NORFOLK, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin yesterday donated a quarter of the Governor's salary to The New E3 School in Norfolk, Virginia. The Governor and First Lady have pledged to donate the entirety of the gubernatorial annual salary to nonprofit organizations doing great work across Virginia and today they are preserving that promise.
"I am proud to support The New E3 School in its mission to uplift Virginia's students with a strong foundation for learning," said Governor Glenn Youngkin. "E3's commitment to early education, innovative curricula, and giving all students the opportunity for an excellent education is remarkable. This administration remains wholly committed to equipping every young Virginian with the tools they need to succeed and uplifting key partners like E3."
"As we build up the next generation of Virginia's families and workforce, literacy is an essential competency. The addition of the Lisa Robertson Literacy Lab and Library underscores the New E3 School's commitment to high quality education and lifting up every student," said First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin. "The New E3 School is a model for all, demonstrating clearly that high quality education and social involvement makes a difference."
"Too many of Virginia's children cannot read proficiently by third grade. The first eight years are a critical time in language and literacy development. The Governor, First Lady and General Assembly have made literacy a top priority to help every child read. E3 is grateful for that commitment, and we look forward to our continued partnership." said President and CEO of E3:Elevate Early Education and The New E3 School, Lisa Howard.
The decision to donate the second-quarter gubernatorial salary to The New E3 School reinforces the Governor and First Lady's commitment to getting Virginia's youngest learners back on track. The $43,750 donation to the New E3 School will help fund the Lisa Robertson Literacy Lab and Library, support tuition costs for students in need, and help fund scholarships for students currently on The New E3 School's waitlist.
Their donation was matched by the Robertson Family Foundation in honor of the late Lisa Robertson, a founding board member and active volunteer at E3:Elevate Early Education and The New E3 School, to create the Lisa Robertson Literacy Lab and Library. Together these donations will support the Youngkin's commitment to providing access to high quality early education for all children in Virginia and bridging the literacy gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed Virginia's fourth graders recording the largest declines in reading and math in the nation, and for the first time in 30 years, falling below the national average in reading and barely above the national average in math. To combat this, the Youngkin Administration made early learning a top priority, signing the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) in 2022, one of the most comprehensive policies in the nation. Notably, the VLA ensures that teachers are trained in the science of reading by using an evidence-based curriculum and holds school systems accountable to monitor early reading progress while keeping parents aware of such assessments. In 2023, Governor Youngkin announced the ALL IN VIRGINIA campaign to complement the Virginia Literacy Act and accelerate Covid-era learning loss recovery. ALL IN VA is a three-pronged approach that implements best practice for improved attendance, literacy, and learning.
As part of their ongoing personal investment to improve education opportunities for Virginia's children, last summer the Governor and First Lady donated their third quarter salary to the Life Enrichment Center in Virginia Beach, a volunteer-based nonprofit created to help young students learn to read and become adept in using technology.
About E3:
E3:Elevate Early Education + The New E3 School raise awareness, advocate and create innovative initiatives to give children and families equitable access to high-quality early education. Our work started in 2005 as one of the first early education initiatives in Virginia. Along with our many public-private partners, we have worked together to increase equitable access to quality for thousands of children, families and early learning programs. The early years are a critical time in language and literacy development and build a strong foundation for learning. Learn more about our early literacy initiatives, the Kids Need to Read campaign and our BIG WINS for Kids at e3va.org.
Setting the standard of excellence in early education, E3 worked alongside UVA to develop the STREAMin3 curricula, training educators to focus on the five core skills (relate, regulate, think, communicate and move) and the six STREAM skills (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math) in the classroom. As demonstrated at the New E3 School, this unique curriculum and model of interactive learning has led to policy change and increased state investment, ensuring more children have access to quality education programs.
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