Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI)

The Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) is a state funded program that provides quality preschool programs for at-risk four-year-olds unserved by the federal Head Start program.

The purpose of the program is to reduce disparities among young children upon formal school entry and to reduce or eliminate those risk factors that lead to early academic failure.

The Virginia Preschool Initiative provides quality preschool education, health services, family engagement, facilitation of comprehensive services including health, mental health and nutrition education for preschool children and their families.

All VPI programs participate in Virginia's Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5), which measures and supports quality teaching and learning in early childhood classrooms. Families can view VQB5 Quality Profiles that show how well programs support children's development through quality teaching practices and curriculum use. These profiles help families understand the quality of care and education their children receive.