Chelsea Kaihoi joined the VDOE in 2024 as Associate Director of Early Childhood Policy and Innovation. Building upon 15 years of research in education and public policy, Dr. Kaihoi's work supports fiscal and programmatic analysis and special project implementation related to access and enrollment across Virginia's unified early childhood system.

Through collaborative relationships with national experts, researchers, and federal and state-level partners, she analyzes the impact of various policy changes on program participation and cost and maintains Virginia's cost-of-quality model for provider payment rates. She also oversees project management activities associated with the implementation of ECCE policy and program innovations to improve access to affordable, high quality ECCE programs throughout the state.