Early Learning

To Support Kids, Support their Caregivers

Washington state currently ranks sixth in the nation for the number of people living in child care deserts. This includes the residents of Whatcom County, who are at risk of losing 15 percent of their already inadequate number of available child care slots.

Kelly Blucher has learned that raising one’s voice is easy; it’s fun; it’s necessary; and it gets results.

Lawmakers have heard from parents, business owners and community-based leaders this legislative session about how to support the healthy development of babies, toddlers, preschool-age kids and their parents.

A new KIDS COUNT® policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation details hurdles that young parents face to support their children. These barriers threaten both the still-developing young adult parents and their young children, setting off a chain of diminished opportunities for two generations.

For KIDS COUNT in Washington’s new “Ensuring All Kids Have Opportunities to Succeed” brief (a part of the State of Washington's Kids 2018 series), we worked with the Washington State Budget & Po

The Washington State Legislature is on the verge of taking unprecedented action on behalf of Washington’s children and families by establishing a cabinet-level Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

A new analysis by KIDS COUNT in Washington shows the power of the state’s quality preschool program, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), to reduce the opportunity gap in the first five years of a child’s life.

SEATTLE—State Senator Pramila Jayapal (D-37th) was honored for her commitment to the first five years of a child’s life today with a Crayon Award from the Early Learning Action Alliance.

The Early Learning Action Alliance, 59 Washington organizations working together for the success of Washington’s youngest kids, has recognized 20 state Senators and Representatives for their achievements over the past two years.

Together, these legislators accomplished the following: 

Parents, advocates and community leaders during this 2016 legislative session have advocated for greater investments in access to early learning for kids ages birth to 5 and their families. We’ve done it before: last year, the Early Start Act came with the largest investment in early learning in our state’s history. This historic achievement is improving early childhood education for more than 70,000 Washington children. 

But the legislature is poised to undermine this progress.