Tabitha Darrell, owner of a Virginia Beach child care center, is expanding the age range of her services to adapt to a shifting early childhood education landscape where state-funded preschool initiatives are drawing more children into the school system.
Impact of State Preschool Initiatives
Darrell, who owns Little Achievers, noted that the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) has altered the scope of child care because children as young as three can now attend school. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, VPI enrolled 24,425 children during the 2024-25 school year, which is an increase of 1,387 over the previous year.
While the state intends for VPI to serve at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds not already served by Head Start, Darrell says the shift has caused some child care providers to struggle with operating costs and enrollment. She stated that some centers are closing classrooms, laying off staff, or closing entirely.
Adaptations at Little Achievers
To address these challenges, Darrell is now accepting children as young as six weeks old, whereas the center was originally licensed for children ages 2 1/2 and up. Little Achievers serves children with special needs and accepts families who receive child care subsidy assistance.
The Virginia Department of Education identifies state funding for the Child Care Subsidy Program, Mixed Delivery, and VPI as part of efforts to meet family demand for affordable education and care. For children ages 2 through 5 with developmental delays or identified disabilities, the department provides Early Childhood Special Education through individualized education programs.
Parental Perspectives on Specialized Care
For parents like Monet Outlaw, whose son has level three autism, the availability of intimate, specialized settings is critical. Outlaw described Little Achievers as a place where her son receives necessary support and individual attention, noting the benefit of having a provider she can trust as a single working parent.
Regarding the role of the provider in her son’s development, Outlaw said, “She is a lifesaver.”
