Early Learning

Legislative Update 2007

Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislators from both political parties worked to fund various investments in early childhood education this session. Highlights from this session include new budget and policy initiatives that:

 

 

Expand our pre-kindergarten program. Serves an additional 2,250 children in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). Improves quality with higher teacher pay and increased family support, promoting stability for children in preschool, and better preparing young children for success in school and in life. Establishes equity among providers statewide by establishing a minimum average cost per child of $6,500.

$34.2 million GF-State

 

 

Expand all-day kindergarten. Phases in voluntary all-day kindergarten, focusing first on schools with high poverty levels in order to serve the students who will benefit most from additional learning time and attention. Students who attend all-day kindergarten are more likely to read at grade level, have good attendance and do well in school.

$51.2 million Education Legacy Trust Account

 

 

Rate child care quality. Rates participating child care providers based on how well they provide early learning experiences to children. This voluntary quality rating system will provide better information to parents to help guide their choices, and will give child care providers an incentive to continuously improve the services they offer. As a child care provider improves its quality rating, the provider will receive higher reimbursement payments for the state subsidized children in care.

$5 million GF-State

 

 

Provide information for parents and families. Offers culturally appropriate information to parents, family, friends and other caregivers. For those who choose to participate, a variety of parent and caregiver support programs will be available, such as play and learn groups where parents can learn from each other while children play.

$2 million GF-State

 

 

Pay child care providers fairly. Increases the rates paid by the state for children in subsidized care by 10 percent, through a new collective bargaining agreement. Provides equity by allowing the same rate increase for child care workers and child care centers. Also supports health care benefits for child care workers, supplemental payments for infant care and non-standard hours, and training in the subsidy program.

$85.8 million GF-State

 

 

Expand Early Reading Initiatives. Expands an early reading grant program that develops pre-reading and early reading skills through parental and community involvement, public awareness, coordination of resources and partnerships with local school districts. Provides statewide support to community-based reading initiatives.

$2 million Reading Achievement Account

 

Learn more about Early Learning