E3: Elevate Early Education

Research tells us that the number of books a child owns matters. Access to books is one of the strongest predictors of academic success and lifelong literacy. Books are equalizers and reduce the opportunity gap.

Expanding access to books and early reading yields economic and social returns. For every $1 invested in literacy, communities receive about $4 to $6 in direct and indirect economic benefits (reduced remediation costs in schools, a more educated workforce, better job opportunities, reduced healthcare costs and increased local spending).

Every book donated will help us fill a micro-library with high-quality books in classrooms and communities across Virginia.

How? Here are a few simple steps:

1️⃣ Go to E3’s Amazon Wish List: https://a.co/0hZWfRKN
2️⃣ Select books to donate
3️⃣ Make your donation

That’s it. Thank you for being a literacy champion.

Recent studies from the American Institute for Boys and Men found that more than 50% of kindergarten boys in Virginia fall below school-readiness benchmarks, compared with 44% of girls. NAEP 4th-grade reading comprehension scores since COVID-19 have dropped across the board, but the decline for boys was much steeper, with a 13.5-point drop in average scores for boys compared to a 5.8-point drop for girls,

We must ensure that ALL children in Virginia are reading proficiently by 4th grade. As a community, we need to encourage our young boys to find books they enjoy reading, and spend time reading together with them.

Learn more:

Virginia boys' schooling gaps wider than the nation's, study shows The usual gaps between boys and girls when learning to read are wider than the national average in Virginia, the legislature’s new Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission heard.

Take time to read EVERY day and have fun doing literacy activities together 💙 Not sure where to start? Here’s how you can help your child at home: https://brnw.ch/21x4jGD

Pointing to words and objects as you read helps children build foundational literacy skills. Linking visual and auditory inputs helps children understand the meaning of words more quickly and helps them grow their vocabulary.

When you read aloud for just 15 minutes a day, you're laying the groundwork for stronger phonological awareness, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

Research shows that children enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library are 11x more likely to be interested in books. Reading for fun has dropped to historic lows, and we must ensure our children have access to high-quality, engaging books to read at home. Learn more about the Imagination Library and sign up today: https://brnw.ch/21x42FT

We are incredibly saddened by the news that Scott Wheeler, founder + CEO of Bay Power Solutions, passed away surrounded by his loved ones.

He was a true champion of education and loved giving back to the Hampton Roads community. Scott will be missed.

Reading for fun has dropped to historic lows. The 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that only 37% of nine-year-olds reported reading for fun almost every day, down from 42% in 2020 and 53% in 1984.

Fewer people are making reading part of their daily lives, but small steps can help bring that habit back. Whether it’s visiting your local library, reading together as a family or picking up a book just for fun, every page counts.

Let’s get kids and adults reading again!

Spend 15 minutes reading aloud with your children every day! Talk to them about the story, ask them questions, and let them explain what they think. Encouraging engagement with reading helps them think critically about the story and can inspire a lifelong love of reading!

During summer break, children often lose significant progress from the previous school year in reading & math – it's called the Summer Slide. Research shows that reading for fun + summer library programs make a REAL difference in preventing knowledge loss. When kids choose what they read, they're much more likely to stay engaged and more likely to form a lifelong love of reading.

Not sure where your closest public library is? Check out the Virginia Library Directory, and plan your visit: https://brnw.ch/21x3Geq

Looking for more ways to keep kids learning and having fun this summer? Explore our family activities and resources: https://brnw.ch/21x3Gep

With access to even one book at home, a child’s ability to build early literacy and math skills can double. Home libraries can help:

📘 Increase reading comprehension six times more than digital reading
📘 Raise literacy and math skills when there are 60-80 books in the home
📘 Increase educational attainment
📘 Improve job attainment
📘 Boost health outcomes
📘 Prevent summer slide
📘 Lower cortisol and stress

Too many children are growing up in homes without books. Through the Book Access Gap Fund, you can help change that: https://brnw.ch/21x3EKX