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Voices is a key player in educating legislators and the public about the importance of ensuring that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn. Voices co-leads the Public Engagement Work Group of Virginia's comprehensive early childhood initiative, called Virginia's Plan for Smart Beginnings. Voices also created and leads the statewide Coalition for Early Childhood Education (CECE). During 2009, Voices will be working with partners to Establish a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), a research-based tool for measuring and promoting the quality of early childhood programs. SUCCESSES In 2006, Voices worked with key partners to successfully advocate for an increase in the per-child funding for Virginia’s targeted pre-K program from, $5400 to $5700. This marked the first increase since the program’s inception eleven years ago. During 2008, Voices co-led the campaign to foster public and legislative support for the governor's initiative to expand pre-k programs for at-risk 4-year-olds. In response to effective advocacy, legislators allocated funding so that an additional 7,000 low-income four year olds will now have access to quality preschool. They will enter kindergarten ready to succeed, have fewer grade retentions or special education placements, and eventually have higher graduation rates and lower rates of crime and welfare enrollment. EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
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