Governor's Office Appoints University of Richmond Professor to Pre-School Education Task Force

September 27, 2006

Mavis Brown, an associate professor of education at University of Richmond, has been appointed to a state task force that will examine ways to improve standards in Virginia’s pre-kindergarten programming.

Brown was selected for the committee, which will advise Gov. Tim Kaine’s Start Strong Council, because of her “specific and valuable expertise” in early childhood education, said Tom Morris, Virginia secretary of education. She is currently working on a project to define the qualifications of highly qualified pre-school teachers.

“It’s a very interesting assignment and will have a huge impact on education at the early childhood level,” said Brown, who holds a doctoral degree in early childhood education.

Kaine formed the Start Strong Council—which includes community members interested in education, officials and business leaders—to oversee development of high-quality pre-school education services in the state. Several task forces will make preliminary recommendations to the council and the governor.

Brown serves on the 16-member program standards task force, which will review research and other documents to determine the best curriculum requirements, class size, teacher-to-child ratio and length of day, among other criteria.

Separate task forces were convened to address issues of finance, governance, professional development, marketing and evaluation for the pre-kindergarten programs. The committees are scheduled to submit their findings to the full council on Oct. 4, and will refine and develop their initial recommendations for 12 to 18 months following the council meeting.

Kaine hopes to make pre-kindergarten programs universally available to all Virginia 4-year-olds by the end of his term.