GrowSmart 2020

Desired Outcome

As a community, we prioritize our youngest citizens and work to ensure their healthy physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. We recognize the importance of the first eight years of life, both to an individual’s future prospects and to our city’s economic vitality and quality of life. There is alignment of resources and services for an early childhood coordinated system to ensure all children meet developmental milestones. Families have the knowledge, skills and abilities to support their children’s healthy development in all areas and at all stages of life, from pre-natal to eight years of age. All children in our community have access to high-quality childcare and early education and enter kindergarten ready to learn. All children in Virginia Beach City Public Schools have the opportunity to attend a kindergarten program that spans the length of the traditional school day. Virginia Beach GrowSmart collaborative partners have a strong mutual partnership and work together to ensure all children are born healthy, begin school ready to learn and read at or above grade level by third grade. The Virginia Beach business community recognizes the importance of early childhood education and development for the economic growth of our city. Members of the business community actively support Virginia Beach GrowSmart’s efforts and help to ensure its financial sustainability.

Strategic Goals

Strategy Goal #1

We collaborate with community partners to ensure all children have access to high-quality childcare and early education.

Strategy Goal #2

We collaborate with community partners to ensure all children in our City enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Strategy Goal #3

Virginia Beach GrowSmart, Virginia Beach Public Libraries, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Parks and Recreation, United Way and other community partners have a strong mutual partnership and work together to ensure all children read at or above grade level by third grade utilizing the main pillars of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading.

Strategy Goal #4

We collaborate with community partners to ensure all families have the knowledge, skills and abilities to support their children’s healthy physical, social-emotional and cognitive development at all stages from pre-natal to eight years of age.

Strategy Goal #5

We ensure alignment of resources and services for an early childhood coordinated system to ensure all children in Virginia Beach meet developmental milestones.

Strategy Goal #6

We connect with the private sector so that the Virginia Beach business community recognizes the importance of early childhood education and development for the economic growth of our city, actively supports Virginia Beach GrowSmart’s efforts and helps to ensure its financial sustainability.