Virginia Beach has long recognized quality education as foundational for our City’s continued vitality and growth. The City has invested in early childhood education and programs to help ensure the healthy development and school readiness of our youngest residents ages 0–8 and to promote the City’s economic vitality for tomorrow.
Investing in our youngest citizens beginning at birth and continuing to do so throughout the school years makes smart economic sense—it’s workforce development. A world-class workforce begins with a world-class education system and the path to a strong education begins at birth.
The students of today are the employees of tomorrow, and they need the skills to thrive in the 21st century global economy and beyond. Our early childhood education initiatives address a two-generation workforce challenge: supporting today's workforce and preparing tomorrow's workforce.
Innovation
In 2019, Virginia Beach was one of five cities selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies to participate in a National Early Childhood Education Innovation grant to replicate the Providence Talks early language program for children ages 0–5 years.
Like Providence Talks, Virginia Beach TALKS uses LENA talk technology (“talk pedometer”), data insights to measure and improve a child’s language environment plus modeling/coaching adult caregivers.
Virginia Beach TALKS offers free early learning classes for parents.