Meet the Partners - Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program

Partners

The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) is a partnership between several organizations. Each partner brings a unique set of expertise that makes VKRP possible.

The Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL)

The Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development is an interdisciplinary center that provides leadership on effective teaching and learning through scientific study in educational settings from infancy to higher education. VKRP is implemented by a CASTL team of early childhood education researchers and specialists.

Virginia Department of Education

The mission of Virginia’s public education system is to lead and facilitate the development and implementation of a quality public education system that meets the needs of Virginia’s students and assists them in becoming educated, productive, responsible, and self-reliant citizens. VDOE helps prepare all children for kindergarten by supporting birth to five programming. Quality early learning experiences are an essential element to preparing children to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. The VDOE provides oversight and guidance to CASTL in their implementation of VKRP to help ensure that this initiative is useful for teachers, principals, and school division leaders.

Phonological Awareness Screening (PALS)

PALS provides a screening and diagnostic assessment of students’ literacy skills. Since 2015, VKRP has worked closely with the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) to provide an integrated online assessment system for teachers, administrators and division leaders. All VKRP assessments and resources are accessible via the PALS website using teachers’ and administrators’ PALS login information.

Elevate Early Education

The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) was initiated by Elevate Early Education (E3), a statewide bipartisan issue-advocacy organization dedicated to early childhood education, in partnership with CASTL and with guidance from the Virginia Department of Education. E3 secured funding for phases I and II of VKRP through public and private investments.

Participating Virginia School Divisions

As of the 2019-2020 school year, all Virginia school divisions use VKRP. The development of VKRP was supported by a number of divisions across the state, who volunteered to pilot the measures, reports, resources, and online system and provided valuable feedback that was incorporated into the system.