Children without access to quality early education programs start kindergarten with an 18-month disadvantage, and that gap continues to widen. By the time they are in fourth grade, many cannot do math or read at grade level.

Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten.

Investing in high-quality early childhood education has extraordinary returns, not only for Virginia's children, but also for our workforce and economy. The best investments are made in community-grown programs that truly meet local needs.

At the fourth grade level, girls at the same percentages of boys say they're interested in careers in engineering or math or astrophysics, but by eighth grade that has dropped precipitously.

I don't spend as much quality, one-on-one time with the children as I should. But that's probably true with all of them, not just the middle child.

By the time I got to kindergarten, I was surprised to find out I was the only kid with a turkey vulture.