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Welcome to Fairfax Futures
Where Smart Businesses Invest in School Readiness
Greetings!
Wouldn't business planning be much easier if we could see around corners,
locate and avoid hidden obstacles and find opportunities that others don't see?
Employees' critical thinking skills can help companies navigate through uncertainty and make the most of new opportunities, and the good news is that these skills can be taught and
learned. This year's annual Business Partners' Roundtable Breakfast (see description, right) on Tuesday, May 19, will address the rationale for beginning early and continuing onward to stimulate the capacity for critical thinking as key to a ready and competitive workforce. If you haven't
already done so, please register to attend.
Also in this issue is a new report that highlights the links between
quality early education and later academic success in high school and college, as well as a profile
of a business leader always ready to stand up and be counted on the issue of investing early in children's education.
On a lighter note, be sure to read why play is so essential for young
children (and good for adults, too).
Sincerely,
Vera Steiner Blore
Executive Director |
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'Mind the Gap' in
Achievement
Declining high school and college graduation rates among U.S.
workers threaten our ability to compete in the global economy, according to
the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education.
One example: the U.S.
ranks second in the percentage of workers 55 and older with a postsecondary
credential, but drops to 11th for younger workers with a postsecondary degree. The Commission recommends
closing the achievement gap among low-income students by providing voluntary
preschool education to all children from low-income families so that they enter
school ready to learn. |
Business Leader Promotes Early
Childhood Education
Katherine Busser, executive vice president at Capital One Financial Corp.
and chairwoman of the Greater Richmond Chamber, is also one of Virginia's most
outspoken supporters of early childhood education.
An adviser to two governors and multiple business and civic organizations, learn how Busser is working to expand opportunities for children in this Richmond Times-Dispatch profile.
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Kaine, Candidates
Continue to Push Pre-K
The Martinsville (Va.) Bulletin reports that Gov. Kaine reaffirmed his support for state-funded
preschool during a visit to an innovative early childhood center saying, "I'm
only governor for another nine months, but I do write another budget" before
leaving office, "so, one of the things I want to do is look at ways within the
budget we can be helpful with pre-K." Republican candidate Robert McDonnell and all three Democratic candidates for
governor have also pledged support for public pre-K, according
to the Washington Post. |
 'The Serious Need for
Play'
Parents will want to check out this Scientific American Mind cover story on the importance of play for
healthy social, emotional and cognitive development in children. Especially
important is time for unstructured, imaginative free play, as opposed to games
and structured activities. |
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Fairfax Futures' Business Partners Roundtable
Breakfast
Building Critical Thinkers for a Globally Competitive
Workforce
Tuesday, May 19
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Capital
One Conference
Center
McLean, Virginia
Please register online
Featured speakers:  Dr.
Derek Cabrera, president and founder, ThinkWorks
 Donna Klein, president and founder, Corporate Voices for Working
Families ThinkWorks provides tools and training on systems
thinking which enables employees and their organizations to adapt quickly to
complex, changing environments - because those who learn to think will thrive.
Corporate Voices for Working Families is the leading national business membership
organization fostering collaboration between private, government and other
stakeholders to promote bipartisan approaches to improve the lives of working
families.
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