQB5.
Lawmakers tried to start a $25 million Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program to expand childcare access. However, Youngkin vetoed this amendment, stating the effort should begin on a smaller scale to test effectiveness.
Another failed proposal aimed to give childcare providers incentives to stay open during “nontraditional” hours. This would have helped workers with unusual schedules, such as healthcare professionals and first responders. Del. Phil Hernandez, D-Norfolk, said the bill had strong support but was blocked due to cost concerns. He plans to revisit the issue.
Other bills that did not pass would have increased funding for kindergarten readiness programs, offered free childcare to qualifying providers, and prioritized childcare workers for the subsidy program.
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, who sponsored the childcare worker retention bill, said, “As a mother, I know how hard it is to find affordable, quality childcare. We have made progress but still have work to do.”
She noted the NIEER report does not include the extra 1,000 subsidy slots lawmakers added in the biennium budget over the past two years.
